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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 352
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How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I was just wondering if anyone knew the load rating for towing with these types of bumpers?
Short of tying it to a tree and racing away..I have no idea how to safely test its strength? I do have the camper package, and the wiring and plug are down there for a trailer. I was hoping it would at least be able to tow a car carrier. It's a California truck, solid bumper and frame, the supports are the type that are adjustable to make it sit further away from the truck if you put a camper on the bed. J.
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1972 Custom Deluxe Highlander C20 1971 Javelin SST New Project 1971 Demon 340 1969 SS El Camino 1968 SS RS 396 Camaro 1967 Barracuda Formula S 1965 140/4sp Corvair Monza Convertible Sorry, but I don't do Fords. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Floriduh
Posts: 386
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
i would not tow anything with that. i would get a class three installed and call it a day!
even if its secure and strong there is zero chance of getting the trailer tongue at proper height to trailer safely
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Ed will be known as the Tiger Woods of the integration business |
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#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 352
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Quote:
You'd kinda think the makers of the bumper would have thought of that. The center of this tow hitch ball is 20" exactly off the ground, I think Maximum height is 25". J.
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1972 Custom Deluxe Highlander C20 1971 Javelin SST New Project 1971 Demon 340 1969 SS El Camino 1968 SS RS 396 Camaro 1967 Barracuda Formula S 1965 140/4sp Corvair Monza Convertible Sorry, but I don't do Fords. Last edited by JCD; 08-04-2013 at 12:13 AM. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: error 404 location not found
Posts: 816
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I used the one of my dads s10 zr2 and pulled a 71 frame,cab, and bed on a trailer for 40 miles, worked fine.
Posted via Mobile Device
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1995 s10 blazer 4.3 1967 c10 350/350 fleet short 1993 s10 blazer 4.3l 4l60 RIP 6/20/14 2000 mercury sable Thats a how I roll |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edwards, CA
Posts: 7,503
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
If that is a sliding bumper I would limit it to 1500lbs. If you actually plan on putting anything on your car carrier then buy a proper receiver hitch that mounts to the frame there under the bumper. Then you have a secure hitch and weight distribution capabilites that should be used with heavier loads in addition to electric brakes.
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Thanks, Tim * VIN/Model Decoders * Power Team Charts (engine/transmission/gear ratio) * Post Your Pickup SPID ** Blazer SPID ** Suburban/Panel SPID * RTFM ... Read The Factory Manuals... download 'em here Highlanders ** Do you have a 1972 Plaid Pickup? ** Plaid Blazer ** Plaid Suburban |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Glencoe Alabama
Posts: 510
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
We hauled with those bumpers for YEARS. Worse thing ever happened we forgot to latch the trailer.... Your height seems okay to me. All 3 of my trailers are between 19-20 inches level (loaded) Disclaimer; yes a weight distribution hitch is safer but so are air bags, your truck got any of those? My 2 cents.
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72 Cheyenne super 10 08 3500 HD 4dr dually 12 ford flex (wifes ride) 76 Monte Carlo 83 Chevy short wide Silverado 96 Mazda Miata, 2000 Allegro Bus Last edited by oklalawnboy; 08-04-2013 at 12:20 AM. Reason: added to |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Riverbank, Ca
Posts: 1,006
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I had one of those on my first 72 k10. It will tow a light duty trailer fine. Will be fine with a medium duty if you are careful but thats about it. I would not tow a car trailer with it.
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Rob 1971 c10 - ground up in progress Tripp's Speed Shop Build - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=589750 |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
Posts: 4,844
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I agree 100% with Tim and Special-Ed.
What weight are we talking for the car carrier and load? I'd guess at least 4500# with a vehicle on the trailer. Not safe, especially with an adjustable bumper. How is the bumper set up to telescope? Most were just held in place with a set screw/bolt. As Tim said you should also use a weight distributing hitch setup, especially if it's a 1/2 ton truck. AND, you will be required by law to also have trailer brakes. I don't know of any state that allows trailers over 3000# without brakes. There are some that have a 1000# limit. "Proper height" of the ball is whatever it takes so the trailer is level when hitched to the truck. Others have and will tell you that this or that is OK since they towed a huge trailer with a bumper hitch successfully. That doesn't mean they did it safely. Perhaps they were just lucky. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I've seen A LOT of those type of bumpers nearly ripped off too. Myself, I won't tow anything unless the hitch is mounted to the frame.
