Towing
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 53
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Towing
1989 Ford f150 Custom
I put a 2 inch ball on the Tailgate bumper of my truck , where the hole is pre-drilled. I wanted to know , would i be safe towing a heavy bass boat with just that . Is that metal bumper reinforced enough? Or will i pull my truck apart like that , lol.
I put a 2 inch ball on the Tailgate bumper of my truck , where the hole is pre-drilled. I wanted to know , would i be safe towing a heavy bass boat with just that . Is that metal bumper reinforced enough? Or will i pull my truck apart like that , lol.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 773
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From: torrington,ct
your always better off with a real hitch, but i think those bumpers are rated for something like 3500 pounds trailer, 350 pounds tounge weight(maybe even 4000/400). your owners manual should have the actual number. i would imagine that a bass boat should be under that, and that it wont be a problem.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 194
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From: Waterford Michigan
Your truck is an 89 I have no idea where you live (concerned esppecially for northern states SALT), be sure to check out your bumper mounting brackets to the frame and all of the attachment hardware. I have seen a few trucks of our model loos there bumpers towing relitively light loads. Granted this is mostly due to the heavly corrosive environment of Michigan salty road winters...
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 805
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Hmm, I pulled a 3000 lb ski boat with a tongue weight of nearly 250 lbs from Russellville, KY to Pelham, AL. Well, that was after I pulled it TO Russellville. On I65, that's no small feat for ANY trailered load. I've even pulled a dolly with my '98 Ranger behind my F-150 on the stock bumper. Granted, the dolly pretty much eliminates any tongue weight (probably less than 100 lbs), but I'd venture to say the Ranger was heavier than the boat. Probably closer to the 3500 limit. I don't think you're going to have a problem until you exceed 3500 total weight (include the trailer) and 300 tongue weight. Most bass boat trailers come with tandem axels, and the majority of the weight of the boat is at the transom, which keeps tongue weight down. Just make sure all the bolts are tight, and all the braces/brackets are in good condition with no rust or corrosion.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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Its not stamped like most other vehicles that year but i thought it was 400, I know the guy I bought mine off of said he did a lot of heavy towing this way lol and the slanted rear bumper proves it. With it being an 89 I wouldnt go near that weight, maybe look for a used hitch.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 959
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From: Imperial, MO
If this is just going to be a "once in awhile" sort of thing, and the tongue/trailer weights don't exceed the factory ratings, you should be fine. If you're looking to tow the boat somewhere every weekend, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and invest in a hitch.
-Rod
-Rod
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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yeah i dont wanna be pulling the boat out of the water and have the bumber fall off. OH!!!! and not to mention , w.t.h , my grandfathers f150 xl , yeah , even though it was a small river boat , he stuck my grandmother in the back to weigh down the truck cause it has no weight in the back to pull the boat out of the water...he kept spinning out..
