Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"

by: TLee02/21/2023

Thank gooness eTrailer was able to recommend a local hitch installer! Evidently somewhere along the line shipping or possibly the factory the receiver got "tweaked" and the installer couldn't easily line up the holes to install the bolts holding the receiver to the truck frame. I didn't ask about what type of "tuning" was required but suspect there were likely some hydraulics and chains involved. Great installer, without a lift and special "tuning tools" and experience, there's was NO WAY i could have installed the hitch with jack stands and conventional tools-thank you etrailer for sourcing local installers!

Also I had to buy a separate ball and hitch as my rear hitch was significantly larger (and too lower in the front) when installed in the front receiver. Using a smaller hitch enabled me to easily move and disconnect from the trailer.

Other than the unexpected "tweak" somewhere either in mfgr or likely shipping, I've been very pleased with the Draw-tite receiver. Excellent installation instructions with some clever installation methods.1522127

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Tlee

2/22/2024

The front hitch has been working great when parking threading the needle the trailer betweeen two big RVs.

Jesse M.

2/22/2024

@Tlee Thats great to hear! May it serve you well for years to come!

UPS was rough on the box but everything still lined up without having to pry but was snug on the back bolts. Install was very straight forward and did it myself in my driveway in just about 90 minutes from pulling the air dam to putting tools away. Used my floor jack to support the hitch in the center and started with the front bolts on both sides and then pivoted the hitch into position for the back bolts and then snugged up all four mounting bolts to the 110-ftlbs torque spec. Hints. made sure that front of the hitch was just a a hair pointed up from level before tightening down all of the mounting bolts. I pulled the air dam completely off and then lined it back up in position lying on the hitch so I could marked it, so I knew exactly where I would need to trim it and then used my Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to trim it to fit. Then bolted it back into position and was done. I'll try and update this post once I take some pictures other than the shipping box1768134

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by: Tim07/15/2023

2000 Ford F-350, 450, and 550 Cab and Chassis

Pretty easy install with the threaded wire screw leader to pull hardware bolts into place through the frame. Solid hitch, used it to haul my cargo basket with my yeti ice chest when i spend the weekend at the ocean and bring fish back home. It does not stick out past the front bumper which is a big plus you dont have to worry about hitting your shin on as you walk by like a trailer hitch1624427

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This is the 3rd hitch I have purchased from etrailer and the second front mount hitch. I like the hitch because they are easy to install and mount in existing holes. Instructions and videos are clear and very helpful. I tow a lot of trailers and I am very hood at backing them up. But I live on an alley and it is difficult to back my enclosed snowmobile trailer and large utility trailer in the parking area next to my garage. Even with a ground guide. Without a ground guide Im constantly getting in and out of my truck to check position and clearance. Its a tight fit. By using the front hitch to push the trailers I can much better see and position the trailers while keeping clearance from the garage and fence. Thats all I use it for and I sure am glad I have it. I think the products are excellent the customer service is superb.1498826

Christopher

1/13/2024

Still happy with my Draw-Tite hitch purchase. I will definitely use etrailer for future hitch purchases

Not only was the hitch fairly priced and shipped to me quickly, it was well packaged in heavy cardboard with large staples which ensured that it was not damaged in shipping. And having the video available showing my exact hitch being installed on my vehicle was a huge benefit.1753300

Hitch installation went well. 2 hours from start to tools away. You will need a small pry bar, as it's a tight fit but not horrible. Definitely watch the installation video for the wire/bolt instructions. Without that video I would have been lost.
One note..the front bolts have 2 options to go into. You would think they would be in the same position on both sides. Mine was not, just make sure it all lines up. Also the paint tape tip was useless for me. I ended up getting the hitch into place the Taking a prybar and slipping in the metal plate.
Overall a pretty easy install.1738220

by: Larry08/21/2023

Easy installation, the bolt holes lined up perfectly on my F150, very solid platform for the bike rack when towing. Highly recommend1651385

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Doesn’t fit, it’s too narrow for my 2015 F-150. So frustrating. I’ll update my review after I’ve spoken to their customer service.1616282

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Jenny N.

7/17/2023

I can see where it would be frustrating. What I think has happened is that the side brackets were knocked inward a bit. This can happen when the hitches are shipped to us as they are shipped in large pallets together. It is sometimes unnoticed until the hitch is installed. I will have our Customer Service team reach out to you. We also have a FAQ that can help you to flex the side brackets out to allow the hitch to be installed.

Helpful Links

faq-my-trailer-hitch-doesnt-fit.aspx

by: Raymond 01/09/2024

Ford F-150

after receiving the hitch I took to my local auto shop and had them put it on for me took them longer to unpack it then to put it on !!
works great i use it for a front mount sprayer on my f150 ford truck!!1708827

Super easy to install. Took about an hour. The paper instructions are horrible but the video is amazing. Goes step by step. Super easy to follow.1532227

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When I got it out the box some edges were not painted. This was the worst installation I’ve ever had with a hitch, the other trucks I’ve had, I installed Kurt hitches and went right into place. This one I had to use crowbars and pry-bars to lget the holes to line up. Wouldn’t buy another draw-Tite again.1671369

Jenny N.

