Replies

1. 
   bill_1010 | Jun 29, 2004 08:08pm | #1

   class three with a 2inch ball. lock up your reciver. 

2. 
   PeterJ | Jun 29, 2004 08:17pm | #2

    2" receiver hitch, hitchhead and ball....probably about $200. Cheapest around here is U-Haul. Look in yellow pages, call and get quotes. They install tons on trucks like this.

   You can get a variety of heights on hitchheads, accomodating different trailers. I'd also reccomend a 7 way RV style wiring plug...allows whatever to be added later, (charge line, elec. brakes). You can get adapters to go from this to any standard trailer plug.

   You can also get all sorts of accessories for 2" reciever...bike racks, cargo boxes, winches. Before you go hauling that backhoe, check the towing capacity of your truck... look in your owners manual. Engine and gear ratio will affect it.

   PJ

    

    Whatever you can do or dream you can,

   Begin it

   Boldness has genius, power  and magic in it.                           Goethe

3. 
   WorkshopJon | Jun 29, 2004 08:35pm | #3

   Um, obvious question...What do you plan on towing?

   Jon

1. 
   UniqueSheds | Jun 30, 2004 12:27am | #7

   WorkshopJon writes: Um, obvious question...What do you plan on towing?

   I'm still in the planning stages but I was thinking about a 6 x 12 utility trailer.

   -Mark 

1. 
   DanH | Jun 30, 2004 12:33am | #8

   > I'm still in the planning stages but I was thinking about a 6 x 12 utility trailer.

   Heck, just duct-tape the ball to your bumper.

   (A standard class III from U-Haul or your local truck specialty store should be fine.)

   If you were going to tow something really hard to manage you might want to consider one of the swing-out hitches that makes hitching up easier, but they're a lot more money and weight.

2. 
   PeterJ | Jun 30, 2004 12:58am | #9

   Should be able to tow that, no problem.  I just bought one kinda like what you describe. Gross load is about 3000 lbs.

   Don't know where you are, looked for a while before I decided on this one...they would build it with all the stuff I wanted. Just pulled it about 500 miles and tows great.PJ

    

    Whatever you can do or dream you can,

   Begin it

   Boldness has genius, power  and magic in it.                           Goethe

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jun 30, 2004 01:22am | #10

   My new Chevy 1500 pickup didn't have a factory hitch, so I had the dealer install one, along with the wiring harness.  Cost was within $25 of Uhaul, and now if anything goes wrong there's no finger pointing between the dealer and Uhaul.

   Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!"  Then get busy and find out how to do it.  T. Roosevelt

4. 
   caseyr | Jun 29, 2004 09:16pm | #4

   Most of the commercially available hitches seem to be fairly similar as to construction and powder coating.  You will undoubtedly want one designed and fabricated specifically for your vehicle.  Here is a listing of the various load ratings in general:

   http://www.valleyindustries.com/trailer_hitches.html

   I purchased and installed the hitch on my 1993 Nissan pickup almost a decade ago.  It simply required a 1/2" drill bit to drill through the bottom of the frame for about six or eight (don't remember for sure) bolts to attach the hitch. 

   Unless your truck came pre-wired for lights, you will also need to mount a socket for the trailer lights.  If you do more than occasional towing, you will probably want to go with one of the round six wire connectors that attaches to the rear of the truck rather than the flat-4 style connector that just dangles down from the truck wiring.  I think there is a wiring harness for most late model pickups that simplifies wiring considerably. 

   If you ware going to be towing a trailer of any size, you might want to consider adding an electric trailer brake controller when you do the wiring.  However, this is usually somewhat more difficult than just adding the socket by the hitch. 

   http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=E&Category_Code=E

5. 
   rasconc | Jun 29, 2004 10:00pm | #5

   2" receiver hitch is only way to go unless you are only going to haul something very small.  I have seen them at Sam's club for around $79 that will fit Ford, Dodge, or Chev.  I bought mine at Tractor Supply for about the same price five years ago.  I was surprised how easy it was to bolt up.  I put mine on a C1500 Chev.  Most holes were already in frame and matched up well.

1. 
   Sphere | Jun 29, 2004 11:19pm | #6

   Shelton or Reese..as others said it make a difference as to what ya want to haul..

   My f350 also has the fifth wheel for a goose neck, if yer going that route ya can pull the QEII into dry dock. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

6. 
   VaTom | Jun 30, 2004 02:08am | #11

   I only use pintle, but this one did the job....

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

1. 
   PeterJ | Jun 30, 2004 02:15am | #12

   That must have been a washer-cutter...yowza!PJ

    

    Whatever you can do or dream you can,

   Begin it

   Boldness has genius, power  and magic in it.                           Goethe

2. 
   UniqueSheds | Jun 30, 2004 02:40am | #13

   VATom write: I only use pintle, but this one did the job....

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

   - Attachments follow -

   trailer_hitch_recommendation.jpg22KB

   LOL  That one is worth its weight in gold!

   -Mark