I'm looking to buy a trailer hitch for 2 main reasons:
1) Recovery point
2) Rear-end protection (from someone rear-ending me, the person who doesn't know how to parallel park etc.)

I've done some e-window shopping and it seems like Summit has a pretty good price:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...+0&appfilter=1

I'm like the "no drilling required" but how does the hitch hook up then? Would it have the same strength as one that requires drilling (more,less,same)?

Also, is that summit price a good price or does anyone know where I can get one cheaper?

Thanks.

 

Damn! $160? Go to your local U-haul. They'd have something similar if not better for cheaper than that. It's "no-drill" b/c it utilizes the holes for the factory hitch mounting.

 

yeah. Local shops do well. You can usually get them installed for the price of buying one mailorder.

 

Wow, good idea. I just called a local u-haul. $130 for a class III hitch. $50 to install it though. Imma call a few more u-hauls see if theres any differences in pricing.

The guy said they had 2 different class 3 hitches for my Ranger, a round one and a square one. Said they were rated the same and basically are the same except the round hitches are newer. Seems weird they would make a new hitch that is exactly the same as the old one....? Is this guy legit?


EDIT: Second U-Haul quoted me $162.45 taxes and installation included in that price.

 

The round ones are usually the hidden hitch style. I'd install it myself. It's only three bolts on each side. Not hard at all.

 

also check craigslist...got mine on there brand new, hidden hitch class iii, for i think $70

 

i got lucky on the latest ranger of mine, came with a hitch. i think ive used receiver hitches more for recovery (of my own truck) than ive ever used them for towing something.

 

I have tubular Class III Hidden Hitch on mine and it does involve drilling two holes. The rear holes bolt in where the bumper bracket bolts go and two more need to be drilled for the other two. It's not a hard project as the frame metal is suprisingly soft. However, I did go a step further and sprayed the freshly drilled hole openings with POR black paint and used grade 8 stainless bolts and nylon lock nuts and washers from my work. I don't usually drive with insert in it (the part with the ball on it) but it totes our boat and utility trailer around with no problems. I did make the mistake of trying to load 2 yards of top soil on the trailer one day and it was way more weight than I would feel comfy with driving very far with but the landscape place is about 2 miles away. It was really heavy load though and I didn't exceed about 35 mph. For recovery reasons it would be a good choice too because it is tucked up under the truck and hard to see until you need it. It was around $150