Front Reciever Hitch w/Stock bumper

Anyone ever mount a front receiver hitch with a stock bumper? I like the stock bumpers with the "pusher" pieces. I'd like to hang a front receiver on mine. Looking what to expect when this happens.

There was actually a thread not long ago about front bumpers/receiver hitches that had some photos. There are a number of ways to do it and just as many final looks (both good and bad depending upon your taste). My personal preference is the hidden receiver behind the folding license plate.

kramttocs wrote

My personal preference is the hidden receiver behind the folding license plate.

This would be interesting to see. I can only find a weld on kit so far for the truck.

This is pretty much spot on the bumper and set up I was looking to do.

That does look good and with the fog lights it blends in well. Is the owner/poster anyone reachable that could provide attaching photos?

Do you have a sway bar? Trying to think of any considerations and that would be one.

First post, hope it helps!
My 85 came to me with a front hitch already installed. I dont know the brand or anything about it other than it functions and the brackets appear to have been made for the 'sport' bumpers. You can see in one pic that my swaybar mounts are unaffected.

https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1103381/fullsize/img_20170128_090632604.jpg

[img]https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1103381/fullsize/img_20170128_090632604.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1117985/fullsize/20170816_164235.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1117986/fullsize/20170816_164207.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1123126/fullsize/20171104_133740.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1105892/fullsize/img_20170319_140733366_hdr.jpg[/img]

Hmm, getting a message that my pics are the wrong file format

Very helpful and welcome! That looks really good.
Great to know on the sway bar.
Does it look like they took a semi-universal receiver, slid out and rotated the end pieces, then modified them to fit around the frame horns?
Or do the end pieces look entirely custom?

I found one in a salvage yard that was attached to the stock F150 cross member. As already mentioned, I believe this cross member is absent when equipped with a front sway bar, so it may or may not work for you. It is welded, but welded to a removable cross member:

Jonathan - The front sway bar on Dad's truck bolts to that crossmember.

I believe it's a universal type. The two ends slide into the center section and have 2 bolts each and are welded.

The end plates may very well be custom, I'm not sure. It was on the bronco when I got it. They look fairly well shaped, but I havent paid close enough attention to know if Joe schmoe did it or if it was done by a company. I dont think the ends were shaped like the standard rear reciever ends are.

Been a while since I was up under there.

Gary Lewis wrote

Jonathan - The front sway bar on Dad's truck bolts to that cross member.

You thinking a universal one can be mounted to that cross member if it exists without affecting the swaybar?

BigBlue 94 wrote

Hmm, getting a message that my pics are the wrong file format

Copy the "Tag" text field from SuperMotors, for this BBS.  Add an "s" to the 2nd "http", and make the size what you want (original, fullsize, or thumbnail).



The end plates are clearly formed to match the shape of the '80-86 bumper, and to clear the rod bolted to that frame horn.  They look industrially stamped & formed to me.

Ford F834 wrote

I found one in a salvage yard that was attached to the stock F150 cross member.

That's certainly a homebrew, and it doesn't look very strong.  I've bent those crossmembers BY HAND, and by stomping on them to straighten them out.

For the life of me I cannot find one made to fit between the frame like this, or one for our model years. I am wondering if someone bought this for a later year and did some torch profiling for the bumper.

I did find some made for 1992-1996 F-150's. The frame is the same is it not? I'm curious if these would fit. Maybe its more to do with the bumper position?

Would be happy to be wrong but I still see it as a normal receiver with the removable ends flipped upside down and then cut to fit the profile. Even if so though, it's a really good solution.
The front horns are different between those years (crumple zone and how the bumper attaches).
As for the other jy sway bar one, with that style of sway bar, since the bar goes behind that crossmember (at least on my 86 f150) I don't see why it would interfere.
My front sway bar hooks up with a flat crossmember but even with that I think it could be worked around.

The more I look and think about this, the more I like it. I replaced the rear receiver on my 86 with a heavier one so the one I took off is sitting in my shop and has the removable end pieces.
I see it's bolted at the bottom - can you see where else it is attached?

TheScatch wrote

For the life of me I cannot find one made to fit between the frame like this, or one for our model years.

There aren't many non-running parts still made (aftermarket or OE-style) for vehicles over 25 years old.  Yours is about 30.

TheScatch wrote

...torch profiling for the bumper.

That's not a torch cut, and there would be no reason to torch it that close to the bumper.  It doesn't add any strength, so a straight cut would have been easier, cheaper, lighter, & more usable (more cargo capacity left on the truck).

Later frames are different.

Steve83 wrote

There aren't many non-running parts still made (aftermarket or OE-style) for vehicles over 25 years old.  Yours is about 30.

I don't think that's the reason for no search results in this case

Thanks Steve, for the pic info.

Here's some more pics. This is the lower mount, with two bolts and a weld holding it.



From inside the frame rails, you can see a top plate that was welded onto the hitch.



And that welded on piece bolts to the outside of the frame rail