Who else tows with their bumper mount?

[86RajunCajun]

Hey gang!

I was just wondering how many other folks tow with the ball mounted to their bumper since iv been reading and see people talking about how dangerous this is.

My tow vehicle is a 97 Mercury Mountaineer AWD. It has a 5.0L 302 engine making about 295hp and 310lb torque after a few modifications, and a 4R70W automatic transmission. Dana 35 front axle driven by a Borg Warner transfer case. Then of course the good ol tough ford 8.8 rear end with limited slip differential. Tires are E rated Goodyear.

My GVWR is 11,000 lbs. Vehicle is 4500, so i have about 6k i can tow.

It says in my owners manual that my bumper is a class 2 rated hitch. 350lb tongue weight and 3500lb trailer limit.

Its solid and has safety chain eyes underneath. Bolted to the frame and everything.

Why do a lot of people think towing with the bumper ball is a dangerous thing?

Discuss!

RC

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Back in the day there was a trailer hitch assembly you could buy that would be chained to your bumper, a friend of mine still has one, well you can imagine the mayhem that ensued as car bumpers were strewn across many a highway.

If your bumper has a tow rating stamped on it, then it's fine for that rating, although we've exceded that number a few times..we won't go into it. The only issue with bumper hitches is that they are a PIA to use, and invariably end up with damage to the rear of the vehicle by simple mishaps. On my old boat (and my old truck) I used the bumper hitch for a couple of months, until I realised my bumper was getting all dented in funny. It wasn't the ball mount moving, what was happening was the tongue of the trailer was 4" tube cut right at the coupler mounting area, so when ever I had to turn sharply backing into the garage (every time, I live on one of those funny boulevards) the tongue was actually hitting the bumper. I was very upset and immediately ordered a proper hitch. This also gives you the ability to get a draw bar with the right drop to tow your trailer level, making it more stable.

Ian

 

[skargo]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Hey gang!

I was just wondering how many other folks tow with the ball mounted to their bumper since iv been reading and see people talking about how dangerous this is.

My tow vehicle is a 97 Mercury Mountaineer AWD. It has a 5.0L 302 engine making about 295hp and 310lb torque after a few modifications, and a 4R70W automatic transmission. Dana 35 front axle driven by a Borg Warner transfer case. Then of course the good ol tough ford 8.8 rear end with limited slip differential. Tires are E rated Goodyear.

My GVWR is 11,000 lbs. Vehicle is 4500, so i have about 6k i can tow.

It says in my owners manual that my bumper is a class 2 rated hitch. 350lb tongue weight and 3500lb trailer limit.

Its solid and has safety chain eyes underneath. Bolted to the frame and everything.

Why do a lot of people think towing with the bumper ball is a dangerous thing?

Discuss!

RC

You have a proper hitch.

The bumper hitch is a ball actually bolted to a hole in the bumper.
Personally, I would never tow from a bumper.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

My Jimmy has a bumper hitch that I have never used. I just like the added security of knowing I have a real hitch. very light load then maybe but towing the bumper limit with it is a no for me.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

The joys of having an older Chevrolet truck My brother has a collection of older trucks and I rotate through them to so every one gets a little running time every so often. The truck I am using now is a one ton with a dump body and it's bumper is a piece of channel welded to the frame it has a square tube welded on the bottom for the hitch. If we hooked it up hitch to hitch with any new truck and played tug of war I'd rip the new truck in half.

 

[75reinell]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I don't tow from the bumper because with gear the boat is at max or just above the tow rating and I believe you need to always leave room for safety. Same reason I would use my 7mm to hunt deer with instead of my 22. Both could kill just nice to have the extra pop.

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Back in the day there was a trailer hitch assembly you could buy that would be chained to your bumper, a friend of mine still has one, well you can imagine the mayhem that ensued as car bumpers were strewn across many a highway.

If your bumper has a tow rating stamped on it, then it's fine for that rating, although we've exceded that number a few times..we won't go into it. The only issue with bumper hitches is that they are a PIA to use, and invariably end up with damage to the rear of the vehicle by simple mishaps. On my old boat (and my old truck) I used the bumper hitch for a couple of months, until I realised my bumper was getting all dented in funny. It wasn't the ball mount moving, what was happening was the tongue of the trailer was 4" tube cut right at the coupler mounting area, so when ever I had to turn sharply backing into the garage (every time, I live on one of those funny boulevards) the tongue was actually hitting the bumper. I was very upset and immediately ordered a proper hitch. This also gives you the ability to get a draw bar with the right drop to tow your trailer level, making it more stable.

Ian

Been there / done that.
Plus it always seems to be the wrong heigth.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I have a bumper hitch on my 1988 Porsche 924S. The only things I tow are my 1436 Jon boat and a 10' hyrdoplane. The hitch bolts to the bumper and thru the spare tire well it's a Curt class 1 rated for 1000lb / 100lb.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Because no matter how much plastic you add to a folded, formed and ribbed piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal you are still left with a flimsy POS ?
I would be willing to tow 500 pounds with the bumper hitch on my 99 Exploder, luckily I have a good receiver hitch.

I remember those chain on bumper hitches for those pick up truck like sedans of yesteryear, even then the bumpers were pretty flimsy, and with the advent of shock absorbing bumpers I guess that idea had to die.
Something to go along with those cheesy 70's chain on hitches was chain on bumper CB aerials, lOl CB's now that's 70's.

Old trucks Vs. new well I love old stuff but the trucks of today and the trucks from 30 years ago are so different its like night and day and I would put my money on the new stuff, the new trucks frames are absolutely amazing compared to the old C-channel frames. And while electric shift transfer boxes suck, stock 300 hp fuel injected small blocks and overdrive transmissions do not.

