Tow small trailer with rear bumper?
 

I know this question has probably been worn out to a T but I will ask it anyways.

I own a 88 F150 4x4 302 reg cab long bed truck whom I prefer to keep in good shape and not tow in the bed and only light trailers. I recently picked up a stronger, more reinforced rear bumper for it since it needed a bumper. I don't want to mess this bumper up as I really like it and is one of the only ones I can find like it.

I want to be able to tow my 3 motorcycle trailer which is all steel with my 73 Harley (not sure what it weighs but it is customized and probably weighs only a few hundred pounds less then my dad's bike), My dad's 07 Harley Davidson Heritage softail, and a similar bike to my Harley or a small pit bike that I have that weighs maybe 200-250lbs if that.

Do you think I should tow them with a hitch receiver or will I be fine with towing with my rear bumper. I don't want to add a hitch if I don't have to as then it probably will start being used as a truck to tow with and I don't want that.


I am not worried about my truck pulling it or not I am mainly worried about the bumper holding up or not.

Thanks guys
Trav


EDIT: my dad's bike weighs about at 800 or so pounds and mine weighs 600 or 700 lbs without the sissy bar and windshield.

It should hold it fine but it's a good way to bang your bumper up. I never use mine for towing.

That's what I am worried about. Maybe I should just install a hitch. Last truck I towed with the bumper I completely totaled the bumper but of course I was way overloaded for the truck.
Trav

My bumper has no drop at all and I have a hitch off a 90 Ford Econoline. The hitch measures the same but it doesn't have a drop at all. Do you thing it will fit without interfering with the bumper?
Trav

Getting the height right can be a problem with a bumper hitch. Other than that you should be fine.

Joe W.

I am not worried about height I will be lifting my motorcycle trailer up so that it doesn't bottom out on our backroads plus much later I will be towing mine and my brother's dirt bikes.
Trav

The rear bumper is perfectly fine for towing 2 or 3 thousand pounds, factory step pumpers were actually rated to tow 5k but I'd rather see a frame mounted hitch for that weight.

Thanks for that info Paul. the big loads I got other trucks to tow so I won't be much more a couple thousand pounds.

Do you think my 302 if it was running great with my 3.55 gears and 31s will be comfortable towing that around a couple hundred to 300 miles with a few decent sized hills?
Trav

Yeah that'll be fine, expect to downshift on the hills to maintain speed.

alrighty then thanks for that help.
Trav

....Yeah but if he puts the trailer on the front its going to be a real bitch to steer at 65 mph , but i guess he could put it in reverse and back up the whole way ??

I have installed hitches before I just would rather not if I don't have to on this truck.

I thought the same thing when I saw the posting above.
Trav