Question about towing

[Bmyers]

We just purchased a F250 on Friday. My old hitches from my SUV are to small for the new truck and not rated high enough. I have the gooseneck trailer hitch kit for it, but I don't have any bumper pull hitches.

As I was looking, there sure are a lot of different ones out there and was wondering what everyone was using for their bumper pull hitch? Currently, the biggest bumper pull trailer we have is 10K enclosed trailer (we have 7K equipment trailer and sadly our 12K equipment trailer was stolen a few years ago). I'm hoping later this year or first part of next year to be able to get a 14K tilt trailer bumper pull. (I'm vertically challenged and hooking up a bumper pull is a lot easier for me than a gooseneck.)

Currently when I want to move the tractor, we have to use my nephew's 14K gooseneck trailer, which is 31ft long. A little longer than I want to tow around with, but he uses it to take his vehicles to car shows and such.

Would appreciate any ideas on what different ones are using.

 

[Kennyd4110]

I bought a 2.5" shank Weigh-Safe hitch:

Weigh Safe Drop Hitch

The only hitch with a built in scale for measuring tongue weight!

www.weigh-safe.com

Like you, my old one was not rated high enough, and it rattled a lot using the shank adapter.

 

[shelkol]

I've had great luck with B&W

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Good day.

Congratulations on the truck!

My comments are towards bumper pull…I understood your mail was regarding that, correct? Then are you looking for the hitch or the ball mount? (I am assuming your truck came with a hitch and you are looking for the ball mount, correct?)

Are you interested in a gauge that indicated tongue weight? If so that certainly narrows down your choices. (I’ve have good luck with weighsafe).

If no need guage, Curt makes decent hitches and they are pretty simple. I’d personally look for one that adjusts height of the hitch easily with simple pins. That gives you some options depending on your load, suspension squat, or if you would ever change vehicles.

I know you did not ask, but IME I f you plan to trailer very far, and you just have the OEM suspension, Timbrens (I am sure there are other options) make a world of difference on long trips when loaded down. However if your towing is occasional you may not like the result when unloaded. YMMV

Anyway I’ve been using a CURT and am very happy with it. Before you buy, Do the math based on your actual hitch rating and the mount rating and compare to what you think you are pulling (some of the hitches and mounts have ranges so all are not the same)

Good luck.

Channel Mounts and Adjustable Ball Mounts

CURT channel-mount adjustable trailer hitch ball mounts equip your truck with a highly versatile and dependable towing connection. Our 2-1/2” adjustable ball mounts are ideal for CURT Commercial Duty class 5 hitches and other heavy-duty receiver hitches. They provide level towing for your...

www.curtmfg.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm, that F250 doesn't have a 'frame mounted 2" receiver' on it ???

To me 'bumper pull' means the ball is attached to the bumper.
A 'frame mounted' unit is, bolted to the frame and can carry /pull more weight.

 

[JasonW]

I have a 2.5” B&W Tow & Stow adjustable mount on my F250. Works for my variety of trailers and swings under out of the way. I leave it in the hitch all the time.
Edit. I have the 2” and 2 5/16” version.

 

[lynnmor]

Depending on the year of your F250 it may have rather soft rear springs, last few years are better.

The 2" receivers on 3/4 ton trucks are pretty much a thing of the past. Get the correct ball mount, using adapter sleeves will result in wear, bent pin and noise. The old 2" ball mounts used a 5/8" pin and the 2-1/2" receivers need a 3/4" pin, again asking for wear with a too small pin. Yes, the vast majority continue to use the wrong pin.

 

[ayak]

I bought a 2.5" shank Weigh-Safe hitch:

Weigh Safe Drop Hitch

The only hitch with a built in scale for measuring tongue weight!

www.weigh-safe.com

Like you, my old one was not rated high enough, and it rattled a lot using the shank adapter.

Did the same-pretty handy to have.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

OK, humour me guys but HOW do 'sleeves' go on a 'bumper pull' ??

 

[Kennyd4110]

hmm, that F250 doesn't have a 'frame mounted 2" receiver' on it ???

To me 'bumper pull' means the ball is attached to the bumper.
A 'frame mounted' unit is, bolted to the frame and can carry /pull more weight.

OK, humour me guys but HOW do 'sleeves' go on a 'bumper pull' ??

You're being too literal, we all know what he means.

 

[Marky]

OK, humour me guys but HOW do 'sleeves' go on a 'bumper pull' ??

It fits in there somewhere…

 

[Bmyers]

Sorry for the poor explanation. Yes, it has the full trailer tow package and I was looking at what ball/hitch combo to buy. No, not planning on the old fashion bumper pull, just old habits of what we call conventional towing (I think is the proper term). I don't even believe the bumper is actually setup for the old ball to the bumper type connection.

