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# 1
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Overall everything went well. The box arrived with a few holes in it, but the hitch and all bolts were there and just a couple of minor scratches. Installation was pretty much straight forward, a little more difficult on the ground as opposed to doing it from a lift but that is generally accepted by do it yourselfers. Tool list is more extensive if you torque the bolts properly, for instance you will need a crows foot that fits your torque wrench as you can’t get a socket on a couple of the bolts. I’m a tool crazy person so that is no problem for me! I preferred the Draw-tire brand as I could put the rock and gravel Shield back on my 2010 Toyota Tacoma. Looks good fits great and etrailer.com did a great job of delivering the product at a good price. Thanks etailer.com!
The hardware is cheese. Stamped with grade 5, I would rather see grade 8 bolts, one snapped on me. My only problem is the hardware is cheesy, cheap . Grade 8 would be nice. I would rather see rust than know my bolts can snap at any time.
# 2
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
This hitch came quickly and I believe was priced fairly for what you get. Unfortunately, as some other have posted, this hitch is intended for my vehicle (1996 Ford E350 RV) but did not fit correctly. I had a problem with the front holes not being spaced far enough apart for the bolts to fit. The rearmost bolts go into a oversized and slotted hole in the underside of the frame so there was no problem with those, but the front holes in the frame have to be drilled out to 17/32" for the supplied 1/2" bolts per the included directions, and I couldn't get the bolts in both sides. The bolt holes in the hitch needed to be approximately 1/4" further apart. Also, there is a relief cut out of the hitch that I assume is to miss a bump on the under side of the frame. This cut out is in the wrong location to miss the bump in the frame. I went ahead and torched the slot for the bolt a little longer on one side and made the cut out for the frame bump bigger on both sides. A little grinding, a little touch-up paint, and back on she went. Had to notch the lower plastic valance just a little bit to clear the receiver, which was expected. Actually had to cut it a lot less than I thought I would. The two safety chain loops sit right under the valance, but I don't for see the need to hook anything to those, so I opted to not hack up the valance at this time. I intend to put a bike rack on the front, and also use the hitch to get drug onto the beach at Pismo from time to time. Hopefully the cuts I made don't weaken the hitch for that purpose. The directions call for this to be a 20 minute install. Granted, I took off the bumper, but even if I hadn't, and the hitch was fitted correctly, I find it hard to believe anybody could get this done in anywhere near that time. As another reviewer said, now that it's on, I'm a happy camper, but it was a little bit of a job to get there.
The hitch is good quality but the hole pattern did not match my 2011 E150 Ford Van. The rear bolts fall in the access hole. I have to drill 3/4 holes in the frame instead of 17/32". I have to remove the whole front bumper because the accesshole is to small for the 1/2 carriage bolt.
# 3
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Road tested 4000 miles & off-road, Solid, Great ! I always wanted a front hitch, it is rad ! We had a great experience across the board. Ordered the front hitch mount and had a mechanic (Weld Tech/San Diego) install it, because they already had our van to install their lift kit. They charged me one hour labor. I can see that it fits well and is solid. We went on a 4000 mile adventure with a small motorcycle on the front hitch. etrailer has been a good source for for a few things now.
I own a 2003 Ford E-450 RV cutaway and wanted a front hitch to carry our bicycles since our rear hitch is used for a trailer. I originally tried to mount the equivalent Curt front hitch, because of its cheaper cost, onto the vehicle. However, the Curt hitch wouldn't work because it can't adequately accommodate the slight downward hump in the truck's frame. This hump can barely be seen between the two hitch mounting bolts. The hump is on both the left and right side frame rails on my vehicle. If your frame is not totally flat (has even a small hump) you cannot use the Curt hitch. The Curt's small indentation on its mounting flange will not adequately accommodate the frame's hump. This Draw-Tite hitch, 65001, mounted perfectly on my vehicle and the installation procedures I used were exactly as depicted in the etrailer video for the E350 van. In the video, the technician uses a rotary file to expand the rearward holes to allow the insertion of the bolts. I had to do the same thing and bought a rotary file for my drill at my local home improvement store for less than $3. I did not have to use the rotary file on the forward holes. In addition, I have the larger Roadmaster front sway bar and steering stabilizer and as you can tell in the photo, there is plenty of room for the hitch.
# 4
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Added to use with a front winch. The install was not too difficult and the included instructions were spot-on. On my F250, the front tow hooks add to the strength of holding the hitch to the frame. On the F250 you do lose the OEM fog light location, but I used the wiring to add/relocate after-market fog lights. The set up has already proven helpful, pulling me out of a snow back while plowing. Just what I needed for some summer off road camping as well.
