Reciever Hitch woes...

black_knight · Jul 23rd, 2004, 11:24 PM

Well I finally put a true Class III hitch on my frontier (instead of the ball on the bumper) tonight and geez! If you buy the REESE Towpower reciever hitch... I found out the hard way that the instructions were all wrong. It said to drill holes that were already there and the bracket mountings were all wrong. a project that should have taken an hour and a half tops took more like 4 hours because I got the hitch put all the way on according to instructions and the hitch was pointing at a downward angle! anyways it's on and much better than towing with the bumper.

Oh yeah and before I even started I looked to see if the truck was pre-wired for the trailer harness and couldn't find anything. so I called to double check with the dealer to see if maybe I was missing the wires. The first dealership acted like I was a complete idiot for wanting to tow with my truck but the second one informed me that I needed a "T" adapter for the brake light harness and it all plugs right in. Only problem was he wanted 125 BUCKS for it!!!! I called around for an hour and finally found an AutoZone 25 miles away that had the same basic adapter in stock for 30! oh well it's all on there now and the next weekend or two I get to tow my Dad's 19' Four Winns Boat which ways about 4000 lbs trailer and all. I've towed it around the block before to move it with my bumper hitch but never for distance (since I didn't have a harness.) I'll let you know how ole Trooper does!

Later,

nissanjunkie · Jul 23rd, 2004, 11:44 PM

Yeah most of the parts that are designed to fit a broad range of vehicles generally have generic instructions and don't fit very well. I wouldn't overload your truck (not sure of the towing capacity of you truck) or you may be liable if you get in a accident as I learned several mins ago looking through old threads.

black_knight · Jul 24th, 2004, 12:04 AM

The truck is rated to tow 5000 lbs "when equipped with a frame mounted hitch" so it should handle it. I'm sure it won't win any stoplight races but hey if it'll get the boat to the lake, in the water, and then back out I'll be happy

later,

nissanjunkie · Jul 24th, 2004, 12:22 AM

Just don't try and do your own Doodge Ram commercial while towing the boat and you'll be fine...remember it DOESN'T have a hemi!

jadcock · Jul 25th, 2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_knight

The truck is rated to tow 5000 lbs "when equipped with a frame mounted hitch" so it should handle it. I'm sure it won't win any stoplight races but hey if it'll get the boat to the lake, in the water, and then back out I'll be happy

Boats are pretty "easy", because you're only dealing with the curb weight. With box trailers, you also have to deal with the aerodynamics (or lack thereof) of the big box. The biggest problem will be getting the boat OUT of the water (slick boat ramp), but with LSD, you shouldn't have a problem. Let us know how it does.

aaronford · Jul 25th, 2004, 06:37 PM

Hey, the hitch I put a hitch on my truck came off an Explorer. It was the Ford dealers Putnam brand. Other than the weird-sized ball mount, it basically bolted right up. I had to torch an unused flange to fit it, but it works great. Funny thing is that the truck actually corners better with it. It doesn't twist and roll as much as it did. I did not get a bumper on mine, so the last place the frame is tied together is above the back wheels. I have towed 2000lbs with it, no sweat. I have also lifted the truck by the hitch with a forklift to change a back tire. I got my t-connector from eBay for 9 bucks. Hoppy was the name brand. I originally acquired a harness and was going to solder in the diodes, but commom sense stepped in.