Can Brush Guard be Used With Front Hitch Receiver on 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Question

Question:

I need a front receiver hitch for my 2016 4WD F250 so that I can carry my two fat tire e-bikes on the front while I tow my camper from the rear hitch. However, I currently have a Ranch Hand Legend Series brush guard on the truck with a light bar attached. Apparently, all hitches and bumper guards use the same mounting points on the front of the frame and Im finding that its a one or the otherinch proposition. I love the brush guard and light bar, and dont want to be forced to take them off. The optimal solution would be to find a front receiver that could be mounted in addition to the Ranch Hand, but Im not seeing compatible devices. So that brings me to two questions: One, do you know of any front hitch receivers that can be mounted in tandem with the Ranch Hand, and if not, are there brush guards that specifically have a hitch receiver built into them?

asked by: Scott W

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Expert Reply:

I can understand not wanting to remove the brush guard on your 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty, but unfortunately there are no front mounted hitches that can fit with the guard, because like you said, they do mount in the same location. There are also not any brush guards with a receiver built in, likely because there wouldn't be enough support at the receiver location.

So if you do wind up going with a front-mounted hitch on your '16 F-250 you would need to remove the brush guard to install the hitch, the Draw-Tite Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver # 65049.

I'll throw out another option that may work, depending on the weight of your bikes, which is a truck bed bike rack, the Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Bed Bike Rack # TH93VR.

This will hold a bike up to 50 lbs with 5 inch tires, and doesn't require any type of drilling into your bed, it simply uses straps which you'd close your tailgate on and then tighten.

Apart from that, the only other option would be a tailgate pad that you'd place your bikes on, the Thule GateMate Pro Tailgate Pad for Full-Size Trucks # TH824PRO.

expert reply by: Kyle S

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Answer 1

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 2

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 3

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 4

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 5

To me it makes the most sense to put a Bike Rack #HLY64FR on the flat towed vehicle rather than above the tow bars. Especially on heavy e-bikes as they are difficult to lift that high onto the rack, but also as it only makes sense to have the rack on…

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Answer 6

Yes, anytime you use a hitch extender or reducer like #HR26 you will lose about 1/3 of your hitches overall capacity. However, since you'll be towing a trailer that weighs between 4,500 to 5,000 lbs, the Brophy Hitch Reducer #HR26 will still work…

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Answer 7

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Answer 8

Congratulations on your new truck bed camper! I'm sure you will enjoy it for many years. Sway is a common issue with truck bed campers which can be reduced, but not eliminated. The campers are not particularly aerodynamic and the sway will…

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Answer 9

Hey Dave, so the best option for carrying your carbon frame bike and e-bike is the Swagman Escapee part #S39SR with the ramp #S59SR . It has the capacity for carrying an e-bike, is rated for travel trailer use, only touches the bikes by the tires…

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Answer 10

As long as the flat tow wiring is wired in before the 4-Way #C93ZV and you connect the power for the converter directly to the battery it will work. I have seen several use Magnetic Lights #TL21RK which they will wire in on the main harness to have…

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Answer 11

Class I and Class II hitches both have a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. The difference is that a Class I hitch has a lower tongue weight rating, usually 200 pounds and a lower towing rating, usually 2,000 pounds. A Class II hitch usually has a tongue…

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Answer 12

We have run into this quite a few times in the past, and the best option will be replacing the Lance 7-pin connector with a standard 7-way blade connector like the #PK12706. This will give you a standard 7-way connector to plug into the factory 7-way…

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