MossMan

My truck had some huge RanchHand bumpers on it when I bought it and they look real heavy duty. However, the rear bumper has the hitch integrated and I'm not sure about towing this way. The bumper says gross weight 10,000 and tongue weight 1,000 lbs. But..........the hitch receiver bolts onto the flat area of the bumper and it's rated at 500 lbs. tongue weight (I think, according to the sticker on it). It does have four big bolts holding it on and two of them are as big as what's on a trailer ball but I'm still not confident.

I'll try to get picture posted so you can see exactly what kind of setup it is. In the meantime, does anyone have any experience towing like this? Will it be ok with my 4000 lb Jeep on a 1500 lb trailer? Should I take the plate off and ditch it and bolt a ball directly to the bumper?

MossMan

Here's the bumper


And here's the bolt on


From RanchHand:

I guess I would be right on the edge of spec which in my mind is too close for comfort. But, if I take the bolt on plate off then I have no option for a drop receiver and the trailer rides funny. What should I do?

Hoss

If your tongue weight is 500 pounds or less and your trailer is 5000 pounds or less then you're okay. If not, then I'd take the receiver bar off and put a 10,000 pound ball directly on the bumper.....give you your 10,000/1,000 rating again.

SBishop

Does Ranch Hand offer a class IV receiver? If so, just swap receivers.

Crimedog

Or, you could get a heavy duty, or starndard duty reciever hitch that would fit nicely. That bumper looks like it would be about a 2" drop over stock, and Putnam has great recievers for stock, 8", and 10" drop bumpers. Then you know for sure.