oldmanb777

My 89 didn't have a reciever hitch. Has the step bumper. But I use a reciever regularly. So I found a class 4 reciever on Craigs list and bought it. I installed it today. So my question is, it is held by only 4 bolts. The frame looks pretty flimsy back there. Is this standard? Or am I missing a crucial part? I carry my dirt bike on a versa haul bike carrier that goes in the reciever. Weighs about 350 lbs. My nightmare is watching my dirt bike fall off the back of the truck on the highway. So beefier is better.
Is your reciever hitch attached by only 4 bolts bolted through the frame rails? Thanks

mitchalvin

Mine is a class III held in with 6 bolts, from what I have read the class IV are very wide spectrum as far as carrying capacities. My class III is 750 7500 weight carrying and 1000 10,000 weight distributing. If the bolts are spread out then you shouldn't have a problem with it. While the frame might look flimsy it is actually a heavy chunk of hardened steel.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

My receiver hitch is held on with 4 bolts. I pull a 6x10 box trailer loaded with tools every day.

mitchalvin

I have seen a broken hitch only once, that was on a dodge that the owner had a small dozer on a large trailer without a distributing hitch. He also had loose bolts on the hitch.

oldmanb777

Thanks, I just thought it seemed a little underengineered. My Jeep had extra frame stiffeners inside the rails, and 6 bolts holding it. the frame was much wider at the mounting points as well. The Ford Frame drilled like butter, so can't be too stiff. My Early Bronco has the factory hitch, and it is held by 4 bolts as well. Just thought I might not have gotten all the parts. The data plate isn't legible either. I thought about adding some extra mounting points. Like to the step bumper. Maybe over kill?

oldmanb777

My neighbor has an F-250 HD with a class 4 hitch. The hitch looke exactly the same as the one I got on CL. Except, his uses 1/2 inch bolts. Mine has holes for 7/16 bolts. I looke at his, and as I expected it has doublers inside the frame rails to strengthen the frame mounts. Mine were missing. I fabricated some doublers, and used grade 8 bolts. While I couldn't really tell, it looked like his is something less than grade 8 bolts. bolts have less lines on the heads. He pulls a 4 horse trailer with his. The data plate on his is still legible. It says 750 lbs tongue weight, 10,000 lbs tow weight. I done't ever expect to do that, but glad I put in the doublers.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Doublers?

mitchalvin

I believe he is talking about spacers under the bolts that spread the clamping of the bolts to larger areas, most of the factory and aftermarket hitches have the minimum grade required. Most all hitches require at least a grade 5 hardware, if you use higher grades make sure that all the components are of the same grade. This includes the carriage bolts, nuts, and lock washers. Torquing to the proper specs for the bolts should be followed, these specs can be found in the front of most service manual or search online for the specs given the size and rating of the hardware.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Mine had those, but the directions showed them being used as spacers for clearance issues. Drilling those 1/2 inch bolt holes was a pain.

Good old Bill

Was wondering what the size of the bolts are? My logic is this, 4 bolts 1/2" diameter under tension hold the hitch and weight of the tongue, the same bolts under shear load is pulling and stopping. Now lets look at the 1/2" fastener for the ball mount. One fastener for the shear load of pulling and stoping. In my mind you are good to go.