Hitch advice?

[mjeffrey]

I'm shopping for a hitch for my E350 and looking for some advice. I'll be using it mostly to pull a small utility trailer with 1 or 2 motorcycles (total ~1500lbs). At some point, I'd love one of those hitch-mounted motorcycle trays, for a small bike, around 300lbs.

Can anyone recommend a hitch type/brand? Do some come with multiple receivers, for sturdy motorcycle tray mounting, or are those extra receivers always welded on later? Are U-Haul hitches any worse than the higher-priced brands?

What are you guys and girls using?

Thanks very much!
Mike.

[Ford_6L_E350]

I'd probably search the graveyards for a factory setup - bolt in class V.


Mike

[LeadDoggy]

LeadDoggy had Eckhart install one on his E350. Being that I use a homebuilt custom motorcycle hitch carrier with two supports rather than one single support in the middle, I had Eckhart weld on two additional receivers. All in all it was about $250 installed.

Originally Posted by mjeffrey

I'm shopping for a hitch for my E350 and looking for some advice. I'll be using it mostly to pull a small utility trailer with 1 or 2 motorcycles (total ~1500lbs). At some point, I'd love one of those hitch-mounted motorcycle trays, for a small bike, around 300lbs.

Can anyone recommend a hitch type/brand? Do some come with multiple receivers, for sturdy motorcycle tray mounting, or are those extra receivers always welded on later? Are U-Haul hitches any worse than the higher-priced brands?

What are you guys and girls using?

Thanks very much!
Mike.

[SheepShagger]

I do not know of any with multiple receivers. The factory ford option has a rating less than the Van (500/5000) which seems a bit dumb.
Best I found in my search that would allow for extra hitch receivers to be welded onto it without interference was Draw Tite rated at (1000/10000). They make a few versions, model #41906 was the one I was looking at.

In the end I modified the factory ford one I had, so I can't comment on it, but it looked the best on paper.

[carringb]

The stock Ford receiver is 1000/10,000. The step bumper is 500/5000.

Cequent (Reese/DrawTiteHidden Hitch) have a 12k hitch. I think Valley does too. There's also some Reese and Hidden Hitch 14k models still out in vendor inventory. My Reunel receiver is rated for 6,000 pounds tongue weight 20,000 tow weight.

[surfgeek33]

Have you tried checked this site out. I found a few things for the SMB, reasonable prices as well.
http://www.etrailer.com/

Ray

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by surfgeek33

Have you tried checked this site out. I found a few things for the SMB, reasonable prices as well.
http://www.etrailer.com/

Ray

I can vouch for eTrailer for their prices, but I will never again buy from them due to their total lack of service. Years ago I bought a hitch, ball, hitch lock, cable lock, coupler lock and some other stuff from them. Within the first time or two using the coupler lock I had a terrible time getting the lock to unlock (while on my trailer's coupler). Finally got it unlocked and contacted eTrailer to get a replacement. They completely washed their hands of it telling me to deal with the manufacturer. This was all within 30 days of buying the hundreds of dollars worth of gear from them.

Luckily for me, the manufacturer was fantastic to deal with, helped me right away, and was shocked that a retailer would pawn me off like that.


Herb

[surfgeek33]

oohhhhh!!! Sorry for the bad experience Herb. Just got a few good deals through them but never dealt with customer service.

Ray

[robtbritn]

Mike,
I have a factory Ford 1000/10,000 you can have for $50. I think I have all the hardware that goes with it as well....

Robert Britton
Hollister, Ca

[Ford_6L_E350]

Now that's a good deal and a good reason to be on this forum!

Mike