9/25/2023

I do know that the hitches are shipped together in large pallets which does result in paint rubbing and for the side brackets to be knocked out of alignment. I will have our Customer Service team reach out to you. We do have a FAQ to help with installing the hitch.

Helpful Links

faq-my-trailer-hitch-doesnt-fit.aspx

I received my Drawtite receiver on Friday and I was impressed with the quick shipping and sturdy boxing. However there is a scrape about 2” long on the top edge down into the metal on the exposed part that protrudes through the air dam on the front of my 2018 F-150. There was no damage to the box and nothing would have done that damage during shipping. I touched it up with a black Sharpie, but that’s not going to stop it from rusting. It is a truck, so though it’s disappointing, it’s not that big of a deal. The instructions were mostly clear, but I do have a couple of additions that may make it easier for future installations for my type of truck and installation method. I installed it on my garage floor with all the tools listed in the instructions. I trimmed the air dam as instructed and used a floor jack to elevate the receiver up into position, but due to the receiver’s shape it would tip back and the square tube portion would tip up into the top of the air dam slot and not allow me to line up the forward bolt holes. I ended up completely removing the air dam and this allowed me to get the clearance to lift it high enough to install the forward bolts (reinstalled the air dam after the receiver was torqued to specs). Removing the air dam also allowed me more room for my head and arms to fit under the truck, making installation easier. There was not enough space to install one each of the spacer washers on the front holes, but if the washers were half as thick, there would of been space to install one on each side (maybe include 8 washers instead of 4 and make them thinner). I could of used an included washer on one side but then the receiver would not have been centered in the air dam opening. Also in the instructions the only access hole mentioned & diagramed is the one near the rear bolt hole in the frame, but on the F-150 there is a access hole about 3” in front of the forward bolt hole (much easier to use than the rear access hole). The rear bolt hole spacers that are taped in place are too thick and would not stay taped to the frame as the receiver was lifted up into position (pivoting on the loosely installed front bolts), so I had remove the tape and use a heavy duty screwdriver to pry the receiver away from the frame and position the spacer in place with another screwdriver at the same time to line up the holes. The whole job took me about 3 hours and I know that having the truck on a lift would have cut that time down considerably, but having the instructions include what I mentioned above would have saved some more time too. I’ve included some photos from my project. Have a good day,594154

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Robert

1/1/2020

Great!

I needed a place to put a bike rake when towing our camping trailer and sometimes I needed a little more accuracy when backing the trailer. I installed the Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver from eTrailer. The directions indicated a 1/2 install but I'm 67 and working on a sloped driveway so it took about 1.5 hours which included the time to remove the air dam, clean 5-years worth of dead bugs off it and cut the opening for the hitch. I did not need to use a jack. The hitch fit so well that I just pushed it up into position and it stayed in place. If you do this installation you do not need to cut the air dam opening to 3" as 2 5/8" will work and provide a closer fit. Also the air conditioning condenser support on my truck is bolted through the access holes for threading the bolts into the frame. Just loosen the brackets, slide the condenser frame forward and you can slide the bolts in. Although the box looked like it had been through a long war, the hitch and all the necessary bolts, etc. arrived in good condition with not even a scratch. I think for an old coot the installation went well and looks pretty good. I have bought several hitches from eTrailer and all have been a quality product.819128

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Bob D.

6/22/2021

I’ve had the front mounted receiver hitch for about a year and still mainly use it for a bike rack. However it works very well for putting my trailer into tight spaces when my backing skills fail me.

The hitch arrived in a timely manner. It was relatively easy to install with the provided hardware. Not a half-hour job, but not bad. They provided some trick attachments for getting the bolts inside the frame. I cut out the front spoiler as directed, but it was more than needed, so I had to use some gorilla tape to cover the excessive hole. The hitch hangs down some, so I have lost about 2 inches of clearance. Not the manufacturers fault, but something to keep in mind. I'll be using the front hitch for a winch, when needed, and possible for my motorcycle rack instead of using the back hitch; yet to be tried... Overall, it looks like a good product, and fairly easy to install.1673013

by: Gilbert05/11/2024

This hitch matched up perfectly with my Ford F150 and was relatively easy to install. It made it possible to add my cooler/rod rack to the front for surf fishing.2456338

The hitch met my expectations and I am glad I did it. The install was a bit of a pain but with the help of my son we got it done properly. The only complaint I have is that my year of Ford F150 had a dynamic air dam which drops down at higher speeds. Apparently it helps improve the mileage by changing the air flow. This was not made apparent in the install instructions. As it is I had to remove the device. It’s possible maybe, to cut out portions of the air dam but it would definitely make it a bit “flimsy”.1435646

