Can someone with experience help me? I ordered a new F250 7.3L and am interested in the size of the tow receiver so I can order the right hitch before my truck arrives. I did not order a high capacity tow package. The documents say:

The following configurations have a standard 3" receiver with a 2.5" reducer and a high capacity 5/8" pin:
- F-250 equipped with Trailer Tow Package
- F-350 Single Rear Wheel Diesel 4x4 on the 160", 164", 176" WB
- F-350/F-450 Dual Rear Wheel Diesel and Gas 7.3L
- All other Super Duty Pickup configurations equipped with a 2.5" receiver

So according to this, I think I will have a 3" receiver with a 2.5" reducer. My dealer thinks that the reducer is permanent and I can't remove it. The hitch manufacturer says that the reducer can be easily removed and I should order their 3" version for added benefits.
Does anyone know what the right answer is?

 

You will get a 2.5” hitch receiver with a F250 7.3.

 

But can I remove the spacer to get the full 3"?

 

You should have the 2.5.


They have actually put 3” randomly in the past and with supply shortages I would consider waiting till you get the truck. I know 2017 was like that.

One caveat is if you order 4.30 gears it would come with the heavy duty Dana axle. Thats similar enough to a high capacity tow package f250 that I would really consider waiting till the truck arrives.

 

No, the hitch receiver is a 2.5" receiver. You can reduce that to 2" if you need, but you can't make it go up to a 3" receiver.

With an F250 the only way to get the 3" receiver is to go 6.7 and HCTT package (note that you cannot add the HCTT package to a gas engine). The gas SD's doesn't get a 3" hitch until you go to a 350 DRW.

 

My 2.5 didnt look to have a reducer in it.


Get a 2.5 inch 20,000/2,000 hitch for it. I have one I believe from SwayAway but I forget the brand. Nothing special, around $200.


I am actually getting a 350 I have on order and would sell it if you are near Houston. The truck I am getting will definitely be a 3 inch hitch.


The factory 3 inch setup is rated for 20,000/2,000 and the 2.5” is 15,000/1,500. There is no weight distribution hitch rating I know of on the factory set up.

 

Thanks but I'm up north and a long ways from Houston.

I was thinking of a ProPride hitch which comes in 2", 2.5" or 3", they recommend going with the biggest one you can, obviously. Now the guy at the dealer just sent me a text saying he spoke to a service tech who said my truck will have a 3" receiver with a reducing sleeve I can remove, so now I'm really confused....but I tend to believe @chadstickpoindexter.who clearly knows what he's talking about.
If there was actually a superduty on the lot, I could go look, but they have zero inventory.

 

I hear ya', but the 2022 info on the Ford site is misleading:
The following configurations have a standard 3" receiver with a 2.5" reducer and a high capacity 5/8" pin:
- F-250 equipped with Trailer Tow Package
- F-350 Single Rear Wheel Diesel 4x4 on the 160", 164", 176" WB
- F-350/F-450 Dual Rear Wheel Diesel and Gas 7.3L
- All other Super Duty Pickup configurations equipped with a 2.5" receiver --->>> That's me, no?

 

They make 2.5 drawbar set ups rated for more than 15,000/1,500.

If you get a truck with that hitch and are concerned about exceeding that I would look at the differences between the 2.5 and 3 inch Ford hitch as I have heard they are similar construction.

 

If you go by what they list in the 2022 Ford Towing Guide, and in the 2022 Super Duty Ordering Guide, then a F250 less the HD trailer tow package (535; aka HCTT)) comes with a 2.5" hitch. Based on this alone, I wouldn't expect anything other than a 2.5" receiver to come on your truck if it is a 2022 F250 with 7.3 gas engine. Saying that, and as mentioned above... who knows, maybe they could slap another one on, but to be honest, I don't really see that happening at all. I would imagine that they account for every little nut and bolt, and hitch receiver, and these things are used for very specific things, so I don't see them just saying hey, we ran out of this part and that one is basically the same, lets just throw that on... Then again, saying all of that, who know's?? It's anyones guess really! But, if it were me, I would count on a 2.5" hitch receiver.

Saying that, if you are ordering a WDH, I might suggest to wait until the truck arrives. Yes, go with the size shank to match your receiver and don't use reducers if you don't have too. If you are buying a new WDH, no since in getting one that isn't really the right size. And speaking of size... I don't know what other measurements you will need for the PP hitch, but if there are other measurements you need, it is likely better to wait until you get the truck and get proper measurements to begin with.

I am in a similar position. I will be ordering a new WDH once my truck gets here... and as much as I want to order it now, I realize it is best to wait. I need to know the measurement from the ground to the top of my coupler hitch on my camper, which is here but it is not on level ground, and until I get my truck I have no way of getting it to level ground. I can eyeball it and guess at it, but why? I also need the measurement from the ground to the top inside of my hitch receiver... so, my plan is to wait and get the truck, then use the reducers to simply pull my camper across the street to a level parking lot and get all measurements at once. Then I can place my order for the exact one I need, and while I am waiting for it to come in, I can go and put 1000 miles on it like suggested in the guide before towing with it.

It may be different with the PP hitch, like I said, I haven't put a lot of time looking at it so I don't know what's required to know before ordering it. I am actually going with the Anderson WDH, but having all the correct measurements before hand seems like the better idea to me.

As for the trucks hitch receiver, here are screenshots from the 2022 Ordering Guide. Note that under the 3" Hitch Receiver, the only 250 listed is a 6.7 with HD trailer tow (HCTT). So even if the 250 has the 6.7, unless it has the HCTT, it will also have a 2.5" receiver. As well, under the 3" hitch receiver section, the only gas model is a 350 DRW.




Hope this helps!

 

Definitely helps, thank you for sharing that.
The PP hitch really has nothing to premeasure, you only need to know the maximum hitch weight you will carry and the receiver size, that's it. The nice thing about the PP is you can do weight distribution on it in real time. It's a pricey option but seems to be one of the best out there.

 

I concur with chadstickpoindexter. I have a 2022 F-250, 7.3L and it came with a 2-1/2", non-reduced receiver.

 

It's 2.5" receiver, my "21" F350 with the 7.3 has a 2.5" receiver. Just like what's shown in the posted "22" order guide.

 

Thanks you both Ken and scraprat for confirming that. I appreciate it.