Hello all,

I just got an 05 F150 XLT Super Cab. 4.6 V8.

On my old f150, i towed alot of Uhauls... And over time, it seemed that my bumper started to pull away from the truck.

Now on my new truck, I looked at the bumper and it seems that the factory bumper appears to be more securely attached to the frame.

Question, if I am just going to be pulling a uhaul with not alot of weight, do I need to get a receiver hitch installed?

Thanks!

 

It's a shame you didn't get the tow package so you would have it in addition to a larger battery, light hookup and transmission cooler. Anyway, I think you need one so you can tow the U-haul level. The whole truck sits high and it will make the trailer higher in the front and you will drag the rear and it will tow much better. Also, you never know what you may need to tow.

 

Look in the manual. There should be some sort of note on bumper tow rating. My '03 actually has it on a plastic piece on the step area of the bumper.

But I think 500lb is max tongue weight. I'm going to guess around 2500-3000lb max trailer weight. I'm not as sure about that one.

 

I know, I should have gotten that. But with my credit (damn divorce and layoffs), I couldnt work as much as I wanted to.

Good point on the height difference.

Now when I open my hood, I see a smaller metal grill in front of the radiator... What is that if I may ask? Is that if I wanted to use a transmission cooler?

 

It could be either your AC unit, or a power steering pump cooler. Depending on where you're looking.

 

It is smack in front of the radiator in the center at the bottom. Probably about 5-6" tall and silver.

 

Chris ,Ford says you can tow up to 5000lbs at the bumper w/ a 10% tongue weight {500lbs} i believe all 1\2 tons are rated this way but not sure on that i'am sure about Fords though. your old f150 should have had the same weight rating at the bumper. hard to say weither the new bumpers will flex like the old ones. i've seen alot of 80's and early 90's bumpers doing what your talking about. i really think Fords answer to that was tow packages and nothing to the bumper but thats my opinion. i do feel that one is better served with a tow package but is not necessary to tow low weight at the bumper. a hitch will help to level the trailer though if that becomes a problem.
I dont know how much u-haul trailers weight or anything but i think where you are haul ing should be taking into conceration. like will you be making alot of stops. i can see where 5000lbs or less can take its toll on a bumper stopping and going cause the trailer would be pushing and pulling on the bumper. is there alot of pot holes? i can believe that would flex or atleast stress the bumper. you could pull with the bumper while under warranty and if something happens then your covered and know to get a hitch receiver. "i know" if it doesnt it dont mean it wont. then it'll come down to how you feel about it. and if you feel comfortable with what Ford says then by all means.

 

Thats a cooler you're looking at but i always thought the bigger cooler, in front of the radiator, was the tranny cooler and the smaller one below the bumber was the power steering ill have to look and trace it out next time i crawl underneath

 

Ah ok, then its the power steering. It is low about even with the bumper..

 

it is power steering

 

I never liked the idea of mounting the towing ball in the bumper. First: it eliminates the ability to adjust towing ball height to suit the trailer. Second: I could never back a truck up to a trailer without the trailer's hitch denting the license plate.

Seriously, a receiver hitch is more securely mounted to the truck's frame then the bumper. Spend the cash and get a good receiver.

 

Get a good reciever, it has more than one use.

You can pull something with a hitch and shackle {keep it within weight limits}

You can carry a cargo carrier.

You can mount fishing rods and a cooler {if you fish}

You can stop slow moving imports before they get to something dentable.

You can keep your back bumper and licence plate from looking beat to hell after a year.