I added a Torklift X7904 front hitch to my SD on Saturday. 10,000 lb. tow and 1,000 lb. tongue weight rating. The hitch came with all necessary mounting hardware and printed instructions.

The installation is very straight forward. Remove bumper, relocate the transmission cooler with included brackets, install hitch to frame, cut the front license plate plastic insert to allow the receiver to protrude through, re-install bumper. It took my brother and I about 3 hours, taking our time, measuring the plastic piece to cut multiple times and test fitting it multiple times before actually cutting it. The directions are OK but there are enough differences in the models that you have to use a bit of imagination on the final plastic cuts needed to get a good fit. It can be installed by a single person but handling the bumper is awkward because of it's length, weight and shape. Knowing what I do now I wouldn't hesitate to install one by myself. Just be sure to put a heavy blanket under the bumper in case you drop it.

Overall I am quite satisfied with the fit and finish of the hitch. It appears to be very well built and it attached directly to the frame with six - 1/2"x13 Grade 8 bolts. No holes to drill, no clearance issues with anything after installation. The receiver is centered perfectly in the bumper opening and the included license plate bracket hides the hitch until you need to use it.

The hitch width was a little short (3/16" or so) but I devised an easy solution. There are two "cow catcher" brackets you remove and discard to install the hitch. I cut the mounting ears off one of the brackets and used them as shims for mounting the hitch to the frame. That worked perfectly and because the hitch uses the same mounting holes as those brackets, it was easy to line them up and put them in place. A shot of black spray paint on the cut edge after installation and it was good to go.

You have to relocate the transmission cooler with the supplied brackets. Literally a 2 minute job - it is well thought out and very sturdy. Hint - the factory cooling line retainer clip is mounted to a tab welded to the frame. Once you relocate the cooler the lines don't line up properly to close the retainer clip. Use a big adjustable wrench to bend the mounting tab downward about 1/4" and the retaining clip will close easily. When complete it is sturdy and the lines are held in place perfectly as before.

Cutting the plastic insert to allow the hitch to protrude through was easily the most time consuming portion of the job. I would install the hitch and remove the insert from the bumper. Hold the insert up to the hitch, marking where it hits. Cut the plastic a bit for the hitch to clear and check it again. Continue doing this until you can push the plastic insert up against the radiator support. Once it will go back that far you can re-install it into the bumper and install the bumper on the truck.

The receiver is centered perfectly in the grill opening and the license plate holder hides it all so you can't tell the hitch is even there.

The bumper is slightly heavy and awkward to handle. A 2nd person is definitely helpful but not required.

Read the directions a few times and lay under the truck for a few minutes to get familiar with the layout and you won't have any issue installing this hitch.

 

Excellent report… Thanks! 👍

Safe travels,
Jim / crewzer

 

Good to know the Torklift install went well on a 6.7L.

 

I put mine on last year and I love it, but................do not use for heavy winching, it will bend. My fault too, it is simply a tow hitch, NOT a winch bumper.

 

As noted above, I wanted to install one as a front winch point but decided to go with the full Ranch Hand front bumper replacement.

 

Pulling to the side?

I used to do that all the time with my half ton truck. But it had a dedicated winch mount, not a receiver hitch and cradle.

 

freaking great
i ordered the same unit last week, hopefully it arrives this week sometime

my question, is does the bumper really have to come off to install the bolts?

i was going to order the tremor winch setup, but sanity prevailed and i just dont have a real need for the winch. i really needed this to help put the hauler trailer in spot on my narrow street to the driveway

plus this hitch allows a winch plate to be connected and used at either end of the truck.

 

Yes the bumper definitely has to come off. There is a bolt on each side that installs inside the frame bottom, through a thick spreader, in through the hitch. There are two more on each side that go from inside the frame side through the hitch. There is no way to get to the inside of the box frame except from the open end - which is right behind the bumper.

Don't fret it - there are 12 bolts that hold the bumper on. FYI - If you have adaptive cruise on a 2017 - 2019 you have to remove the RADAR unit to get to two of the bumper bolts. Two of the three bolts that hold the RADAR unit are installed until they bottom out on the mounting plate. The third one is NOT - it is set to level the unit. After you remove the 10mm nuts from the studs you will need to carefully pry the unit off the top right adjustment stud. It has a plastic socket that pops onto a round ball on the mounting stud. If you decide to remove the stud I suggest you screw it in until it stops, counting the # of turns so you can adjust it back when you re-install it.

 

I was stuck in a ditch and was pulling straight outward, nose of the truck was angled upwards and the cable went down the slope to a tree. It was a successful pull, but I bent the mount in doing so. I was also able to bend it back somewhat but its not a true winch mount.

 

I installed same about two weeks ago. Agree 100%. I use a lot of TL products-all good stuff.