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Step bumper and mounting trailer 'ball'

18 years ago

I have a new pickup with a metal/crome step bumper. The flat top of the bumper has a rubber-like onlay, and it covers the hole in the metal that is there to take a trailer ball. It appears one just cuts the rubber away, to gain access to the hole.

Being this surface is very visible it would be best if one cut a very clean hole to maintain a clean appearance. Then too, the shoulder on the ball will cover any small roughness in the cut. Any advice on what to cut with?

Comments (6)

bill_h
18 years ago
maybe a spade bit at a very slow speed.?
gary__
18 years ago
How about spring for a frame mounted hitch/receiver? Better hitch, saves your new bumper, pull a pin and remove the ball mount when your not using it. Cost you probably $200 if you bolt the thing up yourself.
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NOTE: If the bumper on your truck is stock, supplied and installed at the factory, you will probably end up with a non-bumper condition! Most rear bumpers on pickups are held on by 4 little chrome headed bolts, or by flimsy brackets with little bolts. It is for this condition that they sell trailer draw-bars that bolt to the frame rails, and should be used for any towing. One fellow, while driving down the interstate, saw a boat just like his, passing him up, and setting on a boat trailer, just like his----was his! the bumper had broken off, but was still attached to the trailer hitch. Yes, you could drag a RR tie behind it, but, do you know how heavy a RR tie is? MMMM.
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Bill, You will eventually bend your drawbar hitch if you put a ball directly on it. Plus you will bang the heck out of the rear frame with the minimal clearance. You won't be able to pull other attachments without first unbolting the hitch, and the ball will be very low to the ground. I know it's expensive, but I would consider buying one of these multi-hitch adapters from Hayes Enterprises. Then it will just be a matter of sliding the hitch out of your truck's 2" receiver and using it on the tractor. There are also 2" adapters for sleeve hitches if you have one or plan on getting one in the future. -Chris Here is a link that might be useful: Hayes multi hitch
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cowboyind
18 years ago
I like that idea, too. If you pull from the bumper you're pretty limited on how much you can tow. The frame-mounted ones can pull up to whatever your truck's towing limit is.
christopherh
18 years ago
I towed a trailer ONCE using the bumper. Never again! It makes the truck squiggly and you lose a lot of control. Spring for the hundred bucks for a receiver. Any trailer you pull will be level and the control is there!
GoodOleBoy
18 years ago
If you dont really plan on using the trailer but just want add a ball for "just in case" use. I dont think a bumper hitch is that bad from what i have used ona small truck. If your towing 2000 lbs that should be fine.
I would try using a Dremel or even call the dealer and explain that to them that your factory equiped tow bumper is not cut out.
jerry_nj
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks, I did have a large receiver on my last pickup.

My use of the hitch is limited to towing an aluminum 16' fishing boat, not more than 1500 pounds. The turck is a new Chevy Colorade, 2WD (but with the great GM option of traction control and automatic locking differential, I look forward to seeing haw well that works as a substitute for light-duty 4WD needs) and the bumper isn't "too" high. I think I'll try the bumper and see how it goes (most trips are under 30 miles).

By the way, the "T" adaptor to get into the break/running/turn lights is great. The package was under $40 and was installed in under 15 minutes. I don't know when truck manufactureres started providing that connector near the rear, but it is a great improvement.

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