Thinking about putting a front hitch on an 05 XLT.

Question: Does the instalation of the hitch require the front tow hooks to be permanently removed or are they remounted on top of the hitch plates that sit where the tow hooks bolt on?

Thanks in advance

 

No. The only things that have to be removed are the front license plate bracket and factory fog lights, if you have them. Other than that, everything goes back on

 

BFR250SD is right, the hitch interferes with the factory front license plate mount.

I was just thinking of putting a front hitch on my F350 too.

Here's what I found...


http://www.etrailer.com/productdetail.asp?partno=5010&vehicleid=5566&yearf rom=2000&h=e

AND

http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1547&bool=AND&category=dt_frontmount&maxhits=10&ke ywords=2000&keywords_2=Ford+F-350&GO=GO%21


Good luck!
reguy

 

Thanks,

I have no fog lights or a front license plate bracket so no worries.

Reguy- that is the exact one I was looking at. Probably wait till it warms up a little and I'll get on it.

 

Yeah, it's a real simple bolt on. I picked up a Draw Tite for about $130. You just undo take off the bumper, put the hitch on the studs, and put the bumper back on. I still had enough room to leave my front runner on. Plus it will give you about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch spacing on your bumper. More tire clearance.

 

Any photo's BFR?

 

With the hitch on, no. The only thing that you see is the opening to the hitch. I have that mostly hidden by 4 KC slimlites on top of the frontrunner and 2 Maxtels that I hooked up in place of the fog lights when I took them out for the hitch. The 2 maxtels are spread out just enough to put a draw in the hitch. I originally put it on so I could put on a Warn Multi Mount Winch Bed, just never got the winch or the bed, so now the hitch just makes it easier to get my trailer down the driveway.

 

Warn makes one that does not require the removal of tow hooks or fog lights. With it, you do have to cut out a section of the air dam. I am considering purchasing one.

 

ranch hand makes a front bumper with the reciever built in it and it has the cutouts for factory running lights and tow hooks . i put one of their rear bumpers on my 04 and am happy with it.