Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2011 and 2009 2-Wheel Drive Ford Ranger Behind a Motor Home

Question:

I own 2011 XLT, 2009 XL and 2004 XL Ford Ranger 2wd trucks. I want to put front mount receiver hitches on probably the two newer trucks. None of them were made in Canada so they dont have the extra cross members. Is the Curt hitch 2x2 opening below the bumper or in the bumpers center opening? I have a 10 or so year old Reese 5000-pound rated tow bar. I want to mount the Reese bumper clamps to the frame of a front receiver so that I can tow either of my trucks with the other one. I'm in Minnesota. I've looked at this hitch online. A lot of places post pictures of what look like rear receiver hitches. I honestly don't positively know what the Curt hitch looks like.

asked by: Boyd W

Expert Reply:

Installation of Curt front mount trailer hitch # C31063 will actually require some trimming of front fascia on a 2011 and 2009 Ford Ranger. I have linked the instructions for you that show where the trimming takes place. This means it will likely be up higher than you think.

The tow bar that you have is the same as # 63180. This tow bar is rated for a maximum of 45 miles an hour. Also, to flat tow a vehicle behind another vehicle you will need to have base plates for each vehicle, a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking.

Attaching anything to a front mount trailer hitch would void the hitch warranty and potentially weaken it.

For base plates, the 2011 and 2009 both can use # BX2187 though you would need one set per truck. For a compatible tow bar that comes with safety cables I recommend the Alpha, # BX7380.

For lighting it would be easiest to use a magnetic light kit such as # RM-2120 that you could easily swap between the 2 trucks. This would prevent you from having to get two separate wiring kits.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. I recommend the Blue Ox Patriot proportional system # BLU37TR. It will apply the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the RV is braking. This is the easiest way to stop, and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles. Since it is portable you can move it between the trucks with relative ease.

Be sure to consult your vehicle owner's manual for specific information on flat towing the vehicle. I have also included some helpful links to our series of help articles on flat towing for you.