Bent Hitch
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Bent Hitch
I made a stupid mistake today and managed to back straight into a "stump" (cutoff telephone pole). I have a 6" drop hitch and I seem to have bent the reciever on the truck. Instead of being level, it now points about 15 degrees downward, and my bumper is sitting about an inch lower in the back than it should. The collision was at around 5mph and the only thing that made contact with the pole was the bottom of the hitch and the ball. With the degree to which it is bent, combined with the slightly out-of-place bumper, just how much damage did I do? I'm hoping that all I have to do is straghten or replace the hitch, but I guess I'm worried about whether I might have hurt the frame since the bumper, which came in contact with nothing, is also out of place. The truck (New Style 04 F-150) has the factory towing package. Any ideas on cost to repair? Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 347
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From: Holland, Michigan
After getting frustrated with the bed shaking as i go down the road, I looked under to see the design to see if the bed is flexing being cantileverd (hanging) off the sides of the frame. Well the box supports, bumper and supports, and factory (integrated) hitch are all tied together.
I bounced the tailgate and cought it on the first bounce to show a friend how bad the box shakes, then i watched the bumper bounce right with it, and sure enougth the hitch bounced too!!!
so. my point, the bumper bending along with the hitch makes sense after how i saw it designed. you probably didn't damage the frame, but that whole subassembly may need to be replaced ( bumper itself is probably ok, but bumper support tubing and stampings assembly might need replacement) hopefully they are bolted to frame and not welded.....
keep up posted please!!!
Ramb
I bounced the tailgate and cought it on the first bounce to show a friend how bad the box shakes, then i watched the bumper bounce right with it, and sure enougth the hitch bounced too!!!
so. my point, the bumper bending along with the hitch makes sense after how i saw it designed. you probably didn't damage the frame, but that whole subassembly may need to be replaced ( bumper itself is probably ok, but bumper support tubing and stampings assembly might need replacement) hopefully they are bolted to frame and not welded.....
keep up posted please!!!
Ramb
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9
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Bummer...
Unfortunately, you really can't make a scratch on a car these days without dropping at least $1000...
I was rear-ended a few months back and the insurance company ended up paying for it all but it was close to $1500. I have the reverse sensors in my bumper, but the replacement included bumper, bumper cover, new hitch, wiring for hitch, etc...Bottom line, probably looking at spending about a grand....
I was rear-ended a few months back and the insurance company ended up paying for it all but it was close to $1500. I have the reverse sensors in my bumper, but the replacement included bumper, bumper cover, new hitch, wiring for hitch, etc...Bottom line, probably looking at spending about a grand....
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 615
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From: Chesterfield, Mi
The bumper is only fastened to the bumper structure by 6 bolts across the top of the bumper (you can see them if you remove the plastic bumper cover). The bumper structure is held in by 2 bolts through each side arm (you can see the heads from the side of the truck) and 2 bolts into the frame (you can see them if you are looking at the tailgate with the bumper off). The rear most box floor bolt runs through the same bracket as the 2 rear view bolts into the frame. Take a look under it and let us know what you see.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield, Mi
As far as the bumper fastening to the bumper support...I missed 2 bolts on either side of the license plate (driven from the bottom). If it is bent down like you say, you will probably need new right and left side arms (4L34-17787-A rh, 4L34-17788-A lh) and the hitch attachment bracket (closest to the license plate) but it is welded to the main tube and if it is welded you can't buy that separately. You might be able to bend it back...but at 5mm thick, good luck.
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