I have not installed the hitches on my truck but they look to be well made and will replace the OEM hitch just fine assuming it fits. I did lower the rating because of the shipping. BOTH hitches came by LTL UPS Freight and BOTH hitches were delivered out of their boxes. The had ripped through the side or end of cardboard box. UPS carried the hitches up to the garage and then placed the boxes over them. I am hopefully that all the hardware and instructions were delivered. After I get them installed in a couple weeks we'll see how the rest of the story goes.
# 5
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
I buy practically all my towing accessories from etrailer. One of the reasons why is that you can tell that they take the feedback of their customers seriously. I read a lot about previously shipped products having fell out of the box in certain areas. etrailer heard that feedback and my shipping box was reinforced in just the right areas that were talked about getting punched through in shipping. The tech notes video on the 2012 F-250 applied exactly on my 2016 F-250. All the measurement specifications were correct as well. This is a job that can be done by one person, albeit you'll have to be careful. Your second set of hands can be jack stands, as it was in my case. If you take your time in positioning everything - installation will be a breeze. I do agree with previous reviews - it would be nice to have a second fishing wire as it does get stretched out when pulling the first bolt through. That, or a heavier duty gauged wire - that's just a small detail however. If you're really concerned about it, you can buy a secondary fishing wire at around 5 bucks. I spent more time taking out and putting back in body clips than I did with the install of the hitch receiver hardware. I really like the way it looks and I'm excited to use it.
I plan on installing it tomorrow, however first impressions are not good. The box it item was shipped in was extremely damaged. Torn, ripped and taped up on all sides. The delivery person said that due to the sharp edges and the face it wasn't secured in the box (lose) led to the damage. It appears the item was not packaged properly. I just hope all the parts are there. More to follow.
# 6
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
2007 Toyota TundraThis was one of the easiest accessories I’ve installed on my Tundra. It is a front receiver hitch so I don’t use it very often. Mostly just for bike racks when towing a trailer, but when you need it you need it.
Straight forward and perfect fit on my 2008 Toyota Tundra!!
# 7
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
1998 Ford F-150 and F-250 Light DutyGreat product,easy installation and dealing with etrailer has been a real good experience.
# 8
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Install went perfectly. It all bolted up just how the instructions said it would. The hardest part was navigating your tools in the tight spaces. Having the deep sockets as suggested is definitely worth it. I was also able to utilize a cordless impact wrench and it helped a ton. This will work great for our bike rack.
Delivery was super fast, instructions and instructional video was excellent. Installed my new part in less than 40 minutes
# 9
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Very easy to install. works great for bike rack and generator box.
After struggling with the answering menu, Steve Z. was instrumental in locating a hitch to fit my van which was not specifically identified in any data search. Weird year, 2005, of popular Chevy Express van, my luck! Using manufacturers dimensions I purchased #31016 on 12/21 and it arrived on 12/24. It's a very well built, USA built, unit. It arrived rapidly, but was missing half of the mounting hardware. The remainder of the hardware was rolling around in the box. Zip lock baggie ripped apart spilling them. I used a hydraulic jack to elevate hitch into place, and an additional jack to push the drill up to drill the 6 mounting holes necessary. No factory hole alignment. All the nuts for the bolts were lost in transit, but by a Christmas day miracle, I found 2 metric nuts to fit supplied bolts that survived the delivery. I will acquire, and install remaining missing 4 tomorrow. The installation went smooth and easy using this technique. It took around 3 hours with much of the time searching for hardware.' Thanks Steve Z. and etrailer. .
# 10
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Great customer service and product.
The quality and fit is exceptional. So much so that this is the third hitch assembly I've purchased and installed. This one was for my brother in-laws 1999 F350. I also put a 10k winch on a slider that works perfectly with this assembly. Other vehicles I purchased and installed assemblies on are a 2011 F350 and a 2016 Class C motorhome. Very happy.
# 11
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Quality hitch and the excellent service all the way around I'm used to getting from etrailer over the years. Installed on my 2016 Sierra Denali 2500HD, note instructions say on first line down that it does not fit the Denali trim due to extensive fascia cutting required; actually it was quite simple with the aid of a 4-1/2" cutoff disk and a sawzall. Installation is much easier with two people. See attached pics for actual material removed, note the lower fascia need not be cut for the hitch to fit through the hole. Maybe more work to install than the Curt hitch, but well worth the additional ground clearance.
The hitch was easy to install. The only issue is who ever welded it put the front ring on and it's turned to one side. It functions fine but bothers my OCD.
# 12
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
How it was received; either is was mail destroyed or UPS did this in the process. No telling what parts are missing, waiting for UPS to come pick this and E-Trailer to send out replacement. I thought these product would be packaged better from the factory for shipping resilience.