Towing a boat with a Porsche 924S, priceless.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Having both a 93' Explorer with a "ball on bumper" and a 02' Mountaineer V8 with receiver hitch I'll take the receiver any day of the week. My pontoon trailer is LONG and the ball on bumper won't allow me to make tight circles without the trailer tongue coming in contact with the bumper. My bumper is also rated for 3500# capacity.

 

[willieboy]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

It really just depends on the setup. I have towed 4500 lb combos on the bumper behind the old Dodge with no issues. I have towed 2000 lbs on the old Dakota bumper with no issue. In both cases I was below the limit both in total load and in rated tongue weight (barely, but within). So long as you know the limitations; ie. turning radius and load limitations you should be fine. And as long as your are within those limits, if there is any vehicle damage (under warranty), the manufacturer (OF THE BUMPER!!, not necessarily the same as the vehicle) will be liable. All that said, if you have a receiver, they sure are nice. Even with the aforementioned trucks, the hitch height was not ideal. With the receiver you can dial it in just right. But as far as how they are mounted, well they are generally mounted in the same place as the receiver hitch, sometimes even sharing hardware. As far as rating, they are rated for their maximum weight, receiver or bumper, the rating is the rating, so as long as you are aware and within the limits you are fine.

 

[doug glass]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

if you have safety chains eyes the i would assume that you have a hitch receiver and not bumper mount??

 

[86RajunCajun]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

if you have safety chains eyes the i would assume that you have a hitch receiver and not bumper mount??

Hey folks! Good reads. Thanks

I will clarify a little about my bumper.

My ball is mounted to the bumper which is like a reciever hitch intigrated into the bumper. It is bolted to the frame of the truck and is one solid piece.

The safety chain eyes under the bumper are part of the bumper that is mounted to the frame. Its like one heavy piece of metal bolted to the frame and then a bumper was built around it.

If the ball was mounted to a flimsy bumper made of sheet metal and not secured to the frame with heavy gauge steel and bolts, i wouldnt trust it either.

I guess the key to bumper towing is making sure the bumper is built right, and you obey the load limits its designed for.

Thanks again for input folks!

RC

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I always think it is funny when i see a SUV of Pickup with the rear bumper bent down on an angle. They always have a hitch ball in the bumper so it looks like a little to much tongue weight caused it!

I like to use a hitch instead of the bumper becuase it is rated for greater than the bumper and i can use different drop mounts depending on the trailer.

In my opinion, it is just safer. I would never tow from the bumper.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I can totally relate to what This Lil Fishy is talking about see pic below :

I used the bumper hitch for a couple of months, until I realised my bumper was getting all dented in funny. It wasn't the ball mount moving, what was happening was the tongue of the trailer was 4" tube cut right at the coupler mounting area, so when ever I had to turn sharply the tongue was actually hitting the bumper.

Ian

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

but back on topic, I have an 05 Dodge 1500 , came with a towing package, but no hitch , go figure it has a built in bumper hitch, says 3500 and 350, but we all know how that goes, anyways here are a few shots from under the back of the truck as you can see there is not little tin anything : its all tube connected to the tube frame, sold as a rock, the only down fall and trust me after going to 3 different hitch dealers, I can NOT mount any type of after market hitch under this truck unless a lot of serious welding and fabrication, there just is no easy way. The lack of mounting holes and mounting surface.
.

and important safety tip under any circumstances, do not tow with out a special bumper hitch ball, here is why, only could thread about ? of the threads on the nut, sent this pic to Reese, they have never seen this ?.
.

Now thanks to a buddy of mine got me a special ball that has like a 4 inch threaded shaft on it.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Jeez for another 2 dollars worth of steel Dodge could have had a real winner of a receiver hitch on their hands there, instead their brains went black and the company is bankrupt........

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Hey folks! Good reads. Thanks

I will clarify a little about my bumper.

My ball is mounted to the bumper which is like a reciever hitch intigrated into the bumper. It is bolted to the frame of the truck and is one solid piece.

The safety chain eyes under the bumper are part of the bumper that is mounted to the frame. Its like one heavy piece of metal bolted to the frame and then a bumper was built around it.
RC

You have a receiver hitch, not a bumper hitch.

 

[skargo]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Jeez for another 2 dollars worth of steel Dodge could have had a real winner of a receiver hitch on their hands there, instead their brains went black and the company is bankrupt........

They sell the receiver mount for a reasonable price, bolts right on and is good to go.

 

[skargo]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

You have a receiver hitch, not a bumper hitch.

Exactly what I said way back in this thread, his is NOT a bumper hitch.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Exactly what I said way back in this thread, his is NOT a bumper hitch.

No he doesn't he has a ford (mercury) which is designed properly. My two previous F150's (2000 & 2006) had bumper hitches rated for 5000# and 500# tongue weight. The bumper consists of the standard metal bumper with 1/4" steel plate attached to the frame of the truck hidden under the fancy chrome sheet metal bumper. Under the bumper attached to the steel plate is another steel plate with the two ends bent down and holes for the safety chains. The chrome 'bumper' is drilled out larger then the base of a standard ball, thus the ball is secured to the steel plate. GM and Dodge(as demonstrated) couldn't figure this technology out, so I am guessing you are driving one or the other. Likely one of the reasons that they required bailout money when Ford was quite happy to walk away. It's very similar to a factory (GM/Dodge) under bumper receiver...with the receiver tube removed.

That said, it's not relating to the question asked...and we all agree that using the Bumper hitch is a PIA if nothing else.

My buddy just inherited his dads malibu with the chain mount bumper hitch still attached...gawd...who ever thought that up must have been a few bricks short...


Ian