Do they make such a thing? I need just the ball. I've seen the inserts with 3 balls on it with a 1 7/8 rated to 3,500 lbs.... but I just bought a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport with the factory-installed step bumper tow hitch rated to 3,500 lbs. I can put a 1 7/8 ball rated to just 2,000 lbs on it and pull my 1500 lb dry-weight camper, but I thought I might as well get a 3,500 lb rated ball if I can find one.
Have you tried etrailer.com? I found this one (//%22http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=SC12-C&Category_Code=B1%22).
Kind of a mote point as the coupler for trailers in 1 7/8" size is a class I rated for 2000 pounds maximum. Once you go over 2000 pounds the coupler rating goes to a class II which is 3500 pounds and sized for a 2" ball.
You can spend extra money for a higher rated ball but you won't find anything sold that will use the extra rating.
Quote from: mccheezDo they make such a thing? I need just the ball. I've seen the inserts with 3 balls on it with a 1 7/8 rated to 3,500 lbs.... but I just bought a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport with the factory-installed step bumper tow hitch rated to 3,500 lbs. I can put a 1 7/8 ball rated to just 2,000 lbs on it and pull my 1500 lb dry-weight camper, but I thought I might as well get a 3,500 lb rated ball if I can find one.
You really want to get a receiver hitch if you can, so that you can tow at the correct height. Plus you won't tear your bumper off.
Quote from: wynotYou really want to get a receiver hitch if you can, so that you can tow at the correct height. Plus you won't tear your bumper off.
It's a step bumper, separate from the regular bumper and attached the same as a weight distributing hitch. It's not a bumper hitch like one would think. Straight out of the factory when brand new. It's a Ford factory-installed Class II weight-distributing hitch.
We need a few definitions here:
Ford does not include "standard bumpers" with Step bumpers. What they do have is a class II RECEIVER which pokes out through the standard bumper.
A step bumper has a flat to allow a ball to be mounted.
The "standard" receiver is a class II with a 1 1/4" opening. That requires a drawbar to mount a ball.
Drawbars with differing drops are available so a trailer can be towed in a level attitude.
You can't use a 1 7/8 ball" to tow a trailer with a 2" coupler. And most if not all PU's come with a 2" coupler. That means two drawbars, a multiple head ball, or changing over the ball depending on what you tow.
A class II receiver will not accept a WD type hitch. NO class II receiver is rated for Weight Distribution. They are strictly weight carrying.
Quote from: mike4947We need a few definitions here:
Ford does not include "standard bumpers" with Step bumpers. What they do have is a class II RECEIVER which pokes out through the standard bumper.
A step bumper has a flat to allow a ball to be mounted.
The "standard" receiver is a class II with a 1 1/4" opening. That requires a drawbar to mount a ball.
Drawbars with differing drops are available so a trailer can be towed in a level attitude.
You can't use a 1 7/8 ball" to tow a trailer with a 2" coupler. And most if not all PU's come with a 2" coupler. That means two drawbars, a multiple head ball, or changing over the ball depending on what you tow.
A class II receiver will not accept a WD type hitch. NO class II receiver is rated for Weight Distribution. They are strictly weight carrying.
I'm not so sure about all that. That's true for the later models. I don't know what year or model Ford mccheez has. Maybe you do know. :D
Quote from: mike4947We need a few definitions here:
Ford does not include "standard bumpers" with Step bumpers. What they do have is a class II RECEIVER which pokes out through the standard bumper.
A step bumper has a flat to allow a ball to be mounted.
The "standard" receiver is a class II with a 1 1/4" opening. That requires a drawbar to mount a ball.
Drawbars with differing drops are available so a trailer can be towed in a level attitude.
You can't use a 1 7/8 ball" to tow a trailer with a 2" coupler. And most if not all PU's come with a 2" coupler. That means two drawbars, a multiple head ball, or changing over the ball depending on what you tow.
