Front bumper hitch

[rweis]

Just installed a front bumper hitch. 500# verticle, 9k# horizontal. Direct bolt on, took about 2 hours. Ordered from etrailer.com. Shipping was fast, correct product, good fit.



I do a 5er and needed to carry bicycles and did not want to do them on the ladder in back and rear bumpers are not recommended to carry loads anymore. I took a test drive after the installation. I did put the handle bars on the copilot side, took the wheels and seats off the bikes to streamline them some. I will report back when we have towed with this configuration.



Bob Weis

 

[wcjp]

I've used mine as a tow point to retrieve the Dodge from various snow banks. I have also used it to manuever the car trailer around the yard. It's one of those accessories that you don't think about until you need to use it.

 

[cpo223]

Front hitch

Hi Bob,

I was waiting for your appraisal of the front hitch. The girl I spoke to said that there was some drilling required,is this true,& how much? I have a 2 wheel drive 3500 2003. I just got back from the Keys,super great trip,9 hrs 223 miles. I averaged 12. 3 mpg,total weight 18,450+. Pat Coakley

 

[cpo223]

front hitch

Correction... ... 420 miles!!!!!!!! I'm a lousy message sender. Pat

 

[rweis]

My 2002 2WD 3500 was a direct bolt on. No drilling.



There were install instructions on the etrailer page which were exact.



Install time was given as 5 hours and it took me about 2 hours.



Was not hard at all and I am an average home wrench turner.



I did not have to make any cuts to the air dam material either.



Was very simple.



I am very pleased with it.



Bob Weis

 

[JPS]

I wonder if this or any other front hitch will work with Darin,s gear box stabilizer bar? Anyone know for sure? jps

 

[Archive]

JPS

I have attempted to attach the directions that were mentioned earlier. if not here is the URL

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/m...ore_Code=E&Product_Code=65003&Category_Code=H

It's been 5 monhts since climing under the truck, but seems to me that the DSS is positioned below the frame rail, not in between.

So if the drawing is correct in the directions, it should fit.



The only problem is probably finding longer bolts.

The DSS, like this mount utilizes the stabilizer mounts.

With that said I am a bit leary of adding additional bolt length, any engineer types want to weigh in on this?



JJ

 

[JPS]

Darins bar & front hitch

Thanks for the reply jj. I do have the "darins bar" on my '95. Will have to check as to how its mounted. I think it mounted under the frame?? Hope some one can shed some light on this!! jps

 

[cpo223]

front receiver hitch

I installed a etrailer.com front receiver hitch today,fit great,had to drill 2 holes thru the bottom of forward frames,used a 1"hole saw which ate right thru the frame,both sides forward. I want this for carrying a 2 bike, bike rack. This hitch only has a 300lb recommended vertical weight rating ,with a 9000lb horizontal (pull) rating. A possible down side to this hitch is a 8 1/2 ground clearance, with my 2wd 3500,kinda scraped my drive way turning up,& in. I will see if I can live with this clearance. PCoakley

 

[wcjp]

My front Torqlift works with my DSS no problem. If anyone lives near Kent, Wa Torqlift will install for free.

 

[Cooker]

I have a Draw-Tite front hitch that I would like to install, but I don't think it's going to make it on the truck. I really don't want to cut a hole in my new Sport bumper. Just to verify, does anyone have one installed with a 99+ Sport bumper? Do I need to hack away at it for the hitch to fit?

 

[sellisrulz]

I added the Warn front hitch. Very nice, simple and fairly quick installation. Did have to drill 4 holes (7/16), and cut out a 3" sq. hole in the air dam. Looks really nice, should work perfect for what i have in mind. Downside is its not for the "Sport" models.

My . 02

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Here is what I need someone with one of these front hitches to tell me. What brand hitch do you have on the front, and how low does the receiver shaft hang? My problem is this: I have a Westin grille guard. The lower tube on the grill guard runs just under my license plate surround (see reader's rigs). Will that hitch come out low enough to clear my bottom brush guard tube? I do not have the sport bumper (as you can tell) and I do not have the factory air dam (never came with one).



No hitch dealer I've found locally carries these hitches in stock, so I have been unable to take one out to my truck and line it up. The dealers I've talked to say if they order one in, I have to buy it, and I don't want to commit until I know it will fit with my Westin.



Thanks for the help! Much appreciated.

DD

 

[dcscott]

Does anyone make a hitch that will go on the front of a Gen3 that does not require drilling into the hydroformed frame? If so any recommendations/preferences? I'd really like to have one for maneuvering my skiboat in and out of its storage slot as well as something to hook onto if I need to extract myself when stuck. Thanks - Dale

 

[BRUTUS]

Front hitch

I have a Hidden Hitch brand front receiver hitch, made in Canada. Well constructed and fairly easy to install. (2hrs alone)

No holes to drill and it clears the lower edge of the license plate frame by a half an inch.

Max Tongue Wt 500 lb and 5000lb trailer Wt is claimed.

Two towing loops welded on it might come in handy.

It does not interfere with Darryn's steering stabilizer.

Mine came from JC Whitney and cost around $100 last year.

 

[rweis]

The one I got clears the license plate frame by about 4" and the air dam by about 1/2". See sig for truck.



BoB Weis

 

[Cooker]

Bob,

What brand of hitch do you have? I checked your sig and couldn't find where you have it listed. Thanks.

 

[sellisrulz]

Its not a big deal in my mind drilling a couple of holes in the front end of the frame. The holes are drilled from the bottom of the frame, about 4 inches from the ends. I can see where DC reccommends not drilling into the frame back where a 5th wheel hitch would be mounted. Too much stress on a frame back there. Up front, nothing. If anything the frame is stiffened up front by adding the hitch, much like the hitch is in the rear of the truck.

My Warn hitch receiver necessitated moving the license plate bracket up a little, so whether or not it would interfere with a brush guard, I would have to guess it would.

 

[sellisrulz]

Duluth, I had a warn on my 2 gen. I had to cut a 3" hole in the black lower "spoiler" part of the front bumper. Didnt touch the grey part. Looks like your Westin has enough clearance to fit the warn in there. You'd have to move you front palte up, but no drilling req'd on the 2 gen's. In fact still have the warn front rec'r from the 2nd gen.

 

[rweis]

Mine is a Draw-Tite, from etrailer.com.



It also has two drag chain attach points, sort of like a V welded to each side out by the frame end so you could put a drag chain hook on it there if neeed be.



Bob Weis