V-Rated step bumper??
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
V-Rated step bumper??
That's good practical info ... by the way, are you guys familiar with the "box hitch" where you bolt it to the underside of the rear bumper?
It has the 2" square receiver, so you just get a drawbar and go from there. Avoids installation of the hitch, but again I don't know if it would be good for heavy towing?
I think JC Whitney may sell these ....
It has the 2" square receiver, so you just get a drawbar and go from there. Avoids installation of the hitch, but again I don't know if it would be good for heavy towing?
I think JC Whitney may sell these ....
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Far Hills, NJ
V-Rated step bumper??
I use the step bumper that my truck ('92 F150 inline-6, manual trans) came with, and tow a horse trailer weighing around 5000lbs fully loaded.
Put a 2" ball into the step bumper, and it is a Class III hitch. It has worked very well for the past 11 years, both on short and long hauls. I don't think there is any need to add a box hitch, unless you want to lower the ball height (not an issue on my 4x2, but might be on most 4x4's).
I am familiar with the "bolt to the underside of the step bumper" box hitch that JCWhitney sells. I bought one to try to lower the ball height for a new trailer I was looking to buy, but the step bumper's rearward edge curves down slightly, and the hitch would NOT fit under the bumper. I guess I could have put in a set of shims to lower it so it cleared the curve, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that with the weight pulled. So bottom line is that that box hitch wouldn't fit the stock step bumper of my '92 F150.
Put a 2" ball into the step bumper, and it is a Class III hitch. It has worked very well for the past 11 years, both on short and long hauls. I don't think there is any need to add a box hitch, unless you want to lower the ball height (not an issue on my 4x2, but might be on most 4x4's).
I am familiar with the "bolt to the underside of the step bumper" box hitch that JCWhitney sells. I bought one to try to lower the ball height for a new trailer I was looking to buy, but the step bumper's rearward edge curves down slightly, and the hitch would NOT fit under the bumper. I guess I could have put in a set of shims to lower it so it cleared the curve, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that with the weight pulled. So bottom line is that that box hitch wouldn't fit the stock step bumper of my '92 F150.
Last edited by paulghenderson; Aug 6, 2003 at 07:03 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 43
From: Concord, NC
V-Rated step bumper??
The box hitch that bolts to the bumper is only rated for 3500 lbs, so you're just as well off just putting the ball in the bumper. One more note, I was looking at the bumper on my friend's chevy, and the markings are: V-5, 4000 lbs. gross, 400 lbs. tongue. V-5 is just an industry standard, and has no bearing on weight classification. V-5 does not mean it is a class V hitch.
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