A class II receiver will not accept a WD type hitch. NO class II receiver is rated for Weight Distribution. They are strictly weight carrying.
http://www.gelexan.com/resins/fr/markets/automotive/sae/sae2000011078.pdf#search='2001%20ford%20explorer%20sport%20step%20bumper%20towing'http://www.hillerford.com/Web%20Pages/resource%20library/2001/2001suv/2001explorer2dr/2001explorer2drmain.htmI have a 3,500 lb rated step bumper which when you get beneath the vehicle has a specific attachment to the frame. Perhaps it is an integrated thing, but there is a Specific attachment from the step bumper to the frame.
The ball on it is simply attacked with a bolt. There is currently a 2'' ball on it and I need to change it to a 1 7/8'' ball to accomodate the camper I bought, which has a 1 7/8'' coupler. I can put a 2,000 lb rated ball on it, but figured I might as well put a stronger one on if one exists.
I found that several do in fact exist. U-Haul sells a 1 7/8'' ball rated to 5,000 lbs.
It is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, and it's all straight from the factory.
Sorry I read Explorer when what you have is a 4 door version of my Ranger which indeed does have a step bumper.
Mine was ordered with the trailer towing package which gives you a class III receiver as well as the step bumper.
I figured to use the drawbar/receiver for the 2" ball and the step bumper for the 1 7/8" ball.
Using mine I found that in the majority of cases the height cause the trailer to be well off level when hooked up.
Industry standard for towing is level +/- one inch.
So an extra drawbar with a 1 7/8" ball was obtained.
Quote from: mike4947Sorry I read Explorer when what you have is a 4 door version of my Ranger which indeed does have a step bumper.
Mine was ordered with the trailer towing package which gives you a class III receiver as well as the step bumper.
I figured to use the drawbar/receiver for the 2" ball and the step bumper for the 1 7/8" ball.
Using mine I found that in the majority of cases the height cause the trailer to be well off level when hooked up.
Industry standard for towing is level +/- one inch.
So an extra drawbar with a 1 7/8" ball was obtained.
I have a 2 door Explorer (the Explorer Sport), but I couldn't find a link that explained it other than that one to the Sport Trac.
So you have a hitch installed in addition to your step bumper? How does that work - they can just install it to be beneath the step bumper and then you can attach ball mounts of various heights? I may need to do something similar. I was considering putting this on the step bumper if necessary (#37003):
http://216.247.247.192/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=K&Product_Code=37003&Category_Code=stphtchLooks like I could bolt that to the step bumper, then use whatever arm is necessary to match heights.
I don't get my popup for a few weeks, so I'm trying to figure out what to do in the likely event that the coupler and ball on the step bumper are a good height fit. I'd be interested to hear more about your setup of both a hitch and a step bumper.
Quote from: mccheezI have a 2 door Explorer (the Explorer Sport), but I couldn't find a link that explained it other than that one to the Sport Trac.
So you have a hitch installed in addition to your step bumper? How does that work - they can just install it to be beneath the step bumper and then you can attach ball mounts of various heights? I may need to do something similar. I was considering putting this on the step bumper if necessary (#37003):
Most of us with truck-based tow vehicles have a receiver AND a step bumper. It is really the only way to go. Type 2 receivers (1.25") are somewhat useless in the real world, as most attachments are designed for 2" receivers (Class III/IV/V). I have multiple drawbars for our different trailers, which allow me to tow them level.
Yes, it is bolted to the frame under the bumper.
If you want to see what it looks like, just look at the back of Tahoes, Suburbans, and full size pickups. You'll see it on a lot of Explorers, too.
I've got a Reese hitch mounted on my '93 Explorer XLT 4 dr., under the back bumper. It's a model specific hitch(No. 37041 which also fits Explorer Sports '92-03), with the holes pre-drilled to match the holes in the frame, so installation is fairly easy. It's a Class 3, and I have a 2 1/2 inch drop reciever with a 2 inch ball on it.
With this installation, the camper is almost level with the truck, which is what you want for ease of towing. If you use the ball on the bumper set-up, you won't be level, the camper's tongue will be pointed up into the air, and may cause sway.
Quote from: Miller TymeI've got a Reese hitch mounted on my '93 Explorer XLT 4 dr., under the back bumper. It's a model specific hitch(No. 37041 which also fits Explorer Sports '92-03), with the holes pre-drilled to match the holes in the frame, so installation is fairly easy. It's a Class 3, and I have a 2 1/2 inch drop reciever with a 2 inch ball on it.
