So, apparently my 09 150 screw 4x4 4.6l does not have a hitch.
with a 7800# towing capacity I should get a class 5 hitch right? All of the sites I have been on list a class 3?
Help on this one.

Also, is a weight distributing set up a seperate deal form the hitch-as in a add on??

Now to towing-can't you tell?

Oh, I plan on towing a camper that I do not have yet.

thanks in advance

 

I believe its actually a class IV you're looking for, and a WD setup would be separate from the hitch itself.

 

that is confirming what I thought. Thanks

 

You are actually looking for a receiver. The hitch is the part that goes into the receiver and a weight distribution setup is definitely beneficial depending on the type and size of trailer you are towing.

 

Technically the ball mount is what goes into the hitch receiver.

 

Either way, Hitch, Ball, Receiver, Mount, Towing thingy... Do what I did with my 01 Explorer. Go to U-Haul and talk to them. Tell them what you plan on hauling. They will hook you up with what you need. They will install it for around 100 bucks or you can take 30 min at your house and do it your self. (which I recommend) it's not hard. Just do yourself a favor and when you get it put on or you do it yourself. Haul something for a short distance, do a lot of stopping and going, then go back to your house and RE-tighten the mounting bolts. You will be happy when you get your camper to camp instead of looking for bolts on the middle of I-80. <-- a guy I'm in the Army with had that problem. Very funny to watch somebody play frogger on a busy interstate. HILARIOUS actually.

 

No offense to the OP, but why would you (or anyone) buy a truck without a towing package? OK, it's standard on the FX4 and Lariat, but only costs $350 sticker on the other models (about 1% of the total cost of the new truck), and for that you get not just the Class IV trailer hitch receiver, installed, but also both 4 and 7 pin receptacles, already wired, a heavy duty radiator and transmission oil cooler.

You can add the hitch receiver later and install it yourself, and go through the hassle of wiring the lighting harness, if you need a 7-pin receptacle, but now you are pulling a trailer (7800 lbs??) with a standard radiator and transmission. At least you have the transmission temperature gauge to monitor that critical aspect of the towing and the trailer sway control is standard on all models.

 

Many big city dealers don't equip the trucks carried in inventory with the goodies expected on trucks, if they aren't standard to keep the price down. The hitch is a great example. Plenty of dealers in Atlanta and Tampa carry trucks without those items (when it's an option on the lower trim levels).

Anyways, the OP has found out the hitch is a necessity now and trying to plan accordingly.

 

All of the 09 STX models I looked at in Tampa did not have the towing package. They ended up getting my truck from a dealership in another county, it didn't have the towing package either. The local dealership wanted over $500 to add the package. I went down to U-haul and had them install the receiver for $200 and it has a lifetime warranty, it it falls off or get stolen or breaks or whatever they will replace it as long as I own the truck. Now I know it doesn't have everything that the towing package does. The truck came with the 4 pin wiring so I just added the hitch, that is all I need for the towing that I do.