Small price to pay for, IMO, the beefiest receiver hitch ever offered on a pickup. These things are tanks, and would rather have double the stamped steel reinforcement on something that holds your trailer to the tow vehicle in an emergency. I have never needed the hammer locks, but all my bumper pull trailers use the u-haul style chains that thread through then hook back onto themselves.

 

Agreed, but Ford engineers should've done better. It's kind of like owning a Kubota tractor, RTV, mower, etc. and seeing that they didn't add a single tie down point on ANY of their lineup.

 

I installed Hammer Locks as well. Those D rings are not as strong as people think they are.

I used a big C-Clamp to press the pins into the Hammer Locks, rather than mess with an actual hammer.

 

No problem with my 2022 f350. Safety chains work fine

 

I've never had chains long enough to do that but I'm not opposed to the idea. However, I've never had an issue hooking chains up to anything.

 

Decided to give these a try. Kinda liked the rubber isolator- maybe it’ll keep rattle to minimum when not trailering?

 

 

When this issue first came up in 2017 I was like, "What the heck are you talking about? My chains connect just fine." It's almost always seen as a problem on the 2.5" receiver. The 3" receiver, while not great, will fit every trailer I've connected to. On my biggest trailer, I do have to turn the hook sideways from the back to get it connected.

 

On my ‘22 F350 the 1/4 hooks on the trailer safety chains wouldn’t quite fit either. I bought these 1/2 hooks but they were too big to get into the opening. Gonna try the 3/8 hooks next to see if they fit. I bought some hammerlocks but didn’t install them since I didn’t want to hear them clanging around back there every day. I was leery of using D rings since I’ve lost one before when it loosened up over time even after being tightened on. If the 3/8 hooks don’t fit I may weld a ring for a cotter pin on the screw pin of a D ring and run those.

 

This approach works for me for both my camper and small utility trailer. Best option IMO, also the cost was right at FREE.

 

Yep, I have one trailer out of the 4 that I normally use that I can hook up without hammer locks. The other three, I wasn't interested in replacing the hooks on, so I fixed it on the hitch.

 

I've had my Hammerlocks on for 16 months now, have never heard them rattling.

 

No doubt many are. And I do I like the look of the hammerlocks, but for the money I picked up a set of 3/4” D Rings that are rated to almost 5 tons (working/breaking strength) for 1/3 the price. They are stronger than the chains on my 6000ob camper. If I ever move up to a heavier camper I would consider replacing the D Rings with hammerlocks. I did also replace the tiny hooks on the end of my chains with heavier duty Clovis hooks to. And I do love how beefy the Ford hitches are, but surely they could have designed them a little better because clearly many folks have issues with getting their hooks and chains connected.

 

Shackles, good shackles, are stamped with the working load. If they're good quality, they're as strong as the stamp says they are. If they're not stamped, don't use them. Personally, if I went the d-ring way, I'd buy a set from Crosby to make sure I don't end up with some cheap, soft metal ****.

 

Mayybe mine is an anomaly. Plenty of room for chains and break away



Mine are differently bigger then the pic Lux194 posted