Hello all, I'm planning on buying a small travel trailer that weighs under 2000lbs. I was wondering if the hitches you can buy in auto parts store are good hitches. I have a 97 f150 so the hitch has to clear the spare tire. Anyone installed their own hitch ? Are there any brands I should look for? Thanks for your help.

 

Most folks I know use Reese and like them.. I've had UHAUL install 2 tubular style hitches for less than $150 each and they work great.. All you see under the bumper is the 2x2 receiver box..

Good Luck,

Russ

 

i have a hidden hitch and it works great, installed in 20min by my self, life FordRuss said all you can see is the 2x2 box. I think it cost me $120, and it came with mounting bolts.
As for the weight any good class III hitch should be more than enough to handle 2000lbs

 

Have you considered installing a ball on the factory bumper? If the bumper and attachments are in good shape (no rust,collision damage, bolts properly torqued), you would be well within the capacity of the bumper.

If you need a lower attachment point and/or the need to use an insert with a drop, in order to keep the trailer level, then a receiver setup is a better way to go.

I was able to remove/reinstall my receiver hitch on my Expy, but it's ideally a two-man job (one to hold the receiver in place while the other threads the mounting bolts). I got around this by shimming the receiver in place using blocks. Try to avoid getting under the hitch while propped up. It's just heavy enough to knock you out if it drops on your head.

 

A reciever hitch is far safer and more capable than the bumper mount. I do a lot of things myself on my truck, I won't touch brakes or trailer hitches. Pay the extra cash to get it done proffessionally. There is just too much at stake. Doing it your self your way to tempted to take shortcuts if things get difficult.

 

the bolts on my trailer hitch just went through the factory holes in the frame, and i just had to tighten the bolts that came with it, just had to tighten them so the lock washers flattened

 

Installing a hitch can be done by a child(if they were stong enough to hold it up while the get the bolts started.) It took me more time to torch the ball off my bumper that it did to put on my new hitch a few months ago. The frame already has the holes for the hitch. If you are looking for a cheap price/good quality try EBAY

 

i purchased a universal Reese, and very easy to install. don't know about other brands but this brand had to be "arced" to clear the spare tire. i did notice that the frame rails (on my '01 truck) aren't like old days. i measured 1/8" thick with calipers. be sure to use the large spacer/washers, as these help spread out the load. this one is hidden, like previous poster mentioned. of interest might be a almost horror story from a poster about a year or 2 ago, his small horse trailer ripped the frame partially off. and wasn't doing anything unusall or carrying extra heavy load. search for "pony", as this was the animal he was carrying. and yes, the "bumpers" are suitable for light trailers only in my opinion. the framework behind the facebar is pathetic. 2 of the weld joints are very poor. i do miss my '91 that had a REAL bumper. my 2c worth. paul.....

 

I agree, I picked my class III Hidden Hitch up for 80 bucks new, and that included shipping.

It's all about knowing what to pay and what not too.