Of the many hitch receivers I have purchased, the front mounted ones have never failed to surprise me of their usefulness! From bike racks, to carrier for coolers, to my chainsaws, gas and oil, they make it work. Recently while cutting wood for a hunting lease engagement, I put a second ball on the front and used it to drive a 16' trailer up a hill to get the wood where it was needed for offloading. Backing it up had resulting in damaged trucks, trailers and numerous attempts. Using the front hitch it was a one and done deal! Love it! I have even used it to pull trees over when felling. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the uses! If you have ever thought about it, just stop and order! You won't regret it!
# 13
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
I'm off to overland in Texas and wanted you to know that the hitch and winch carrier are perfect. Using quick connectors, I can use ir on the front and rear. Removing it also saves on gas. It works great with a moulded number, saving on buying a specialized steel bumper and other expensive attachments. I like that I can still have all the internal mud guards and brush cover without having to take them off and not be able to have them on. Awesome!
This is a high quality hitch that fits the Gladiator perfectly. The hardest part of the installation was removing and reinstalling the push fasteners on the plastic air dam. While the hitch fit is perfect, the instructions for cutting the plastic air dam leave something to be desired. I finally had to eyeball the location for the hole and then found that the suggested utility knife simply wouldn't cut the plastic air dam. An oscillating saw solved the cutting problem easily and the best guess location worked out. Am I happy with the end result? You bet! Would I do it again? Absolutely.
# 14
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
1996 Chevrolet SuburbanI have had the front receiver hitch installed on my 1996 Suburban for about a year now. I have a 12000 lb winch installed using that receiver hitch. I have gotten stuck twice and had to use the winch to extract the truck. Very glad that I have the front receiver hitch as it made putting on the winch very easy. Also useful for mounting a receiver mount bicycle rack to the front as well.
Product was shipped promptly and arrived a few days later. Packing was good for a heavy item with pointy edges, no issues breaking out of the box. Installation on a lift took about 30 minutes on my 1999 K2500 Suburban. The bolts were long enough to allow for my tow hooks that were already in place. A bolt stringer to pull the rear bolts from the top (inside the frame) is provided along with nuts, the other four just replaced the stock bolts that I had that mount from the bottom into tapped frame metal through the tow hooks. Curt makes great quality stuff. Clearance was reduced a little but I'm not concerned about it.
# 15
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
I bought this after years of struggling to get a race trailer in the backyard. When I decided to move it about 12 feet to the right, I knew there was no way my F350 4X4 crew-cab could make the tight turns that would be required. After being able to position it on the first try, I realized I should have bought it 20 years ago. The installation took two tries. Not sure if it because I’m 66 or trying to do it by myself. The key for me was to hook a couple of straps to it, unbolt it, and then put the bumper on the engine compartment. The first attempt was by trying to do everything from the backside. Once I removed the bumper completely, I was able to do everything from the from, so I was not completely blind in installing the two side bolts. The straps not only made it easier to reinstall it, they were useful in pulling up on side to level it. I will be buying my son one for his 2016 F150 4X4
Package shipped and arrived quickly. Install was relatively easy, but took longer as the bolts were actually larger (7/8") - and I did not have a shallow socket for it that was also 1/2" drive for my torque wrench. I also needed remove the grill cover to have enough throw to tighten back on the bumper after the hitch was bolted on (which blocked access from the bottom). I would recommend getting some 9/16" shank carriage bolts to help align and secure the front flange while tightening the sides to the frame. I used a floor jack on level pavement to raise the hitch into position. Overall - it looks great and functions well. Very stout and strongly built with superb welds and finish. This will make getting smaller trailers into tight spaces MUCH more easier and less of a headache/embarrassment. Plus it's also another point for recovery as an option for 4x4 or overlanding, and I also added a step to the front of it which makes accessing the back of the engine bay easier.
# 16
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
The hitched arrived three days early and I was able to install it in less than 2 hrs with a little help from my wife and a floor jack. Perfect fit!! No shimms necessary Vwrry happy.
2002 Chevrolet SilveradoThe hitch installed easily on the front of my truck and has given me more versatility in using my truck. In the summer I carry 3 bikes on a hitch rack when I go camping. I also hook up a 12000 lb. winch when needed. Sometimes I use the front hitch when moving my boat. This is a very sturdy and reliable hitch. Etrailer customer service is excellent.
# 17
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
This fit my Ford 2023 E-450 (cutaway) perfectly. I had measured the frame of previous year E-450’s and didn’t see any difference so I gambled and ordered the 65053 which fit. Installation was straight forward with modification and fitting of the splash guard taking 50% of the time. Fit and finish was good except at the front of the receiver itself. Unfortunately that’s the only two inches of the whole hitch that show and had weld splatter and sharp bits under the paint. This took a bit of filling to smooth out which I then repainted. Attached are photos installed on my 2023 E-450.