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: error 404 location not found
Posts: 816
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Quote:
Just not trying to look like I was being wreckless. But frame hitch is the way to go if you will be truly hauling heavier loads, bumper style is fine if your towing fairly light loads. Posted via Mobile Device
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1995 s10 blazer 4.3 1967 c10 350/350 fleet short 1993 s10 blazer 4.3l 4l60 RIP 6/20/14 2000 mercury sable Thats a how I roll |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: new mexico
Posts: 948
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
As a cattle rancher who pulls a trailer almost every day, I think you are fine with pulling a trailer depending on how well the bumper is attached to the frame. I pulled trailers for over 30 years and have never seen a bumper ripped out of the frame.
I guess I was lucky, but considering I live in the boonies and am surrounded by ranchers who pull trailers full of cattle all the time, it would seem that if something bad were to happen, I would have seen it. That being said, I would not pull more than about 5000 pounds with a bumper pull trailer. You need to consider that your truck only weighs about 5 grand and anything larger on a trailer will push you around when you try to stop. If you want to pull a utility trailer with your truck, I wouldn't worry about it. That's my experience and 2 cents worth. John
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1972 3/4T 4x4 Chevrolet (383) 1971 c-10 SWB (400 sb) 1972 4x4 Blazer 1969 SWB 4x4 GMC Projects: 1972 stepside 4x4 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=280132 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=285952 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=553672 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522704 |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edwards, CA
Posts: 7,503
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
GM's take on trailering for 72.
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Thanks, Tim * VIN/Model Decoders * Power Team Charts (engine/transmission/gear ratio) * Post Your Pickup SPID ** Blazer SPID ** Suburban/Panel SPID * RTFM ... Read The Factory Manuals... download 'em here Highlanders ** Do you have a 1972 Plaid Pickup? ** Plaid Blazer ** Plaid Suburban |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ruskin Florida
Posts: 4,560
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
I thought mine was weak til I looked underneath and PO had reinforced it with a buttload of 1/4" plate steel. I bolted a 2" receiver and called it a day. Yanked a triple tree stump out with it no problem.
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70 swb 4x4 406sbc 700r4 203/205 d60/14blt locker yadda yadda http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...88#post6935688 Yeller 72 Blazer 2wd conversion project "No Daggum Money" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=550804 LS1-T56 3.73 LSD super budget build Blanco-2014 Sierra SWB https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=810350 |
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#14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
if you r goin down the highway and what you're towin goes on by you can figure you've probally exceeded the load limit
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Floriduh
Posts: 386
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
ive seen so many people towing things where the trailer tongue is not at proper ride height. and a 4 wheel tralier has only 2 wheels on the ground.
that is why god invented offset hitches for your receiver. you want the trailer to sit level as it sits on the ball of the receiver. also tongue weight is heighly important as well. as well as load distribution. i personally dont care how someone fill's their trailer or what they use to tow, but if a persons ignorance hurts me or my kids.... we have a major problem. in my 2005 suburban z71 i have close to 75000 miles of towing. everything from my buddy's 35 ft triple axle boat trailer, to my 30 ft dual axle boat trailer, 25 foot enclosed trailers, to our 12 foot single axle boy scout trailer and pretty much everything in between. i own probably 6 or 7 hitches at multiple heights and ball size for this exact reason. and typically its 10% on the tongue with equal distribution untill you get to the heavy stuff like cars and boats... then i try and keep it 100 lbs lower than max tongue (300lbs is my goal as 400 is max)) 300 is my max and the mass of load equally ditributed over the axles of the trailer. and as long as you do that you have very little worries. 70mph wth my 7600 pound boat was common. 80mph with the boy scout trailer, did even know it was there. so if you use your bumper hitch to tow something, and something bad happens.... its on you! and that chart that got posted, that was not for a bumper hitch, those were for frame mounted receivers...
