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This sturdy steel hitch from B&W is designed to fit your heavy-duty towing needs. Safety chain loops are built in and an electrical bracket is included for mounting your 7-way trailer connector (sold separately). Powder coat finish resists rust.
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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on this 1988 Ford F-250, we're going to review and install the B&W Heavy Duty Trailer Hitch Receiver, part number BWHDRH25122. All steel construction with a powder coat finish to it. You'll notice it does sit below the bumper, have about 2", maybe 2-1/2" of clearance down below so we don't have to worry about interference. This does have a 2" opening right here and uses a 5/8" hitch pin hole. Even our safety chain loops here are constructed from heavy duty steel as well. It does have a thick spacing right here between the opening and the outside edge so this inaudible 00:00:37 big sized hooks. Weight capacity of your hitch is right at the top. It actually has a 16,000-lbs of pull weight and also 1,600-lbs of tongue weight.
This also comes with a bracket right here, to fit a variety of different connectors out there. Our hitch construction is actually a bolt together style which means this one solid piece right here is bolted to our crossbar right here. It uses four bolts and all the hardware is provided. This is just as strong as any other welded assembly that is out there. This does bolt into the frame of our truck and does require drilling. Next I'll go ahead and give you some measurements to help you out in selecting some accessories.
From the top of the receiver opening down to the ground's going to be about 19" and from the center of your hitch pin hole to the edge of the bumper is going to be about 4". Now we'll go ahead and show you how we installed the hitch. First part of our install is actually getting the truck ready. In most cases you have the spare tire located right here, however, this part we don't have to worry about that one, but you would have to lower the spare tire and tire out of the way to put the hitch up. This is going to be one of the arms right here, and we put it in place around the slot right here, and also, for a Ford, these tabs point away from the center of the hitch. We'll take the 1-1/2" long bolt, put it through, with a 1/2" lock washer and a nut.
We're just going to snug them up and that's it. Then we'll go ahead and repeat the same process for the rest of the four holes, and repeat this on either side of the hitch as well. At this point we'll get an extra set of hands to help lift up the hitch. You could clamp this in place, but if we can go ahead and put it up against the frame and make sure it's up against this rivet on this side here, make sure it's even on the frame, and we'll just spray paint the holes to help mark the locations. With our hitch out of the way, we can see where our paint marks are, and then we'll go ahead and drill out our holes. We'll use a smaller piloted hole, like 1/4" or so and then work up to our final hole size.
You can use a 1/2" drill bit, however, if you can go up to a 9/16, makes it a little bit easier to install the hardware if you can do that. I'm just going to find the center, and drill my pilot hole. We're going to repeat the same process for our remaining five holes. Now we've got our holes drilled, let's go ahead and put in our hardware. Require 00:03:14 the longer 1/2" bolts and then also the 1-1/4" by 1-1/2" spacer. We'll install in our holes that we drilled out, and then with an extra set of hands we can install our hitch. We'll install the hardware on the front bolts first. On the bottom we'll get the plate with the hole that's offset, a lock washer, and a nut. We'll do that on both sides, but still leave it loose. With the hitch being held up by these bolts, one on each side, we can push this bolt up out of the way, and install the spacer block that goes in between the hitch and the frame. Then we install the same fasteners below. Offset block, lock washer, and nut. Nothing goes in between here, it's just the plate, the lock washer, and a nut. Just do the same on both sides of the hitch. Now with all the hardware loosely installed and the hitch in place, we'll go ahead and tighten down our hardware. We're going to need a 3/4" wrench and a socket to do this. Once we got our bolts snugged down we'll go ahead and torque the bolts down as described in the instructions. At this point our hitch is fully installed, all that remains is to go ahead and add our electrical bracket. It just simply bolts onto this tab right here that's pre-existing. We'll need a 3/8 nut driver to use the hardware that comes with it to install it. That'll finish it for the B&W Heavy Duty Trailer Hitch Receiver, part number BWHDRH25122 on this 1988 Ford F-250.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (66 Customer Reviews)
This sturdy steel hitch from B&W is designed to fit your heavy-duty towing needs. Safety chain loops are built in and an electrical bracket is included for mounting your 7-way trailer connector (sold separately). Powder coat finish resists rust.
