Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

[Mkos1980]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

Frame mount for sure. Only time I use my bumper hitch on the Ranger is for a light weight log splitter which needs a high hitch.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

Frame mount gives the most flexibility and peace of mind.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

If your towing under the capacity of the bumper and your have the trailer loaded correctly i.e. tongue weight, there is NO reason to spend your money on a different hitch!

Sorry but it's true spend your money, something that seams in short supply lately, on something else.

Do you really think the lawyers for Ford would allow them to put a tow bumper on a explorer if it wasn't safe. Of course not they would just put a plain bumper on there so you have to buy a frame mounted hitch. Which of course they could make more money off of.

Yes a frame mounted hitch is stronger.

Do you need one NO.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

...Do you really think the lawyers for Ford would allow them to put a tow bumper on a explorer if it wasn't safe...

Life's a business case, as we say at work and we've seen examples of it before in the auto industry.

What's the chance of a law suit on a bumper-towing related accident, then what's the chance of having to pay out significantly? Weigh that against the cost of a properly designed bumper bracket plus the extra steel and lost time in more complicated assemply across a model run of twenty odd years, and voila...the bean counters forward their findings to Risk Management and Legal and a decision gets made.

Same with the aviation industry. There's lots that would make airplanes safer or your chances of surviving a crash better....but at the end of the balance sheet it just ain't worth the money to Boeing or Airbus or any airline to implement these things.

Is the Explorer bumper any good for towing? Dunno. I probably wouldn't rely on it long term. Would I use the logic above in any decision I make when it comes to North American cars? Not on a bet.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

Most step bumpers are only really meant for tiny trailers and occasional use, if your going to tow anything serious and you need to adjust height of the hitch, a frame hitch is the way to go. There were some super heavy duty rear bumpers made after market years ago, and frame hitches were more or less only used by those towing large RVs, but todays vehicles aren't as heavy duty. The explorer rear bumper may take the weight and be able to pull it just fine, but most bumper hitches just don't have the lateral support needed to really support the load in all situations. A good hitch is a few hundred dollars of well spent insurance. It will also strengthen the rear frame of the truck a bit in the even of a rear end hit. A good hitch acts as a secondary rear cross member as well as a lowered bumper of sorts. I've had several rear end hits to my trucks that were no doubt stopped by the presents of a heavy duty hitch.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

how many ford pintos would still be around if they had a stronger cross member in the back of the frame?

woosterken

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

how many ford pintos would still be around if they had a stronger cross member in the back of the frame?

woosterken

What does poor gas tank placement in a cheap car have to do with towing?
And last I knew all the pintos got cut up and turned into race cars.

If he's 1,000 pounds under the bumper rating there is no reason to be concerned.

 

[hal2814]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

The 91-94 Explorers were definitely 3500lbs at the bumper. It should be stamped on the bumper. Not sure about other years though. I've towed up to 3500lbs (but usually in the 3000lb range) on the bumper on many occasions with my 91 Explorer and haven't had any sort issues. Keep in mind that there was an ancient recall on the 91 bumper hitch so if you have a 91 and never took care of that you could have issues. The only thing I always hated about the bumper hitch was that there's nowhere to really hook your safety chains.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

Okay okay I'll go along with you guys and say that the bumper is strong enough.
But now we have one guy telling us that there WAS a recall and there is nowhere to hook safety chains. Isn't it so much more prudent and safe and practical to just put a frame mounted hitch? You eliminate ALL the guess work that way. Geez, come on, when you have to qualify something 5 ways, it hardly seems logical?!

 

[wormz]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

why be -curious- if the bumper will/wont hold. just be -sure- and put on an inexpensive hitch. even paying someone to install it is under $2-300 which is a safe bet if ever you did need to use it, it would pay for itself from not having to find someone that does.
i had one on my f-150 and never even used it, purchased a boat with a goofy reciever(had to have the c-clamp style reciever) and i just went to the local u-haul and bought a cheap $20 reciever and i was on my way! the versitility i think pays for themselves.

 

[Stepney55]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

You should be fine with a small boat like that but I would get a better one so that if you ever need to tow something bigger you can. I have an uncle/cousin who bought an old 26' Bayliner Cuddy a couple of years ago from a friend of the family. He had three options for towing it home. His wife's birthday present a new Chevy Trailblazer I6, his 70's Chevy Custom Deluxe 1/2 ton with a Chevy 350, or his work truck an early 90's Toyota Pickup truck with an inline 4 and no receiver.

His wife said no, he couldn't use the new Trailblazer, his Chevy Half ton was in storage 75 miles away, so this leaves the Toyota.

We got so many looks coming down 95th street(Chicago). He and my dad were in the cab and I was in the tailgate. But picture a little red raggedy Toyota T100 towing a big raggedy 26' Bayliner.