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Great product and an even better company to work with! First receiver that was shipped arrived damaged. I spoke with Stacey at etrailer who arranged to have a replacement shipped to me. A return shipping label was provided free of charge and the new receiver arrived in two days.
The installation was relatively easy using the detailed instructions provided.1684814

by: Larry 03/07/2023

Works perfect. Fits perfect. 1531550

Larry

3/8/2024

I will never be without a front hitch atain. THis never disappoints me. So many uses, I can not even list

by: Robert07/27/2023

Front mount install went as expected, simple. It was mostly used to push a pop up camper into the garage as close to the corner as possible. It worked great for this. But then, we got rid of the pop up camper. We got a new camper and now use the front mount receiver to mount bikes.1633099

by: Jim08/27/2023

etrailer is a good company to work with, but this hitch sits way to low on the truck and hits everything. It won’t even clear a curb for parking. Highly recommend not buying it for clearance reasons.1655861

Your installation instructions could be better with clear photos. As they exist, they were clearly written by someone who knows everything needed but to someone who is doing it the first (and only) time, there are steps that are not clear - like using the wire to install pieces. That part of the instructions need improvement. It always amazes me that a quality product can be accompanied by instructions that are so unclear. It is only one or two sheets of paper. Get a professional photographer and have someone who knows nothing about the product do the install and then re-write the instructions.1678487

I went with Draw-tite due to cost (cheaper). In retrospect I should have gone with Curt. After my install I only had 6 1/2" of clearance. This prompted me to finally install the MOTOFAB leveling kit 1 1/2 inches and add BFGs 31 inch. This rasied the front so I now have 10" clearance.

I would have even better clearance with the CURT. Also it did not take me 30 minutes to install. Took me for freakin' ever. Lining up the hitch with the frame without the right tools sucks. Overall though just happy to have the ability to bring more crap camping 660305

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Relatively easy install. Make sure and watch the install video. It makes it easy. I did the install from the ground by raising vehicle a few inches. The hitch will reduce your front end clearance, so be aware. I am using for a front mounted bike rack while pulling a travel trailer.1309346

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This Draw-Tite front hitch is a solid hitch! Well made, and well coated! The installation instructions were clear, although I recommend reading through them a couple times BEFORE starting the install. (That really helped.) Also, I've installed several hitches on the rear of vehicles before, so I knew what to expect. But don't try installing this hitch without an extra set of hands! There is some effort required to hoist it into position, get the guide wires through the correct holes, and pull it into position. They estimated 30 minutes, I took my time and it probably took closer to 45-60 minutes. That includes cutting a slot in my lower air dam to allow the hitch to poke through.

I'm looking forward (no pun intended) to pushing snow from the front of my F150 instead of the rear as in past years!

Finally, and as always - etrailer has been awesome to work with! They deliver their products super fast, they follow up to ensure everything arrived as intended, offer support all through the installation, and they really want to ensure you are happy! I've been using etrailer for several years now and I recommend them to all my friends!594249

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Actually a 4.5.
This is a sturdy and solidly built product. It seems to be very precision built for my vehicle.
It would’ve been helpful to have more towing information, for example tongue weight, in the description prior to purchase. I still would have purchased it but it would’ve been nice to have instead of hoping for the best until it arrived.
I would’ve given it five stars because the service was great and it shipped really quickly without a hitch, especially in these trying times with the supply chain being broken and jammed.
The reason I gave it a four-star instead of five was because the quality of the alignment on the box receiver. It appears that whichever factory they’re using is not paying attention to ensuring that the receiver is perfectly, or as near perfect, perpendicular to the receiver hitch frame as possible. I have seen mine and many other receiver hitches produced by draw-tite to be slightly crooked. I suggest DT make a visit to the factory and ensure that they are aligning these much better than they are. This receiver hitch is slightly askew making any item that you attach to your vehicle either lean or slant. It’s very frustrating. And, while it was fairly OK installing, I would not want to get under there and do this again in my driveway, in the event they decided to offer me a better product.
One more thing, it was very tight and one of my holes in my chassis did not lineup very easily. I followed the instructions and the video to the letter, which were great instructions, but it was just enough off that I had to get an alignment tool and bang it into the hole and hope that I did not sever the spiral wire used to retain the screw that was down in my frame. It all worked out fine. I’m grateful that someone took the time to use what appears to be a tempered steel for those temporary spring wire helpers because if they were anything less they would’ve gotten cut. Overall it’s a great product for the price and I would purchase it again. 4.5 score.
I would even recommend this to friends. As a matter of fact, I did recommend this to friends and family. They will be purchasing soon.1148680

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