Excellent quality and fit. Highly recommend this product. 723174
This is my second hitch from etrailer it’s a b&w. Great product and great service. I pull heavy equipment and dump trailers and has always done great without a single issue, very well built. 652822
Very good quality American made item. It fit my 1968 Ford F-100 perfect. It sits right below my new Fey step bumper and I can't even see it except for the square receiver hole. 130202
Steve S - 05/12/2015This is a really nice, really heavy duty hitch. It also works with other brands of vehicles so if one wanted to could take it off before selling and reuse. (My truck is a 1988 F250) Installation was very straight forward, basically get a helper, hold hitch up to frame, mark bolt holes with pen or starter punch, and then drill consecutively larger holes till you get to 1/2 inch. Bolt up, torque, and you are off to the races. I did not remove the spare tire but wish I had. It made holding the top of the bolts very difficult. Save time and remove the spare tire as your first step.! 555572
Heather A - 08/22/2018I am very impressed with this product. The construction on the class 5 hitch is something to brag about! Very well constructed and made. The welds and craftsmanship looks great. The only mods I had to do, the center holes on the frame were off about a 1/4 inch, it’s was no problem to drill out with the right tools. It is well worth the time to install, took me about and hour. This is why I’m always proud to buy products made in the USA [Thumbs up] The quality of the B&W hitch is unmatched. The process and shipment was fast as well. 1983 GMC K2500 729614
Great hitch, I didn’t even have to drill one hole in the frame on my 1988 GMC v3500, it bolted right in. The receiver tucked under the bumper very good The only thing I didn’t like was the trailer wiring plug bracket because it didn’t accommodate the new style 7-way and 4-way plug that come on the new Chevy trucks 584581
I just got this hitch today in the mail, it's awesome! Extremely well built and sturdy and the etrailer box kept it safe no dings or dents even. On a regular Chevy truck it will fit perfectly and installation is very straightforward but I would recommend having a friend help hold it while you get two bolts started. I installed it on a 85 Chevy k30 m1008 military truck. On these trucks people have problems with the shackle mounts fitting with a hitch and this one is no different. Some modifications will be needed to the shackle mounts, or the shackle mounts can be removed. 497538
Andy - 04/18/2019I couldn't find what i was looking for anywhere else and e trailer had exactly what i wwanted. I am extremely please with the customer service I received and the product. I will be using etrailer first from now on thank you etrailer. Nick R. 228621
Second B&W hitch I've bought. Finish is great. Solid product. Got to me a couple days earlier than thought. Good upgrade from the stock one. 792939
I purchased the tow hitch to replace a home-made hitch on a 1996 3/4 ton dodge truck. The installation when well with only minor modifications to the existing holes in the frame. The wedges and washers were use to insure a tight fit. The only concern I had was the mounting location of the bracket for the trailer plug. It hangs down too low and is subject to bending when traveling on rough ground. After bending the bracket several times, I have now relocated it into the body of the truck. Thanks for the great product. 782985
Far heavier duty than I expected (see hernia in dictionary) It only lined up with two of the holes in the frame so I had to drill 4. I used a clamp to hold it in place and set the first two bolts in the frame once snug I finished assembly and then drilled the other holes. Not a big deal. Very happy with the construction and the thick powder cote. Next the bumper!! 749658
Bulletproof product, fast shipping, moderately easy install with knowledge of tools and common sense. ‘73 Chevy 4x4 p/u 720202
Installation was easy.Looks great. It is just what I was looking for. 707956
Product is well built and worked well. Not sure if we ordered the wrong unit or not but we had to drill new holes in the frame to make it work and lower the fuel tank to get to the nuts and bolts installed to be able to tighten them. A little extra work but not a problem that we couldn't resolve. 691762
Good installation instructions. Easy to follow. Product was as advertised. 681944
Perfect 680396
I ordered this for my sons 1986 Chevy K20 pickup. My son got home early one day and couldn't wait till I got home to get started. By the time I arrived home he had the entire hitch installed. He read the instructions, pulled out all the tools, used my motorcycle lift to help hoist the hitch in place while he attached all the bolts and boom, it was done. I read over all the instructions, checked his work and it was perfect. The fit is perfect and is flawless, the finish of the product is great and looks durable too. 678874
Excellent fit on my '82 C20. Very happy with the quality and etrailer. Thanks. 671545
Outstanding product from B&W. I installed this receiver on a 1985 K10, I had to drill the frame of the truck for the middle hole but not a big deal. Fit great otherwise, easy to install and ordering and delivery of product was spot on, would have received 5 stars if I didn't have to drill. 640497
This is the best hitch I have ever owned and it is made in the USA. I will only buy B&W hitches from now on. 605839
Stanley J - 02/18/2020It was delivered on time without issue and worked great on my truck. Would recommend etrailer products. 597375
Purchased a trailer hitch it came quickly and easily installed five out of five 597030
Great service, quick shipping, and great product 594903
THE WEBSITE AND ALL WAS GOOD. THE PRODUCT WAS GREAT AND CAME WHEN IT SHOULD. AS FAR AS IT BEING A CUSTOME FIT WAS A WHOLE DIFFRENT SITUATION. IT WAS A MOJOR PAIN IN THE AXX TO INSTAL. OVERAL I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE 594197
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because two holes - one on each side - were off by a half hole diameter. No problem, I made the holes a little bigger with my cutting torch, but those who don't have that luxury may need to pay a shop for 10 minutes of labor. Sturdy and looks good. 590353
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