Short term towing with step bumper??

[Ofc Noobie]

I'm looking at buying my first boat, and I wanted to know if you all think it is ok to tow with the integral hitch on my step bumper. I've been looking at bow riders between 16 and 20 ft long, so nothing huge. I have a '98 F-150 with a step bumper hitch. According to the Owners Guide from Ford's website, the bumper hitch has a 500 lbs max tongue weight, and a 5,000 lbs max trialer weight. It seems to me that these boats would be within those guidlines, am I right?

I do plan to put a class 3 frame mounted hitch onto my truck, but it will be several weeks before I can do that. I'd only use the bumper hitch to get it home after buying, and possible one time launching/recovering from a local lake.

Your opinions greatly appriciated!!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

There's no problem towing it that way. I had a 99 F150 used the bumper to tow the entire time I had it. I did get a receiver unit that bolts to the bottom of the bumper so that I could use a drop hitch, but that's the only reason.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

I also used my bumper hitch on my 07 Frontier to get her home..BUT did have one casualty..

I turned a little too sharply while going through a small dip...The folded jack handle was too close to my bumper and ripped the helloutta the hard plastic liner that was in that recessed area by the ball..other than that..was a piece o cake

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

You'll be fine!

 

[Ofc Noobie]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

Thanks gents! Now...just gotta find the right boat!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

you will want trim tabs, fish finder or depth finder, gps. the hitch will never get on there.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

Where are you going to attach the safety chains? I used my 96 explorer for trailering heavy loads but can't remember...

 

[Manatee]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

Where are you going to attach the safety chains? I used my 96 explorer for trailering heavy loads but can't remember...

Bolt some big ol' eye bolts to the holes on either side of the ball (almost all bumpers have em). Works great, especially if you hang the eye of the bolt under the bumper

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

you risk trashing a 500 dollar step bumper over the cost of a 120 dollar frame hitch new at wally world, or 50 dollars at the j yard. a 98 oem bumper probly is a bit rusted and not up to par anymore. mine on my 98 jeep isn't, and on my 2k Dakota was bad 2 years ago, it twisted towing alot less than a boat. llq auto parts will ship u a hitch for about 50.
watch out for a boat that has been in salt water, life expectancy is about 7 years on the engine if not taken care of.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

You might consider putting that hitch on sooner than expected. Yes it will tow it on the bumper if it is in good shape. BUT you will see that the boat will not sit too level going down the road. Most trucks sit high in the rear and will throw the rear of boat lower than you might want it. Just my 2 cents

 

[Ofc Noobie]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

Oh, I'm certainly putting a hitch on it! Some new toys on the boat might be nice, but the hitch will certainly come first. I only plan to tow it on the hitch once, just to get it home. That is of course, assuming a find a boat before I can get the hitch on my truck. And, I didn't think to make sure the bumper is solid after all this time. I'll be getting under there once the parking lot outside my apartment dries a bit.

 

[eight tracker]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

make sure you get the right size hitch ball for the trailer also!

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Short term towing with step bumper??

get a lock for the hitch, and prop, outboard, people steal those off the boat in parking lots or drive ways, or a storage garage. They steal I/O at docks in the water.