Can a Front-Mount Hitch on a 2002 Ford F-150 Support a 4-Bike Hitch-Mount Carrier  

Question:

Expert Reply:

We offer several 2-inch front-mount hitch receivers for the 2002 Ford F-150; these can be seen using the link provided. The drop-down menu at the top of the screen will allow you to select either the 2WD or 4WD version to see the correct front hitch for your vehicle. All available models feature a substantial 500-lb tongue weight rating and all install without drilling or welding but vehicles with tow hooks and skid plates will require these be removed temporarily and/or trimmed for hitch installation.

I suggest you check with your local highway patrol regarding the legality of carrying bikes on the front of the vehicle; local laws can vary. You will also want to keep in mind that the carrier and bikes cannot block your license plate, your F-150 headlights or your view of the road. This will depend to a degree on the type of bikes carried; for example, small kids bikes may not pose any issue but larger adult bikes might.

I have also provided a link to our main page for 4-bike carriers that fit a 2-inch hitch. Here you can choose between hanging and platform styles, racks with locks included or not, as well as the type of cradle system
used to support the bikes.

The 500-lb tongue weight capacity of the front hitches we offer makes just about any 2-inch bike carrier compatible in terms of weight, but you may want to review the linked articles that review rack types and the amount of clearance each provides from the hitch pin hole. This will help to ensure the bike carrier you choose will not interfere with your front bumper or other equipment on the front of your F-150.

An alternative you may wish to consider is a truck-bed bike carrier. We offer a variety of such carriers and these can be seen on the link provided. These include individual bolt-on block-style fork-mount carriers such as # HRT970 from Hollywood Racks as well as clamp-on types such as the # UG2500-4 from Topline.

expert reply by: Adam R

0