I think this has been discussed before...

I want to buy a hitch, but I am a little confused because I already have one on my Dakota. The only problem is... there's no receiver on it. There's just a place for a ball that comes out of the license plate.

Do I have to remove the whole hitch and buy one with a receiver on it? Or, can I change the current one I have?



This is what I DON'T have.

 

A picture of what you DO have would make it easier for us to help you, instead of the other way around..

If you don't have a receiver and only the bumper ball hitch location, your truck must not have come with the tow package. You can tow with the bumper, however you are severely limited on the weight. Your bumper will state the weight rating it can handle, look on the center of the bumper just under the tailgate for max tongue and tow weights.

You can buy a ball that is made for bumper mounting, they have a long bolt coming out of it and a large nut that secures it from the bottom of the bumper.

OR if you plan on towing more than a riding lawn mower, you can purchase a receiver and bolt it on to the frame.

And don't forget, pics of what you tow!

 

If you don't have a hitch with a receiver then you do not have a hitch. Take a picture of what do you have. Most bumpers do have holes for tow *****. But most bumper are only able to tow up to 2,000lbs. For help on what kind of hitch to buy you need to know the weight and requirements of the trailer you are towing. Go HERE for hitch classifications. You can buy hitches just about anywhere. Most auto parts stores, U-Haul. Ect. U-Haul will install it and so will Pep Boys. Most of the hitches are easy to install and direct bolt ins.

 

I see you drive a 2005.

Unless you have a factory 2" square towing-tongue reciever, you only have a location to bolt on a simple towing ball. That setup is only good to 2000# trailer weight / 200# tongue weight.

However, all 2005+ trucks do have a very beefy tubular crossmember welded to the frame that is ready to accept a simple bolt-on reciever from your supplier of choice. I have a Class III UHaul reciever that cost about $100. Simple wiring for brakes and lights only cost another $50.

You could do the install yourself if you have a torque wrench capable of 150 FT-LB.

Without trailer brakes, any towing setup is only safe to about 2,000# trailer weight. Wiring the truck for an electronic brake controller is another project in itself.

 

You're dead on. I don't have a hitch. I just have the ball coming up through the bumper.

I want to tow a boat at some point. Not sure how big, but I think it's JUST under 2k lbs. It might even be 2k lbs with gear.

Are you sure the hitch is only good for 2k lbs without breaks? On my bumper it says maximum 3k lbs.


UHaul is where I'll be buying it from.


Part number: 75889 Square Tube 2 inch Rec. Class 3 Hitch.

 

The bumper states the correct amount. Purchasing it separately and having a shop install will probably cost you more, but would be worth looking into. U-Haul purchases enough to get a price break.

They are bolt on if you can borrow a large enough torque wrench, like cramerica said, so you cold save money by doing it yourself.

 

I would try to bolt it on myself, but the weather is just so unforgiving. I miss the 50's!

 

I tow a 2000 lbs camp trailer with no trailer brakes just fine (not using the bumper hitch, I wouldn't use that to tow anything).

Check your state laws. Most states don't require trailer brakes if the trailer is less than 3000 lbs but some states require them as low as 1000 lbs.

 

don't forget how high the boat will tilt with out the reciever, you could catch your lower unit and thats costly.

 

Yeah, I'm gonna get a real hitch .