It has the high capacity trailer tow package and the fifth wheel/gooseneck package. The tow package has the upgraded suspension, so it has a GVWR of 11,100, GCWR of 31,000 with the way we have it spec and estimated cargo it can pull 21,340lbs according to Ford online towing calculator based on our VIN and the values we entered for cargo weight.

Most of towing will be local towing around 40 minutes or so. Being in Southern Illinois, no big mountains to worry about. Most of the towing is Spring, Summer, and Fall, with almost no towing in the winter.

Towed a few times in St. Louis and learned a whole new appreciation for truck drivers that do that on a daily basis. I will go over there to the terminal to pick up items, but I would hate doing that all the time.

Picture of it at the dealers before we purchased it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

sorry but I didn't KNOW what he meant, even though English is my native tongue. 'bumper pull' is the hole in the bumper, at least in my neck of the woods. good for maybe 500# weight/5000# trailer though I did see a guy hauling a triaxle trailer on a2" ball one day !

BTW most rental pickups, here anyway do NOT have hitches !

Nice to see he HAS a proper hitch setup and since it has 5th wheel setup, springs are 'good to go'.

 

[mcmxi]

Another B&W Tow & Stow fan here. They're not cheap but they fall into the "buy once, cry once" category. I like them enough that I have three of them with one for the Jeep (2"), one for the F250 (2-1/2") and one for the M1078 (3"). I like the tri-ball variants with 1-7/8", 2" and 2-5/16" balls.

 

[The Evil Twin]

10 years ago, I chose the Weigh Safe 180. All aluminum with stainless balls. Doesn't rust like my neighbors B&W did. I haven't owned a trailer with a 1 7/8 coupler since forever so only need the other 2. If I ever did buy a trailer with a 1 7/8 coupler I would change it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

BTDT, all 9 trailers at the time had 2" balls.
To me 1 7/8" setup is a 'joke',like WHY does it still exist ??

 

[mcmxi]

10 years ago, I chose the Weigh Safe 180. All aluminum with stainless balls. Doesn't rust like my neighbors B&W did. I haven't owned a trailer with a 1 7/8 coupler since forever so only need the other 2. If I ever did buy a trailer with a 1 7/8 coupler I would change it.

I have a log splitter and concrete mixer that require an 1-7/8" ball, and since I don't know if/when I'll be towing someone else's trailer or piece of equipment (rental or friend), I need and like having the option.

I have no corrosion on the B&W turnover hitches on the Jeep and F250 and the roads are salted up here in the winter.

There are plenty of decent products out there that will provide many years of service, I just happen to like B&W based on many trouble-free years of ownership that began in 2002. I'm definitely not making any claims that B&W is the best out there, but they are a well made, well engineered option ... in my experience.

 

[JonM]

i run a gen-y mega duty rated 10k to 26k with three drop slots one rise and one slot level with receiver it can be flipped if needed.

Mega-Duty 21K Capacity Truck Hitch - GEN-Y HITCH

Tow any trailer on the market with the 21K adjustable drop hitch. Highly versatile 2.5" drop hitch with 2 5/16" and 2" ball mount and pintle hook. Heavy duty truck receiver hitch. Drop hitch for the 3/4 and 1 ton truck market. Weight distribution capabilities.

genyhitch.com

highest slot i use for my 14k equipment trailer lowest slot is for my small atv/utility trailer middle slots i use for box trailer and horse trailer.

i have the pintle option for it which is useful for using a kinetic rope or pulling pintles.

 

[Bmyers]

My nephew texted me because I asked what they had for their F450. He said they use B&W hitch. They like the B&W tow and go and they have the three ball options since they tow several different trailers.

He also told me my dad has Curt hitches for his truck (F150), but that his doesn't have the storage feature which I knew that because I see them laying behind his driver seat.

So, it sounds like the B&W will be added to the list of new toys I want for the truck.

Thank you everyone for the input.

 

[Lil Foot]

BTDT, all 9 trailers at the time had 2" balls.
To me 1 7/8" setup is a 'joke',like WHY does it still exist ??

I agree. I have (7) trailers and they are all 2".

Knew a guy who didn't care if the ball was 1 7/8", he just used it with his 2" coupler- "Close enough".
Got away with it for years, until one vacation trip while pulling an old 18ft travel trailer with a '70 Blazer.
Driving down into the HWY 87 underpass (steep) entering Winslow, AZ from the south, the 2" coupler came off the 1 7/8" ball.
Safety chains held (crossed? ) and the tongue of the trailer surged forward & ripped out the rear light wiring, destroyed the gas tank, bent up the rear sheet metal, and shredded both rear tires.
Expensive lesson.