I am wondering how much i can tow with a stock bumper on the truck. its a 4.9 six 2wd 3.55 rear end reg cab long bed. anyone have the numbers? I also dont want much bending/bowing on the bumper. thanks

 

Owners manual has a break down of all the towing and tongue weight limits on your truck in a chart. Should give you all the info you need.

If you bumper bows or bends when you put a trailer on it, the rear will be sitting on the bumper stops - both are indications there is too much weight.

Good luck

 

Don't do it man, get a Reese. After my rear bumper snapped off twice I put the Reese on. My trailer isn't even that heavy.

 

I agree. Buy a Class III hitch and you won't have to worry about the bumper falling off because the brackets were rusted through. Receivers also make it nice to be able to level your trailer with different drops. I assume you haven't towed anything yet, so make sure you don't forget about lights. I'd go with a 7 pin RV and then get an adapter for a 4 pin so that you can pretty much pull any trailer.

 

Ive pulled probably 4000 pounds with my boat and trailer, and my dad towed 7000 lbs with his project car on a car trailer. This was all on the bumper hitch of course. 1989 F-150 Lariat 4.9L M5OD 4x4 3.55 LS (F&R)

 

I have a 93 and I think I remember reading the bumper was rated for 5,000 lbs. I still wouldn't trust it. Plus you need don't have anywhere to hook your safety chains.

 

Yes you do, there are holes underneath the bumper to loop the chains through on my truck. I just have the staindard XLT Lariat step bumper.

 

If you can afford it go with the Reese Class III. You won't regret it. If you do have to tow from the bumper be sure to balance the load on the trailer so it does not exceed a 300 lb tongue weight. I have a 87 that I tow two large commercial mowers with and basically load them so there is VERY LITTLE weight on the bumper. This is for local driving. I buy and sell motorcycles and have the class III on the 92 that I use to pick up bikes on a 2 bike trailer. Would hate to have them pass me @ 70 mpg!

 

Yeah. the most i would tow is 2000-3000 lbs. i saw some hitches in advance and pepboys too. might have to check them out.

 

another cost-effective option is to head to your local salvage yard. i got a class III hitch for $30, all i had to do was buy some grade 8 bolts to hook it up.