Tractor supply sells those kind of hitches, I almost bought one just for that reason in case someone rear ends it.

 

UPDATE!!!

So after two weeks of the other driver's insurance doing nothing, I finally decided to front the deductible and go through my agency. They determined the frame was straight but considering I tow fire department trailers, they decided to replace the mounting hardware for the receiver (the bolts and plates) and get me a new hitch.

The local dealer first sent the wrong bolts/plates (WAY too big to get through the holes on the frame/receiver). Then the sent another set that didn't include enough bolts. Then they had to contact Detroit who sent them to Ontario to get the right parts.

Flash to yesterday...parts are in as is the replacement hitch. They couldn't find a replica of Beetlegeuse so they decided to get one with three ***** that can rise/drop, then bought a straight three ball plus hook that can connect into the first three ball w/o hook.

Me: "...um...you guys do remember me saying 'if you cant find one with the hook don't worry, I'll have a shop weld a hook on', right?"

Them: "yea, but now you won't need to"

...uh...I'll still go that route vs. opening up the drawer in the back and digging out the other part.

Anyway, a conversation back on day 1 when they said they would be replacing the mounting hardware:

Me: "I read on the FTE forums that you'll have to drop the tank to get to the mounting plates".

Them: "Nah, we can get in there"

Me: "Are you sure? I've read somewhere on that forum where guys tried to upgrade to the 12k bolt sets that the entire tank had to come off to get up above the frame where the plates rest"

Them: "No, we can get up there"

Yesterday I roll up and they start looking and feeling and looking and feeling...they come back and say "Yea, we'll need to take that tank shield off to get up there...the plates won't need replacing, just the bolts."

Me: "No, you'll need to take the tank off to get the bolts out"

Them: "Nah, just the shield"

...an hour later, they realize the tank and shield use the same bolts, and now the back of the tank resting down is preventing them from removing other forward bolts.

They try to put a bolt that holds the receiver to the frame back to get the tank and shield out of the way...and and strip the plate above it.

Now it dawns on them they need to remove the tank bolts, lower the tank and the shield to get their hands up in there...but they can't do it since it's so tall it won't fit on the lift high enough to get the jack under it...and another jack that would work already has another vehicle on it.

...so today I have a rental again while they take it up and put it on a different lift under it and actually remove the tank and replace the stripped plate (along with the rest).

This is what happens when you have a bunch of guys 30 minutes from getting off work that decide to cut corners.

Somehow "I told you so" just didn't make me feel any better...unless they knock off some of my deductible.

 

Robert, that was so funny, because it is so accurate. Sorry I can't rep I am on rep probation but not a reprobate.

Thanks for the laugh.

 

Just don't tell them "I told you so" (or something less polite) until you have your car back in your possession. You really don't want a pissed off mechanic working on your car.

 

This is solid advice. Also, don't always take everyone's word online as gold. It was stated numerous times on the forum that in order to replace the serpentine belt on the 7.3, you would have to remove the radiator. Which is entirely untrue.

Hope you get your ex back soon, and will be satisfied with the work.

 

I got him for ya Bud..

 

Glad to here the Excursion is getting fixed up right.

 

ANOTHER update...the following day the shop came to my work and exchanged a mini-van for the truck to go get it done properly. Maybe 5 hours later while I'm in a meeting they leave a message that it's ready and come down to swap it out. Their plan on trying to combine a square tube 3 ball + hook with the adjustable height 3 ball system wouldn't work as the 3 + hook has the pin hole in the wrong spot (if you are wondering, I've been told this is a design made to prevent people from doing what the shop tried to do...putting the tongue weight WAY too far back from the receiver).

So, I'm in the market for a simple tow hook that I can have welded to the existing 3 ball section. I don't weld so I'm checking with some friends at the FD who have had custom work done to get someone reputable.

Anyone have any idea how much it should cost to weld on a hook to the unit pictured earlier in this thread?

 

Shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes $75.00-$100.00.

 

Just strap some C-4 back there.

 

That's be a nice surprise for the next person that rear ends him

 

Hmmm, if you can remember where that was posted, would you mind linking to the post?

Stewart

 

After reading through this, I want to buy a ball hitch or that superbumper plate.

 

Oh, it never ends!

So today I'm doing my first fill-up since the replacement of the bolts and plates that hold the receiver to the frame. I'm about halfway through what I expected to be my fill up and 'ye old Costco fueling station' and it's a typical evening with the delta breeze going. The attendant runs at me with a crazed look on his face screaming 'stop stop!'

He had seen a good two or three gallons of fuel gushing out from under the truck, the delta breeze (wind) blowing the smell away from me.

Apparently when the repair shop ignored my comments about needing to drop the tank to get to the bolts, they strained the connection between the filler hose segment and the tank inlet (a little maybe 8" section of hose) and it popped off at the tank side...preventing more than 3/4 of a tank of fuel from actually getting into the tank.

After an...interesting call to the shop as I drove to them, they had three mechanics waiting for me to pull in and a bay cleared for me. They identified that section of hose was deteriorated and that made it easier to pop off the tank (the hose was in seriously bad shape) but admitted they would usually have replaced it outright and for whatever reason they didn't.

They sent a rookie out to Napa to get a new hose and I chatted up the mechanics, asking about a metal 'bang' noise I've been getting when the front axle goes past a certain angle in relation to the frame. We hop under the truck and he points out what looks like the bushing at the aft mount of the driver side front spring looks like it's allowing the spring to slip slightly left to right, hitting the shackle. Cool, now I have it diagnosed.

Then he says 'hey, what's this hose?' and points to a hose that is just hanging at the driver side wheel, disconnected at both ends. We find what looks like a nipple at the top side against the fender well, and the broken hose end at the hub but that nipple also still in place. Is this the ESOF line?

Anyway, note to self to hit up the parts store and get enough hose to replace both sides...kid arrives back from Napa with a section of hose and the tank is 'fixed' in short order. Manager drives with me to a station down the road to 'test' if it will hold fuel, throws a final $30 into the tank and I'm on my way.

...great example of what happens when a) the shop doesn't believe the owner when he tells them some important info about a (somewhat) rare vehicle that they don't work on much if at all and b) what happens when shops let their mechanics cut corners.

Still not happy with the situation, but they did fix it in about 40 minutes start to finish and threw in $30 of gas...that doesn't outweigh the risk I was driving around with, but I've heard horror stories of shops that would have given me drama.

 

Damn... glad it got resolved but I would have been hot. Glad it was handled well in the end!