Anyway we made it from the southern suburbs of Chicago to his house on the south side of Chicago. He backed the huge boat down his narrow driveway into his backyard. Guess what happened, the then 13 year pickup truck's bumper fell off and the tongue of the trailer left a nice dent in his driveway. So the three of us managed to muscle the boat into position.

He later found out that the boat's Chevy 305 had a crack in the engine block. So he managed to convert the Chevy 350 from his custom deluxe for marine application and he now tows the boat with the trailblazer.


SO anyway, buy a reciever hitch for your explorer. It will be worth it in the long run.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

I have a 2200 lb 1974 Bonanza (has anyone ever heard of this boat company?) with a 165 merc i/o. I am using an explorer 2wd with the bumper hitch. No problems yet, but I notice a number of explorers with larger hitches. Am I taking a major risk by using this trailing method?

You didn't say what year Explorer you have, but if its a late model, the bumper hitch is rated 3500 lbs trailer with 350lbs tongue weight.

For those who think the factory bumper hitch is weak, you should get under one and check it out. There is some serious thick steel plate that is much thicker than many aftermarket bolt on.

Unless there is some collision damage, or severe rust, you are only using 62% of the bumper hitch's capacity.

I have been towing a 2000 lbs trailer with my Mountaineer bumper hitch and have no issues at all. And yes, there are safety chain connection points.

You would be smart to spend your money on something else, and keep the extra weight of an aftermarket hitch off the truck.

 

[rocket1968]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

it is a 1995, tongue weight of 300, 3500 towing, I know I can lift the front so i am guessing it is 100-150 pounds. The boating season is still a few months away so I will see what happens with the boat or if I upgrade. Good points on both, if it is was a very nice boat I would add a hitch.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

I have a 1999 Explorer Sport that I tow with regularly. I use the bumper hitch and have seen no signs of trouble.

The boat and trailer I tow is around 2000lbs and I have towed a few loads of gravel in a box trailer that weighed 2200lbs not including the weight of the trailer.

Never a problem for me.

The only concern I would have would be badly rusted explorers where the connections might be rusting out, but this would also effect the receiver hitch as well.

It also comes down to piece of mind. If the thought of your bumper falling off really bothers you then spend the money. For the price of the receiver hitch it might add a few years onto your life. Worrying is not good for your health and happiness.

I know I feel safe with mine though.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

No Place to hook Saftey Chains = Illegal. You Must use them... its the law.

Also some states are making it illegal to tow with a Bumper Hitch....


Wonder Why?

 

[DJ]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

The biggest issue with towing with ANY bumper hitch is towed height.

The higher the hitch, the more unstable your trailer becomes.

I've towed with Explorer and Ranger bumper hitches. Everything went fine but I realized I did not have the ultimate set up and towed (cautiously) because of it.

They tow, so much better, with a reciever style hitch set up correctly.

Spend $150.00 and gain some confidence.

 

[mrmushroomman]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

I would agree to install a tow hitch to frame. I towed my boat with ball mounted on the bumper with a Chevy Blazer. I know it's not an explorer but, what i found is that the trailer didn't pull as straight as the correct set up does. I got a lot of trailer wobble side to side when on expressway because ball on bumper was to high and trailer wasn't level. Also had problems tareing the back of my bumper up when i had to make sharp turns backing it up in garage or tight places. It didn't have enough room for the hitch to turn sharp without hitting into my bumper. Definitly go with the proper set up in my opinion.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

The biggest issue with towing with ANY bumper hitch is towed height.

The higher the hitch, the more unstable your trailer becomes.

I've towed with Explorer and Ranger bumper hitches. Everything went fine but I realized I did not have the ultimate set up and towed (cautiously) because of it.

They tow, so much better, with a reciever style hitch set up correctly.

Spend $150.00 and gain some confidence.

Just because something *can* be done doesn't mean it *should* be done.

Yeah, you could possibly tow an awful lot with a bumper hitch ... on a clear, calm, windless day on excellent roads with no traffic. I've seen too many trailers swaying all over the road because they weren't level. I hate following them. Even then, if all I did was haul the boat 1/2 mile from our cottage to the ramp, I'd probably just use a bumper hitch. But not on the open road.

With your trailer and load straight, true, and balanced you'll hardly know it's there. Isn't that worth something?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

The biggest issue with towing with ANY bumper hitch is towed height.

The higher the hitch, the more unstable your trailer becomes.

I've towed with Explorer and Ranger bumper hitches. Everything went fine but I realized I did not have the ultimate set up and towed (cautiously) because of it.

They tow, so much better, with a reciever style hitch set up correctly.

Spend $150.00 and gain some confidence.

Hear Hear !!!! That should just about sum the whole discussion up !!!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Explorer Bumper Hitch - Should I use this or add a frame hitch?

Yeah but don't forget if you have a reciever you can totally miss the point like most people and keep your big stupid hitch hanging off the back of your truck looking for shins etc. to hurt