Easy installation, nice sturdy hitch that fits on the front of our C- Class RV to haul our electric bikes. Highly recommend it.
# 18
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Picked this up from etrailer for a great price, so i can put a hitch-mounted winch on the front of our race tow vehicle (and perhaps use it to get the trailer into tight spots). As always with etrailer, it was delivered quick (and free!). One of the arms was just slightly bent (perhaps from shipment) so I had to whack it a couple times with a heavy hammer to get the holes to line up, but after that it fit perfectly. The little "fishing" tool included is extremely handy for installing the two bolts that need to come from inside the frame of the truck. All in all, quality is great and this particular one fits with my factory skidplate/splashguard with a small amount of trimming with some metal shears. PS - we also have stuff from etrailer on the rear end. Highly recommend anything you buy from etrailer!
My hitch arrived quickly and my mechanic installed it in 1.5 hours for me a few days later. The factory skid plate fits nicely with 2 holes cut as a modification. His only concern is he will now have to use hand tools instead of his air tools on some bolts holding the skid plate at oil change time. But no big deal at all. I keep a 16 foot boat in my warehouse and maneuvering room is very tight. The door is narrow and there is a building across from my door that leaves very little room to maneuver my truck in. With my new front hitch I put the boat in the warehouse in less than a minute the first try. The front hitch makes it easier in 2 ways: 1) visibility-you can see what you are doing. You are closer to your work and you are looking straight at it. 2) with the trailer closer to the front wheels you can do things in tight quarters that just can't happen working with the rear hitch. Using the rear hitch the front of your truck would hit the wall of the opposite building. My only regret is not getting this ten years ago. I recommend a front hitch to anyone who needs to maneuver a trailer in tight spaces.
# 19
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
Overall I love the front hitch and it's fit on my 2017 RAM 3500. There's been some reviews talking about the packaging and also about the installation, so here's my experience. The box was sturdy and was shipped via UPS. It arrives undamaged. There was some extra carboard added across the top of the box presumably to help protect the receiver. When I opened the box I noticed that one of the brackets was slightly bent. I thought this may have happened during shipping, so I placed the receiver in my bench vice and gently brought it back to square. DON'T DO THIS. It appears the slight bend in the bracket is intentional. The receivers fits very snugly to the truck frame so that bend it to make installation easier. When I tried to install the receiver it was so tight I could not get it up into the truck frame. I ended up bending it back out of square (about 1/4" on each side). After I re-bent the brackets slightly it fit great. When you torque down the blots the brackets come back to square and everything was perfect. My only minor criticism is with the instructions tell you to cut out a portion of the lower plastic deflector on your truck. The instructions tell you to cut a piece that is 4/25" wide. It doesn't need to be that wide for this truck - it could have been the same width as the 2" receiver. It's not a huge deal, but if you want a really tight fit on your deflector, then just cut it smaller. The whole process, including the extra unnecessary bracket bending, took me about 2 hours to complete on my own. I used jack stands to support the bracket during the install, but an extra pair of hands would have made the process much quicker.
Seems nice and solid, should be strong enough to haul my 425lb motorcycle + 60lb carrier. Based on some of the reviews about what a pain it was to install I decided not to mess with it and take it to a hitch shop. They confirmed some of the complaints I read here so it was money well spent.
# 20
Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
I had been waiting to find this Curt hitch on sale for a while. First off I get to keep the hooks that came with my 2004 Silverado Crew cab 2500HD 4x4. Then I removed two existing bolts and loosened a third on each hook. Using a floor jack lifted the hitch into place and threaded in the new bolts through the frame and into the hooks. The biggest problem I had was being able to reach the bolts into the side of the frame and hooks w/out removing the air dam. Looks GREAT!! I know some reviews have mentioned a reduction in ground clearance but my truck is not lifted and the clearance is nearly the same as the transmission skid plate installed by the factory. I sometimes need to get low hard to see trailers into tight spaces and I’m also looking to pick up a winch. Looking forward to many years of hard work.
Unbelievable how clean the install is for this product!! I was certain I would have to do some cutting or drilling, however not a single cut or new hole required. The product fit like it was straight from the factory ... even with the existing front Grille Guard that I have on my truck!! I also appreciate the FAST shipping and customer service, as tracking info was emailed after the product shipped without requesting this info and the product arrived within the same week. I've already recommended etrailer to other landscapers on lawnsite.com, as we're always looking for front-mount solutions for spreaders and other landscape equipment.
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