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Ed will be known as the Tiger Woods of the integration business Last edited by Special-Ed; 08-04-2013 at 12:27 PM. |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Floriduh
Posts: 386
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
my intention is not to sound like a doucher in my previous posts, but only stress how serious trailering really is and the responsibility one should take.
the funniest thing i have seen and its only funny because nobody got hurt, except some pride. out in the california/navada desert (I10?) i was driving from san diego to vegas and this guy was so proud of himslef.... brand new honda suv and a brand new 30 foot camper trailer... the trailer was well withing spec's of what the honda could tow weight wise. but the ball height was not proper and the wheels did not set properly on the pavement.... ole boy hit an expansion joint in the road... trailer got squirrely... suv and trailer both totaled... when he could not control it and flipped both.
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Ed will be known as the Tiger Woods of the integration business Last edited by Special-Ed; 08-04-2013 at 12:51 PM. |
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#17 |
Petroleum User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 928
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
1 to 1 and a half tons, yes. Those are bad ass bumpers. 2 tons and up, I want to go straight to the frame with square tubing
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![]() 1971 GMC Sierra Grande 2WD 1/2 ton, 350/400 auto 2008 Chevy Silverado 2WD 1/2 ton LT1 5.3L auto |
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#18 |
Petroleum User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 928
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Heres a funny story(because nobody got hurt).... I was 18 yrs old hauling an empty hydroseeder with a 78 chevy 4x4 half ton with bumper hitch, when it started dancin back and forth at 55 mph. I saw it sideways in the drivers mirror, and I turned my head and saw it sideways in the passenger mirror in a span of two seconds. The hydroseeder flipped right onto her side. Had the the left rear wheel of the chevy off the ground sittin in the middle of the road.
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![]() 1971 GMC Sierra Grande 2WD 1/2 ton, 350/400 auto 2008 Chevy Silverado 2WD 1/2 ton LT1 5.3L auto |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: wilcox county ga
Posts: 33
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
In the 70's and 80's we pulled some big loads with bumpers that looked very similar to that. They bolted directly to the frame and we had shock hitches bolted to the bumper. We never had a frame mounted receiver hitch until 88 when they started putting those chrome plated sheetmetal bumpers on chevy pickups.The old steel step bumpers were pretty tough.
By big loads I mean peanut wagons two at the time. Best I remember an empty 4 wheel wagon was around 3500 and it would hold around 4-4.5 tons of peanuts. We went slowly loaded around 35 -40 max and you had to be very careful stopping especially on dirt or gravel. longer trips were 8-10 miles but most trips where shorter.Also pulled 40 ft cotton wagons with 8 to 10 bales of seed cotton depending on how much we packed it. Also pulled 2 125 bushel gravity flow wagons never tore off a bumper.Fried a few turbo 350s though. Sometimes we ran a flat iron brace from the bolts on the shock hitch to the frame sometimes not. The bolt holes in the shock hitches lined up with the outside of the three holes in the bumpers.In those days that was how you could tell if a truck belonged to a farmer was if it had a shock hitch on it.I wish we had taken some pics but we didnt think anything about it at the time it was just what everyone did. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ruskin Florida
Posts: 4,560
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Could you draw up something? I want to see this! Shock bumper---yeah!
__________________
70 swb 4x4 406sbc 700r4 203/205 d60/14blt locker yadda yadda http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...88#post6935688 Yeller 72 Blazer 2wd conversion project "No Daggum Money" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=550804 LS1-T56 3.73 LSD super budget build Blanco-2014 Sierra SWB https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=810350 |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: wilcox county ga
Posts: 33
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Give me a day or two. I found an old pic of my truck from about 1985. I will get it scanned and post it. Its not very impressive looking but they did work. It made it a lot easier on the truck pulling loads like that.Wagons snatch back and forth a lot because they have a hitch pin instead of a ball.
They did make bumpers with built in shock hitches I guess they still do. Brother had one that came on his 83 K10 lwb 6.2. It had an arrangement on it where you could pull a handle and it would slide back and sie to side about 6 inches if you weren't lined up just right.Put the pin in the tounge then back up on it and it would lock back into place. Pretty sweet it saved a lot of work. Last edited by jwinga; 08-06-2013 at 11:44 PM. |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 352
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
Interested in that myself..
J.
__________________
1972 Custom Deluxe Highlander C20 1971 Javelin SST New Project 1971 Demon 340 1969 SS El Camino 1968 SS RS 396 Camaro 1967 Barracuda Formula S 1965 140/4sp Corvair Monza Convertible Sorry, but I don't do Fords. |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: wilcox county ga
Posts: 33
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Re: How safe is the rear bumper hitch?
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