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I have been wanting to put a trailer hitch on my truck for a while now, but have been skeptical. I have a 81 step side that did not come with a factory hitch or bumper that had ball mounts ( custom truck). With what I've been told, I would have to remove the spare tire to install a standard class 3 or 4 receiver. This puzzles me as the receiver mounts to the bottom of the frame, not the top or inside the channels. Has anyone mounted a hitch on a stepside? And did you have to move the tire? And how difficult was it for you?
I've not done it on a Flareside, but have on a Styleside and everything mounts as you said. And while your frame is different than mine in the back, the front 2/3 is the same as yours so I can't imagine Ford changed the way everything mounts in the rear.
Thanks for the reply guys. The only thing I'm looking for now is a class 3 or 4 (preferably 4) hitch that doesn't require drilling to mount. Does anyone know of a good quality hitch that doesn't require drilling to mount?
I'd would be ok with a custom hitch but I figure it would be expensive as it has to be (like the name) custom. Specific measurements and precise work. Besides I'm not sure how hard it will be to find someone to make one that won't raise flags during state vehicle inspections. I've seen some homemade hitches and know people that have had to remove or replace them because they weren't deemed safe to haul a trailer.
then may be something like this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201125313799?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
this way you will have option re-drill and adjust...
I think the best way will be to make a custom hitch, but i'm not ready for it.
Originally Posted by fordman626
Thanks for the reply guys. The only thing I'm looking for now is a class 3 or 4 (preferably 4) hitch that doesn't require drilling to mount. Does anyone know of a good quality hitch that doesn't require drilling to mount?
Nikmish, thanks for linking that, I've been wanting to install a hitch for my flareside just like you guys but haven't seen any suitable options! I'll be following this for sure! My truck currently has a hitch that the previous owner had welded to a few points but I wouldn't trust it to tow a dam thing. I'll cut it off once the time comes
This is what the previous owner has put in place, I like the location of it but I wouldn't hook anything to it.
I like the hitch you mentioned in the link, but I don't want to run into the problem of either re drilling holes or having it not sit the way I like. The link that goes to the other thread has a nice pic of a blue stepside on it. If only we knew what hitch that guy installed on his truck. I'm not to big on drilling holes because I don't want to make any alterations to the body or chassis (reason I didn't choose hoop steps for the cab). If I drill one set of holes then I'm ok, but if it isn't right or needs to be adjusted and I need to re drill, then I'm a no go.
I have never seen a frame that had enough holes in it to mount a good heavy duty hitch. So if you want a nice hitch, you are going to have to get over your fear of drilling holes.
Stay tuned for how Gary does his with the hidden hitch. Guarantee it will look good and be safe !!
Do you know something I don't know, Jer?
I do plan to have something much less prominent than the hitch that was originally on Dad's truck. It is now on Rusty and looks … ugly. So, if I can't find one I like I may have to make one or modify this one.
I have never seen a frame that had enough holes in it to mount a good heavy duty hitch. So if you want a nice hitch, you are going to have to get over your fear of drilling holes.
. What he said. It is not hard. Mount hitch on frame, usually the hitch is as wide as the frame so alignment is not an issue. Use a unibit to drill the frame for the bolts.(stepped bit). It took me like 20 min to install the Reese on my old 84.
Here are a few pics to explain my thinking, the ugliness of Dad's/Rusty's hitch, etc.
First, here's a couple showing how low it hangs:
Then a couple showing how it bolts on and how it is made:
And, now for my thinking. These pics show the bumper that is going on Dad's truck when it goes back together. (Jer, you might recognize it?) If you note in the pic above the bumper on Rusty has a significant dropped area just in front of the hole for the ball, while this bumper doesn't have that. The point is that some bumpers may lend themselves to this approach and some won't. Anyway, my thinking is to raise the hitch such that the drawbar will match up with the hole in the bumper. Drop the ball through and you'll have a really stout hitch that won't be seen.
However, that means that on Rusty the ball will be 4 1/2" higher than it currently is and that may be a problem. So, Plan B might be to position the hitch such that the top of the opening for the draw bar is 1/16" or so below the bottom of the bumper. That would allow a draw bar to be inserted but hide the hitch as much as possible.
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