Can Flat Bed Directly Tow with Bumper

Question:

I have a 1991 Chevy 3500 flat bed do I need a hitch installed or can I just hook it up straight to the ball?

asked by: Robert

Expert Reply:

In your photo it looks like there could be a hitch ball hole in the cross brace on the back of your Chevy flatbed. If you can find a sticker or plate that indicates a tow rating, and a hitch ball of the appropriate rating and with the shank diameter to fit correctly, then you can tow.

It also looks like there is not a lot of clearance for the trailer coupler, due to the vertical support near that hole. A coupler like # CT-5003-Z has a flat lip around the ball cup and this may contact that vertical support. You'll need to test fit a hitch ball and coupler to see if there is enough clearance for the coupler to pivot around the ball.

I linked our range of hitch balls and you can click on the correct shank diameter. We have hitch balls with shanks as small as 5/8-inch like # C40097 and as large as 2-inches, with many sizes in between.

The existing bumper structure does not appear to leave much room for a hitch to install.

expert reply by: Adam R