With this installation, the camper is almost level with the truck, which is what you want for ease of towing. If you use the ball on the bumper set-up, you won't be level, the camper's tongue will be pointed up into the air, and may cause sway.
No chance the step bumper will be level with the tongue then?
With the Ranger/Explorer Sport the Receiver mounts about 4-5 inches below the step bumper plate and you still need a dropped drawbar.
Anyone see any reason not to save $100 and put this on instead?
http://store.uhaul.com/product_detail.aspx?id=1718
With a 1,480 pound camper, this would seem to be plenty strong.
Quote from: mccheezAnyone see any reason not to save $100 and put this on instead?
http://store.uhaul.com/product_detail.aspx?id=1718
With a 1,480 pound camper, this would seem to be plenty strong.
Well, locally, it's $50 for a hitch install. Depends whether or not you have a good area to do it at. Receiver hitches are heavy and awkward. Other than feeding the bolts through into closed pockets, it's not a difficult job, but it doesn't hurt to have a floor jack handy to help support the hitch. Make sure you understand what you're going to be doing BEFORE you start. Having a receiver half mounted is potentially dangerous.
You may also need to do some large bolt hole drilling, so make sure you know about that before you start as well. I know in my case, despite what they said, the hole diameter needed was not correct as I couldn't even get it to start from the open side - let alone snaking the wire with the bolt through on the closed side.
Wow whole lot a men in on this convo, so let's just slow your roll to answer my small question - we own a that pup vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv there, and also own a Ford Explorer Sport Trac with the ball/bolt combo in the bumper. Ford says you can tow 3500, but that's just our GVWR.
Safe to ever tow with this TV?
Quote from: PITPOP27Wow whole lot a men in on this convo, so let's just slow your roll to answer my small question - we own a that pup vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv there, and also own a Ford Explorer Sport Trac with the ball/bolt combo in the bumper. Ford says you can tow 3500, but that's just our GVWR.
Safe to ever tow with this TV?
Safe? Sure, depending on the height of your rig compared to the truck. But the ideal towing combo is to have the camper level. Otherwise, your trailer tongue will be pointing up, and MAY not be properly latched to the ball. On a few other internet boards, we've heard stories of pop-ups slipping off the ball because of this unlevel condition.
We've used the receiver bumper mount flipped so it's on the up side of the step bumper so we can add a bike rack and still have the full capacity and cleearance of the regular drawbar.
Putting it under the step bumper will still leave you a couple of inches higher than a regular class III receiver mount and you might have trouble finding a drawbar with enough drop. I'd say do some measurements. Figure you'll need the flat where the ball bolts to the drawbar at about 14-15 inches. That allows for the ball height up to the normal 17" coupler height of a PU. Your utility trailer might have a lower height when level so adjust the numbers for the lower height.
As for the receiver on my Ranger it came as part of the towing package. The reciever is about 5 inches below the step bumper. It's identical to one of the Reese bolt on receivers.
For PITPOP: Yes you can tow with the step bumper at 3500 pounds. That GVWR is the MAXIMUM the trailer can weigh, not it's empty weight. But like the thread has mentioned it will have the trailer nose high which isn't good for towing. level is best.
As an addition you really should look into brakes for the trailer. 3500 pounds off the back means your are close to you GCWR (gross combined weight rating...the maximum the trailer and TV + any loading can weight) and Ford recommends brakes on any heavy towing especially once it appraoches the GCWR. Their figuring is the truck's brakes are designed to stop the truck at it's maximum load, but not at the combined maximum load.
Quote from: mccheezAnyone see any reason not to save $100 and put this on instead?
http://store.uhaul.com/product_detail.aspx?id=1718
With a 1,480 pound camper, this would seem to be plenty strong.
I'd be leery of any hitch that bolts to the step bumper. I feel safer with the hitch bolted to the frame itself, not an extension of the frame. Remember, the camper gets heavier as you add things in it.
BTW-my hitch was $89 at our local Fleet Farm(upper Midwest store similiar to Tractor Supply, etc.)