Is Towing With A Hitch Better Than Towing With A Ball Mounted To Bumper

Question

Question:

Whats better having a hitch to pull a trailer or just a ball on the the bumper to pull a trailer wanna know cuz dont want to mess up the truck an costing me a bumper

asked by: Martin T

0

Expert Reply:

Normally a bumper is rated at about 3500 lbs towing capacity. It is usually stamped somewhere on the bumper or possibly on a sticker. A frame mounted hitch is going to have more capacity for towing due to how it is installed.

Also, most trailers will have a towing height of 17 to 19 inches, and a bumper on a truck will typically be around 20 inches. If the trailer is attached to the bumper and the nose of the trailer tongue is higher it can introduce sway when towing. It is better to have a hitch installed and use a ball mount that has the correct rise or drop to keep the trailer level when towing.

If you want to send me information about your truck and trailer I would be glad to recommend a system that would work for you. I need the year make and model of the truck and also the type trailer you have. It is always good to know what the tongue weight is on the trailer you are towing and if it has brakes.

I am attaching a couple of helpful articles about towing you can check out.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

0

Daniel S.

6/27/2020

can i tow a power king 5 inch wood chipper with a ball on a bumper it weighs 424 pounds and has a ball hitch connection its going to get hooked up to a 2001 Ford economize work van

Reply

Chris R.

6/30/2020

As long as the weight of that wood chipper doesn't exceed the bumper's capacity (check the owner's manual for your Ford van) and you're able to create a level setup you can certainly hook it up to the bumper hitch ball. If you find that the bumper isn't rated high enough I've linked our full selection of hitches for your van below that you can look through.

Helpful Links

hitch-2001_ford_van.htm

Reply

Devarr S.

6/26/2020

2017 dodge durango gt which tow hitch is better the one under the bumper or in the bumper which is better

Reply

Chris R.

6/30/2020

A frame mounted hitch beneath the bumper will provide a higher capacity and easier leveling (since various rise/drop ball mounts can be used - you're pretty much limited to the bumper height when using the bumper). For your Durango the Curt # C13182 will work perfectly.

Reply

Tyler S.

5/14/2020

I have a 2019 frontier, im trying to decide if getting a hitch is right for me. It does have the bumper with the ball mount and i dont plan on hauling anything super heavy. I have 6 x 8 trailer and just looking for recommendations

Reply

Chris R.

5/16/2020

Assuming you'll fall under the bumper's weight capacity (and won't be towing too unlevel) the decision is ultimately up to you. I do think using a frame mounted hitch is a better option for a few reasons (versatility being one - with a hitch receiver you'll open up other potential options like bike racks, cargo carriers, etc), but of course plenty of people tow with their bumper and Nissan designed it specifically for this purpose, so it's not as if it's unsafe. If you decide to go with a hitch (which is a really easy install on your Frontier) I recommend the etrailer # e98869.

Reply

Cody L.

4/28/2020

What hitch would I need for a 2001 Chevy Silverado V8 long bed base model? Could you send me the hitch information

Reply

Chris R.

4/30/2020

We actually have a pretty large selection of hitches that are designed to fit the 2001 Silverado, which I have linked below. If you can tell me what model you have (1500/2500/3500) I would be happy to make specific recommendation.

Helpful Links

hitch-2001_chevrolet_silverado.htm

Reply

Patrick F.

3/28/2020

I wondered if the U-haul class 3 hitches impair the spare tire assembly in my 1991 Ford F-150 XLT LARIAT. I have a lighter sailboat about 2500 LBS and wonder if my stock rear step bumper and ball assembly will do the job without problems and damage?

Reply

Chris R.

3/30/2020

I can't speak for the U-Haul branded hitches, but we do have a few available for your 1991 F-150 that won't interfere with the spare tire, such as the Draw-Tite # 37130. This would work really well to tow your boat trailer. Most likely the stock bumper and ball would be capable of pulling the trailer (check your owner's manual for the capacity to be sure) but a hitch just offers a much more versatile setup that will let you pull the trailer level and transport other accessories like a bike rack or cargo carrier.

Helpful Links

Ball-Mount

Reply

Caleb R.

10/21/2020

@ChrisR can I pull a 20 foot toy hauler with a regular heavy duty drop hitch? Some say I’m good some say I need the sway bars

Reply

Jon G.

10/22/2020

@CalebR We recommend using a weight distribution system (with sway control) for any trailer that weighs more than half the curb weight of the tow vehicle. Since toy haulers are on the heavier side of trailers I do recommend going with one. Here is a link to our helpful articles on weight distribution systems that you can check out.

Helpful Links

article-categories.aspx?productgroup=weight-distribution

Reply

Answer 1

The Curt Fish Wire Bolt Leader - 1/2 inch #C58400 is the correct fish wire needed to help install the Curt Hitch #C13264 on your 2022 Toyota Tacoma. I attached a review video link below.

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Answer 2

The Air Lift AirLift 1000 Air Helper Springs for Coil Springs will work in the exact manner you want; improving the ride and how your 2014 Ram 1500 handles when you are towing. These air springs will reduce the strain on your Ram's suspension…

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Answer 3

To protect the 12 volt accessory power supply circuit, we recommend using a 40 amp inline circuit breaker, part number 9510.

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Answer 4

Yes, but there is only one system that will work on your Palomino Puma Travel Trailer, the Furrion Vision S Wireless RV Backup Camera System. This system is offered with a 4.3" monitor part #FOS43TASF or the 5" monitor part…

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Answer 5

I did some checking and it looks like the towing capacity of your 2018 Ford F-150 when using the rear bumper ball hole is 5,100 lbs. As long as your trailer weighs less than that you'd be fine.

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Answer 6

Westin Perfect Match Series Rear Step Bumper #31006 fits 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 light duty and 2500 light duty models so if your 1500 is a light duty (anything other than a 1500HD) then this bumper is an excellent option. If you have an HD model…

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Answer 7

Absolutely, you can check just behind the rear tire on the driver's side of your 2019 Kia Sorento, on the outside of the frame rail. The factory connector, if present, will look like the one in the attached photo (B). Note that you will need…

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Answer 8

The amount of actual cargo weight you can safely transport on a hitch cargo carrier installed in a bumper-mounted hitch is determined by the lowest-rated component. Those components consist of the RV's bumper, the hitch such as #UF35-946401…

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Answer 9

The white tag inside the driver's door jamb of your 2003 Dodge Dakota does not list the gross trailer weight (GTW). However, it does list the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and the gross vehicle weight (GVW) which if you subtract the…

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Answer 10

I checked with my technical contact at Curt Manufacturing about your hitch #13028 installation on your 1987 Chevrolet C/K Series Pickup with 8-foot bed and standard or step bumper. This product is a confirmed fit for your truck as long as it does…

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Answer 11

The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e63ZR is a fit for your 2022 Ford Ranger. This isa great choice for a hitch. Check out the attached review/installation video.

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Answer 12

To tow a trailer with your 2022 Ford Ranger I recommend going with the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" #e63ZR. I attached an installation video for you to check out. For wiring you need…

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Is Towing With A Hitch Better Than Towing With A Ball Mounted To Bumper

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