Well on Friday I went to my local salvage yard and finally got a hitch for the Ranger. I lucked out, A mid-late 90s ranger had the bed off of it and had a beautifully exposed Ford factory hitch. As everyone knows i have the P.A. 3 inch Body Lift on my truck and hitches that are made for factory set up trucks hang down very low. Well heres what i did...

Step One:
Mount the hitch you purchased or currently have. Measure from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Make sure your on level ground and tire pressure is equal.




Step Two:
Cut the hitch off half way in between the botton bar and frame with a reciprocating saw with a FRESH blade.

Step Three:
Bend tabs out with a large hammer on the bottom piece with the hitch on it. Then make sure the hitch can go around the existing mounts left on the truck with no force. Leave the mounts tight on the truck and make sure bumper is PERFECTLY aligned with the bed..

Step Four:
Using welder's clamps, align hitch with the bumper, measure on level ground from the bottom of the hitch to the ground. Check to make sure you have equal distance on each side. Make sure to get all angles in alignment. Use Clamps to hold the hitch into place. Take your time doing this, try to get it straight as possible. I moved my hitch up exactly 3.5 inches. CLAMP IT TIGHT!



Step Five:
Using A Welder, tack weld the hitch into place.




Step 6:
After you have secured your hitch with small welds, un-bolt it and finish your welds up all the way around the top if necessary and add any other support you feel necessary. Then re-install.





Step 7:
Go back and check all bolts, brackets and welds then give that thing a fresh sanding and painting. Here is the end result:

 

Bueno senor! I need to get that done to mine.

 

very nice, I have a hidden hitch, it doesn't sit AS high, but it's not terrible :)

 

Looks good. I'll probably leave mine the way it is though. Makes it easier to wrap a chain around it.

 

looks great...though i probably wouldn't trust it with a trailer...

 

i would drill some holes and run some bolts though the 2 pieces as well.


other than that it looks good!

 

wow ya because a chain is a good idea

 

Sure, works good on the farm. Never had a problem.

 

we tested it with a 24 ft. Camper. Took it about 50 miles. The frame would break before the welds. If done right.

 

personally i would put bolts for extra security.. but that one's your call

 

LOL I pulled a 16 ft. Trailer with 4 quads on it off my Bumper over 400 miles. I'm not at all worried about it holding up. We did this to my dads body lifted 04 gmc and it was like that for 4 years with no issues. And he hauled a 30ft camper with that hitch at least 20 times.

 

Would that not create some weak spots in the hitch? Hmmmm I might. Good advice. I might check on doing that.

 

i like mine where its at but yours looks pretty darn good i really don't pull anything thats just a recovery point and a car stopper for me

 

That's about where mine was... I couldn't handle it. I wheel too much, it would drag like crazy. LOL i just went outside and jacked my truck up under the receiver hitch and lifted the truck off the ground. I think the welds will be just fine. the largest thing i pull is a 14ft trailer with 2 quads. and maybe a pop-up camper.

 

i would think it would be fine if your a good welder

 

I've done quite a bit... And i couldn't imagine something strong enough to break these welds. I still may do some bolts.

 

that is great man it looks good

 

Thanks Cap!

 

Easy test, put a strap around a tree, attach strap to truck. Then do a couple pulls to see what happens. Towing a trailer won't be the big strain, getting yanked out will.

 

looks good man

 

Looks good but I think I would rather have bolts then welds.

 

when i was thinking about doing a front receiver all my instructors suggested putting bolts through the frame as well as welding it on.

 

I am putting bolts in tonight. Thanks for advice. I'll add pics

 

Take some more pics. The ones above are a little hard to see all the welds and stuff.