So...my father-in-law just bought a new spa. The spa is in Phoenix (two hours away), and he needs to borrow my truck to pick it up. The spa weighs about 500 pounds, and then he rented a 7 ft x 18 ft trailer to haul it. Right now I don't have a receiver hitch, and he wants to put the load on the bumper. I am a little scared about that. What do you guys think, would I be ok towing one time for two hours off the bumper, with less than 2000 lbs gross weight? Or should I look into a cheap receiver hitch?

I saw this on craigslist, do you think this would fit our trucks, its off a 92 Exploder. As you can see I have a 2002 Edge w/ manual trans 3.0

http://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/304212483.html

Let me know what you think, any help is appreciated.

 

you will be okay if the total weight is under 2000lbs... any more and i would get a hitch installed

 

id be careful with that bumper..

ive heard bad things bout pullin on it..just make sure things are on the trailer good over the axles, bolts are tight..

 

You can use the bumper and then let us know how it holds up. I would recommend a hitch, but I've never towed anythign from our bumpers so I don't know how strong they are?

 

i wouldn't do it on the bumper.......get a hitch from www.etrailer.com ....i just ordered one and it will be here Tuesday.....paid $115 shipped for it....

no the 1 for the Explorer hitch will not fit a Ranger...

 

i have the 99 with the four banger 2wd and i towed a 1981 chevy 3500 stake body with no motor trans or nose from the PA/MD border to Old Bridge NJ using a uhaul tow dolly and my bumper tow ball with no problem i mean nothing happend and that was like 100K ago i think your truck will do fine

 

that wasn't too smart....

 

 

On my old F150 bumper I have towed snowmachine trailers, Volkswagens, and other utility trailers without a problem. I don't THINK it would be a problem for you.

 

Yeah, as far as I'm concerned, I just don't want to spend 100+ to tow something one time. I've owned my truck over 3 years now, and this is the first time I have been asked to tow anything. So obviously I don't do alot of towing. So I was just wondering if it would be ok one time. I realize if I were to tow more often, for sure I would get a hitch. But it just doesn't seem feasible for one time if everything will be ok off the bumper. As far as I know, the trailer loaded will be within the acceptable range values written on the bumper.

 

I say buy a hitch. I'm sure you'll need one again in the future.