Recommended Flat Towing System for 2004 Ford F-150
Question:
what tool do i need to hook up front hitch for 2004 F-150 to back of my other truck bumper
asked by: Rene
Expert Reply:
To tow a vehicle, you cannot simply connect a rear bumper to a front bumper. That would not allow for the movement needed to safely tow the vehicle. So the front mounted hitch # 65043 while a confirmed fit for your 2004 F-150, is not what you need for this application.
What you will need is a towbar and baseplates for the actual connection. I recommend the Roadmaster XL Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # 495-1A and then the Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar - Motorhome Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,000 lbs # RM-520. You will also need safety cables like # RM-643.
A more economical option is to use the Curt Tow Bar with Adjustable-Width Arms - Car Mount - 2" Ball - 5,000 lbs # C19745 and a compatible ball mount for your trailer hitch receiver.
Then to legally tow, you will also need wiring. I recommend the Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267. This will utilize your truck's wiring while protecting your other truck from feedback.
Then you will need supplemental braking. For that system, I recommend the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System - Proportional # SM99251 which once installed become a plug and play system. The # RM-88400 relay is required to prevent the towed vehicle's brake signal from overriding the turn signal from the towing vehicle when applying the brakes during a turn. This is also required for your application.
The final thing needed is either a high low adapter if using a tow bar or the proper rise/drop ball mount for level towing. I've attached the links to your options as well as an article to assist.
![Jason S](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/catg/people/1044_tn.jpg)
Products Referenced in This Question
Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
- Base Plates
- Removable Drawbars
- Hitch Pin Attachment
- Roadmaster
more information >
Curt Adjustable Tow Bar - Coupler Style for 2" Ball - 5,000 lbs
- Tow Bar
- Coupler Style
- Fixed
- Steel
- 5000 lbs
- Stores Separately
- Standard
- CURT
more information >
Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Splices into Vehicle Wiring
- Diode Kit
- Universal
- Tail Light Mount
- Roadmaster
more information >
Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,000 lbs
- Tow Bar
- Hitch Mount Style
- Telescoping
- Steel
- 6000 lbs
- Fits Roadmaster Base Plates - Crossbar
- Fits Roadmaster Base Plates - Direct Connect
- Stores on RV
- Standard
- Roadmaster
more information >
RoadMaster 68" Single Hook, Coiled Safety Cables - 6,000 lbs
- Safety Cables
- Coiled Cables
- 68 Inch Long
- 6000 lbs GTW
- Snap Hooks
- Coated Cables
- Roadmaster
more information >
Roadmaster Brake-Lite Relay Kit for Towed Vehicles
- Tow Bar Braking Systems
- Brake Light Relay
- Roadmaster
more information >
Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo Flat Tow Brake System for RVs w/ Hydraulic Brakes - Proportional
- Tow Bar Braking Systems
- Brake Systems
- Proportional System
- One Time Set-Up
- Fixed System
- Power Assist Brake Compatible
- Hydraulic Brakes
- Demco
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
- Front Receiver Hitch
- Custom Fit Hitch
- Front Mount Hitch
- 500 lbs Vert Load
- 9000 lbs Line Pull
- 2 Inch Hitch
- Square Tube
- Draw-Tite
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
![ballmount](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/catg/faq/ballmount_150.jpg)
![high-low-adapter](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/catg/faq/high_low_adapter_150.jpg)
![tow-bar-braking](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/catg/faq/tow_bar_braking_150.jpg)
![towing-a-vehicle-overview](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/catg/faq/towing_a_vehicle_overview_150.jpg)
![Curt Tow Bars - Coupler Style - C19745 Review](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/Demo-Curt-Tow-Bars-C19745_150.jpg)
![Roadmaster Tow Bar Wiring - Splices into Vehicle Wiring - RM-15267 Review](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/Demo-Roadmaster-Tow-Bar-Wiring-RM-15267_150.jpg)
![Roadmaster Brake-Lite Relay Kit Installation - 2016 Ford F-150](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/install-roadmaster-brake-lite-relay-kit-2016-ford-f150-rm-88400_150.jpg)
![Roadmaster Diode 7 to 6 Wire Coil Kit Installation - 2014 Ford F-150](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/install-roadmaster-diode-wiring-kit-2014-ford-f150-rm-15267_150.jpg)
![RoadMaster Coiled Safety Cables Review](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/review-roadmaster-coiled-safety-cables-rm-643_150.jpg)
![RoadMaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar Review](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/review-roadmaster-falcon-2-tow-bar-rm-520_150.jpg)
![SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO Braking System Review](https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/faq/review-smi-stay-in-play-braking-system-sm99251_150.jpg)
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