Factory Installed Hitches/Rear Bumper
 

I just bought a 2006 F-150 5.4L V8 after having a smaller verion of the truck (4.6L) for 11 years. This new truck came with a factory installed class III hitch. I was hoping to change this hitch out to a class IV, not that I would be pulling something that big. I seem to be running into bumper issues. I have not found manufacture that makes a class IV hitch to replace a factory installed hitch. I did find an obscure note on one web site that said I needed to order part number 5l3z-17D86aa with out factory installed hitch. Does anyone know what the problem is with upgrading to a class IV hitch? Do I need another part in order to support the bumper? Is there an aftermarket Class IV hitch I can put of?
Thanks for any help.

If you do end up getting a new hitch I'm interested in buying your old one if the price is right....that is if you want to sell it.

Trition V8 Yes I would sell it to you if I change it out. I do have a concern though. I am not sure if this hitch would fit a truck that did not have a factory installed hitch. You would have to make sure it fits your truck. There seems to be a difference with how the rear bumpers are mounted. I still have not come across an aftermarket hitch that will fit my truck without having to install a different bumper.

Oh ok thanks for the warning. Have you checked out Curt hitches?? I know there was a member on here that had an OEM hitch when he bought his truck and he switched to a Curt hitch and said it bolted right up.

Thanks, I called Curt and Putnam hitches. They both said they do not make an aftermarket hitch for the F-150 truck (after 5/05) that already had a factory installed hitch. It has something to do with how the rear bumper is supported. I am still confused which is why I started this thread. If your truck did not come with a factory installed hitch you are golden and can use any aftermarket hitch comapany. I liked both curt and hidden hitch. They both have a class IV hitch. Although the class IV is bigger than what the truck can handle, I like the peace of mind especially if you have a good size load. If I don't hear from anyone that may have a solution to my problem I can always use a wieght distrubution hitch as hall what I need to safely. Long hauls WD is the way to go.

I didn't know that about upgrading the OEM hitch. That's kind of odd. I only asked about getting yours because I'm looking for one.

So what are your options now??

I did not know either. I was hoping it would be simple. Story of my life. Hopefully someone may have a better solution that a weight distrubution system. If you do not have a factory installed hitch then it is straight forward.

This may not be the exact answer you are looking for but could you remove the factory hitch and just install an aftermarket hitch. Maybe I am not totally understanding your issue.

What he's saying DJC is that he can't upgrade his OEM hitch because of different bumper supports.

To be honest I don't see the difference in a truck with the tow package and a truck without the tow package.

Class IV hitches are not standardized in other words some have a 2.5 inch others have a 2 inch receiver. The weight ratings are also all over the place I have an older class III hitch with 7500 trailer, 750 tongue weight carrying and 20,000 trailer 2000 tongue weight distributing hitch.