Who else tows with their bumper mount?

[CaptOchs]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I particularly likke the post that supports the tailgate complete with machined end to fit in the ball hole.

The tags from Utah! Who'd a thunk? They have big hills there!

I would have figgured a more back woodsie redneck...

Who said it was machined? A sharp hunting knife and an awful lot of time was probably all it took... That had to have ripped that tailgate right off. It's funny in a scary kinda way.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

HEY! I live in Utah and don't see ANYTHING wrong with that set up. Just look at thos heavy duty S hooks that the "safety chains" are attached to the tail gate with. I think a few ratchet straps going up to the luggage rack would have been overkill. Yes we do have some major hills around here, in fact I can't think of anywhere he would have been camping in that rig that he wouldn't have had a pretty major incline to tackle. That is an incredable picture. I wonder if he traded in the escort that was photographed at the H.D. parking lot, for a real tow rig.....

 

[jtexas]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Is there any contact at all between those front tires and the road?

I been towing around 2,000 lbs (educated estimate) on the bumper of my explorer (capacity=3500) for years now.

Those who describe Explorer bumpers as "flimsy" might want to think about taking a closer look -- it's a heavy duty piece of steel bolted to the frame, as least as solid as a receiver.

Or at least, that's my experience with a '98 Explorer.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

GM actually figured that out long ago, back when they were still making good vehicles. Our '89, '94, and '98 3/4 ton and half ton trucks/Suburbans/Tahoes are all as you speak. But, GM can't seem to keep a good thing going, hence why they needed that dang bailout money. If we are talking old trucks (pre Vortec engines), I am a die hard Chevy guy. However, for all this new crap they are putting out, I really have to say I like Fords a bit better, which absolutely pains me to say.

Ah, you know what, that's a very valid point. I was a die hard chev fan until we started driving those Savanna's...friggen tin foil death traps. You can literally feel the frames flex going over a bump....Pre-2000 GM was tops. I remember our old VanDura's, those things were bullet proof! The 4.3 is a super little V6 too..still is..to bad the rest of the vehicle is death on wheels...don't even let me get started on the crap electrical in those things!


Ian

 

[ctraugh]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I tow with my bumper all the time, I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

HEY! I live in Utah and don't see ANYTHING wrong with that set up. Just look at thos heavy duty S hooks that the "safety chains" are attached to the tail gate with. I think a few ratchet straps going up to the luggage rack would have been overkill. Yes we do have some major hills around here, in fact I can't think of anywhere he would have been camping in that rig that he wouldn't have had a pretty major incline to tackle. That is an incredable picture. I wonder if he traded in the escort that was photographed at the H.D. parking lot, for a real tow rig.....

Send me a private msg and I'll forward you the e-mail. There are a couple more pictures. That goes for anyone else too.

Yes, it looks like there is hardly any front wheel contact. Must be really hard to steer a nice bump would pop a wheelie!

 

[DavidW2009]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

It's been 35 years since I've had a boat in the water.

That boat was a 1965 14' Silverline vee hull runabout. It was not very heavy.

I bought a used bumper hitch for the tow vehicle. It was a chrome plated bar with holes in it to match pre-drilled holes in the bumper. The hitch mount was welded to the middle of the bar.

I never had any trouble. I towed the boat 60 miles each way to the lake.

What was unusual was the tow vehicle was a 1965 Corvair automatic (2-speed). I owned that car for 5 years and the transmission never went out. It didn't seem to mind the towing.

One day at the ramp, a man on the dock was watching me back in to load the boat. He told me I would never get that boat up the ramp with a Corvair.

I said nothing, as I easily hauled the boat out, like so many other times, and drove away.

Structurally, the Corvair was surprisingly well made. I never had any problems with the bumper hitch.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

I've pulled a small-ish motorcycle trailer from the bumper hitch. It was well within the weight limit. The problem for me is that it's always too high, and since my truck is lifted, it makes it even worse. Even the the receiver hitch I need a 4" drop for my boat.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Okay, to answer the question from my opinion. Back in the 80's ad early 90's was a period of time when a rear bumper was an option on a pickup truck. You had to pay extra for it. When you did get the bumper, it had flimsy brackets that bolted to the side of the frame and the bumpers were not reinforced at all. Whether is was due to loose bolts or overweight tounges, I cannot tell you, but through that time, there were alot of sagging bumpers on trucks. Additionally, many of them ended up in the shape of a V like they were being pulled away from the truck and bent outward in the middle. I had a '94 Ford F-150 (I love Ford) but i never towed off of that bumper.

Now, I have not looked under any of the new trucks recently as far as rear bumper set-up is concerned. I have a 2001 Chevy 1500HD and a 2003 Ford Excursion PSD. Both are beefy trucks and have receiver hitches and everything I tow is on a receiver. Maybe the bumpers have been re-enforced and secured better to the frames to allow for better loads and performance, if so, then so long as you stay within posted limits, you will be fine and I have no complaints.

As for me, I prefer the receiver for several reasons already posted. Greater area of travel for the trailer tounge without risking damamge to tow vehicle (this is for side to side as well as up and down angle) and second, the ability to adjust hitch ball height for proper towing height. Third, simpler change out for different hitch ball setups, whether a multi-ball hitch or just different receivers for different balls. Either way, I prefer the receiver. I think anyone that tows often (I tow daily) will agree with me...

 

[rbh]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Yes the nice thing about a reciever style hitch is if its done right the weight is applied under the drive axle were it should be, not on the bumper.
I think if you look at your bumper there is still a weight/ pull rating stamped in some were (below lic plate?) .
rob

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Yes the nice thing about a reciever style hitch is if its done right the weight is applied under the drive axle were it should be, not on the bumper.
rob

How is the load applied under the drive axle? Both are typically bolted to the same part of the frame. In fact the reciever style will load the rear of the vehicle more due to the ball being further back, due to this a bumper mount would actually tow better, it may only be marginally better and not noticable though. As far as safety, there is no problem if you're with in the limits listed for it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Who else tows with their bumper mount?

Maybe a bad choice of words, the reciever style hitch we have is mounted further up the frame, therefore applying more weight "over" the axle than the rear of the frame/bumper.
rob