Is Towing With A Hitch Better Than Towing With A Ball Mounted To Bumper

Question

Question:

Whats better having a hitch to pull a trailer or just a ball on the the bumper to pull a trailer wanna know cuz dont want to mess up the truck an costing me a bumper

asked by: Martin T

0

Expert Reply:

Normally a bumper is rated at about 3500 lbs towing capacity. It is usually stamped somewhere on the bumper or possibly on a sticker. A frame mounted hitch is going to have more capacity for towing due to how it is installed.

Also, most trailers will have a towing height of 17 to 19 inches, and a bumper on a truck will typically be around 20 inches. If the trailer is attached to the bumper and the nose of the trailer tongue is higher it can introduce sway when towing. It is better to have a hitch installed and use a ball mount that has the correct rise or drop to keep the trailer level when towing.

If you want to send me information about your truck and trailer I would be glad to recommend a system that would work for you. I need the year make and model of the truck and also the type trailer you have. It is always good to know what the tongue weight is on the trailer you are towing and if it has brakes.

I am attaching a couple of helpful articles about towing you can check out.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

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Patrick F.

3/28/2020

I wondered if the U-haul class 3 hitches impair the spare tire assembly in my 1991 Ford F-150 XLT LARIAT. I have a lighter sailboat about 2500 LBS and wonder if my stock rear step bumper and ball assembly will do the job without problems and damage?

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Chris R.

3/30/2020

I can't speak for the U-Haul branded hitches, but we do have a few available for your 1991 F-150 that won't interfere with the spare tire, such as the Draw-Tite # 41004. This would work really well to tow your boat trailer. Most likely the stock bumper and ball would be capable of pulling the trailer (check your owner's manual for the capacity to be sure) but a hitch just offers a much more versatile setup that will let you pull the trailer level and transport other accessories like a bike rack or cargo carrier.

Helpful Links

Ball-Mount

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Caleb R.

10/21/2020

@ChrisR can I pull a 20 foot toy hauler with a regular heavy duty drop hitch? Some say I’m good some say I need the sway bars

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Jon G.

10/22/2020

@CalebR We recommend using a weight distribution system (with sway control) for any trailer that weighs more than half the curb weight of the tow vehicle. Since toy haulers are on the heavier side of trailers I do recommend going with one. Here is a link to our helpful articles on weight distribution systems that you can check out.

Helpful Links

article-categories.aspx?productgroup=weight-distribution

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Cody L.

4/28/2020

What hitch would I need for a 2001 Chevy Silverado V8 long bed base model? Could you send me the hitch information

Reply

Chris R.

4/30/2020

We actually have a pretty large selection of hitches that are designed to fit the 2001 Silverado, which I have linked below. If you can tell me what model you have (1500/2500/3500) I would be happy to make specific recommendation.

Helpful Links

hitch-2001_chevrolet_silverado.htm

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Tyler S.

5/14/2020

I have a 2019 frontier, im trying to decide if getting a hitch is right for me. It does have the bumper with the ball mount and i dont plan on hauling anything super heavy. I have 6 x 8 trailer and just looking for recommendations

Reply

Chris R.

5/16/2020

Assuming you'll fall under the bumper's weight capacity (and won't be towing too unlevel) the decision is ultimately up to you. I do think using a frame mounted hitch is a better option for a few reasons (versatility being one - with a hitch receiver you'll open up other potential options like bike racks, cargo carriers, etc), but of course plenty of people tow with their bumper and Nissan designed it specifically for this purpose, so it's not as if it's unsafe. If you decide to go with a hitch (which is a really easy install on your Frontier) I recommend the etrailer # e98869.

Reply

Devarr S.

6/26/2020

2017 dodge durango gt which tow hitch is better the one under the bumper or in the bumper which is better

Reply

Chris R.

6/30/2020

A frame mounted hitch beneath the bumper will provide a higher capacity and easier leveling (since various rise/drop ball mounts can be used - you're pretty much limited to the bumper height when using the bumper). For your Durango the Curt # C13182 will work perfectly.

Reply

Daniel S.

6/27/2020

can i tow a power king 5 inch wood chipper with a ball on a bumper it weighs 424 pounds and has a ball hitch connection its going to get hooked up to a 2001 Ford economize work van

Reply

Chris R.

6/30/2020

As long as the weight of that wood chipper doesn't exceed the bumper's capacity (check the owner's manual for your Ford van) and you're able to create a level setup you can certainly hook it up to the bumper hitch ball. If you find that the bumper isn't rated high enough I've linked our full selection of hitches for your van below that you can look through.

Helpful Links

hitch-2001_ford_van.htm

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Answer 1

The most popular hitch we offer for your 2003 Chevy S-10 that would work great is the Draw-Tite part #75051. This hitch would have more than enough capacity as it is rated for 3,500 lbs total trailer weight. I attached an install video for you to…

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Answer 2

Hey Sal, thanks for reaching out! The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #13333 will only fit if your 2023 Ram 1500 Classic doesn't have a trailer hitch receiver already installed. Since you said yours comes with the factory bumper hitch this won't…

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Answer 3

There are going to be several differences between a Class III trailer hitch and a Class IV trailer hitch like Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch, #41933. One difference is how each attaches to the truck. The Class IV hitch requires more attachment points. I…

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Answer 4

When towing a Front Wheel Drive vehicle like your 2014 Toyota Corolla with a Tow Dolly like Roadmaster's Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes, #RM-2050-1, you will tow with the vehicle in park. With your front wheel drive vehicle in park, turn off your…

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Answer 5

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 6

Hey Cynthia, thanks for reaching out! We've got the Draw-Tite Class IV #75506 and the Draw-Tite Class V #41933 that fit your 2006 Ford F-150 STX as long as it doesn't have the factory hitch. I've attached some installation videos of these…

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Answer 7

I have a solution but we do not offer an adjustable ball mount like the Gen-Y Adjustable 2-Ball Mount w/ Stacked Receivers #325-GH-414 with a single 2 inch ball. I recommend a fixed ball mount like the B&W Heavy-Duty Ball Mount - 3" Rise,…

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Answer 8

I'm not sure what trailer hitch you have installed on your 2015 Ram 1500 but the etrailer.com Trailer Hitch #e98852 uses a 3/4-10 x 3.25 bolt while the Draw-Tite version #75662 uses a 3/4-10 x 3.5 bolt. This means that you need a 3/4-10 with at…

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Answer 9

The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98852 comes with the bolts, flange nuts, square spacers and fish wire required to mount this trailer hitch to the frame of your 2003 Dodge Ram pickup. I've linked an installation video for this hitch, as…

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Answer 10

I looked up the towing capacity of the rear step bumper on a 2004 Dodge Dakota in the owner's manual for you and it can handle up to 2,000 lbs. If you need to tow a heavier trailer then you will need to use a frame mounted trailer hitch like the…

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Answer 11

It sounds like from your history on our site that you're looking for an adjustable ball mount for your 2017 Ford F-350. Of the three ball mounts you looked at, parts #MD206, #FA49-00-5625,and #FA42-00-2825 I like the Fastway #FA42-00-2825 because…

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Answer 12

For your Flash E Series HD Adjustable 2-Ball Mount - 2-1/2" Hitch - 8" Drop, 8" Rise - 18K #FA42-00-2825 is a nice hitch with a lightweight design, so I understand not wanting something really heavy. My recommendation is the…

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