K, so I currently have a class 3 Hidden Hitch on my truck.

Only ever been used a handful of times to pull a small utility trailer with our 4 wheeler on it, and I used it once to tow a 12 foot cargo trailer which I will never do again with this truck.

I don't really have any reason to keep the hitch on the truck other than for offroad recovery, but it's there to use if I ever need it to tow something or for recovery.

But here's my dilemma. My truck is a stick and super high miles to boot, so I really don't like towing with it, and I really don't like pulling people out with my truck either. Just too much abuse on my clutch and tranny.

To install shackles, I need to remove the hitch so the shackle bolts can be taken out.

I could always take the ball off and get a receiver with a D ring or a hook, but like I said, I really don't have the use for it, but it is nice to have a recovery point on the rear of the truck just incase.


So, what should I do? When the hitch comes off to do the shackles, should I leave it off and maybe sell it, or should I just put it back on and keep it?

 

OH HOLY CRAP! I never realized that problem with the shackle/leaf bolt before!!! DAMN...i shoulda thought ahead when I put my shackles and hitch on! lol.




Question....what if you loosend the top shackle bolt, loosend the bottom, AND had the suspension at full droop? We did trevor's leaf swap with the hitch still installed and were able to pull the shackle bolt out.

IMO...leave the hitch. Sure it might be ugly, but I like to be yanked out nad yank people out.

 

Put it back on. I know you are not selling the truck but if I was going to buy one, I like to see that it has a hitch on it. I know you can easily put one on but it just adds some value. It is also good to use to pull you out when you get stuck.

You never know when you will really need it but it is good to have one. You can apply this to many things.

 

Keep it, I wish I still had mine, and get the hook!

 

Have you ever put one on? It was the most difficult, frustrating thing I have ever done in my entire life. I have never yelled so loud, or thrown objects so hard in my life. I literally wanted to break the windows out on my truck.

Leave it on there. As Robert said, it adds value (not much), and it will definitely get you a buyer if you ever plan on selling. I know I won't buy a truck without one.

 

Hmm...suppose that could work. Just cuz Dan (08sport4x4) took his hitch off to do the shackles on his truck, and when I looked at mine and seeing how the bolt pretty much touches the hitch frame there's no way to get a socket on it without the frame being there, or like you said, have the suspension at full droop.

I don't find the hitch ugly...it's there to be used and it's been useful when I've needed it. It's just the fact that if I don't have it on anymore, then it prevents me from putting myself and my truck into situations, such as towing trailers or having to pull people out, because that is so much strain on my truck.

 

No offense, but you've obviously never dealt with a BL bumper bracket and hitch that mount in the same holes... THAT my friend...is a huge pita.

 

lol, my truck is never getting sold. Way too many miles on it to be worth any sort of monetary value, and the money I have put into it is worth more than the resale value. I absolutely love the truck and it never lets me down. I have no reason to sell it, ever. If the motor goes in it, I'd probably spend the money to put a new one in it.

Only way I'm getting rid of the truck is if it gets totalled, stolen, or everything goes wrong with it at once like with my Catera and it's just not worth spending thousands to keep it going anymore.

 

That's one reason why I don't want to do a BL, because I will have to deal with that **** again.

 

Put it back on.

 

Ya, I have put one on. I did not think it was that bad. Sometime soon I am gonna put one on a F150.

 

it took me and my dad 15 mins tops to put the one on my integra on back in the day .... bout the same amt of time when i had to take it off

one of these days i need to get one for my truck, right now i just have the bumper ball which is fine for pulling my small util trailer, but i need something for when i get stuck

 

I've yet to ever take it off...

 

In that case, leave it on. They're always good to have just in case and also good to have is somebody rear ends you.

 

I need the Honda impaler lol.

 

it took me about 20mins to install shackles without removing my hitch. i just had the truck jacked up and hung on the leaf to get the bolt out. once out, i just put the bolt in the other way.

 

Geeze my trailer hitch was pretty easy to install. i did get a factory one though.

 

my hidden hitch was a ***** to put on. the hitch is a probably one millimeter wide enough to get on the frame, so when one side was part way on it, the other side wouldnt go up. it took my dad and i at least an hour to get it on, and we had to beat that thing on with a hammer. i also had mud caked up in there which didnt help lol