ATC King
10-10-2019, 08:15 AM
When you've got a 40 year old truck, there aren't a whole lot of 'modern' accessories listed as bolt on. I scoured the interweb and didn't find diddly-squat for a bolt on front hitch for my truck.
A front hitch is so useful and versatile, I don't ever want to be without one again. Even if just for one of those front steps to use while working under the hood, it's worth it. I've about pulled my chin off a couple of times from slipping off the front bumper while doing engine work.
I took a gamble and bought the Reese Multi-Fit hitch, part #37042. I installed it 1,200 miles from home, at a campsite, in the dirt, with minimal tools. It's definitely quick and easy to do at home, with beer in the fridge.
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The box even doubles as a nice, earth friendly, recyclable, work mat. I burned it after use.
260232
Being a multi-fit accessory, it comes with bonus spare parts, but it also comes with these super nifty things.
260233
The hitch comes with multiple, predrilled plates, that can be positioned in several ways. The center has three pieces and is adjustable for frame width.
260234
For the 1979 F150, the narrowest adjustment is needed. This is as far in as it goes, with a little wiggle room either way because the end pieces have elongated holes. Everything is left loose until it's installed.
260235
Getting the bolts and backing plates into the hitch is where those wire pieces come in. They're also bonus tools, usable after this installation.
260236260237260238260239260240
These are carriage head bolts, and the nuts are locking. It helps to put a pry bar in the hitch to back the bolts when installing the nuts. Remember to leave them just loose enough that the pieces will slide during installation.
Now the part that took a few me a few minutes to figure out, the side plate orientation. These are supposed to be hanging down, and facing the other direction. Not on this installation! This hitch is meant for the rear, and to hang a little lower, but on the front, you'll probably want it as high as it'll go. Luckily, with this orientation and spacers, I was able to get it to just under the bumper. The hitch itself doesn't even hang below the frame, just the receiver box does.
260241
This isn't the only position it can go in. It's just where I put it. Install it as far forward or rearward as you like. Two things to remember on my installation. The truck is a 2x4 and doesn't have a anti sway bar. A sway bar will possibly still fit, but I have no idea about this installation on a 4x4.
This is a original hole I used for the front bolts. I drilled a second for the rear. They are 1/2" bolts. I didn't measure the distance, just used the hitch side bracket holes as a reference.
260242260243
The cordless drill I keep in my truck while on the road. A Wally World special that's definitely worth the price. Inexpensive, lightweight and packs well. It comes with a sensibly sized charger that just slips onto the batteries instead of some hulking monstrosity to take up space.
260244
The hitch installed. All bolts are left loose until everything is in. The ONLY interference is at the top, back. It barely touches the frame, but I still needed to coerce them in. A lick with an angle grinder would take care of it. I didn't have an angle grinder with me.
260245260246
Bonus hardware.
260255
I think the way this hitch is intended to be installed, there's some more bolts in the side plates. For no more weight than this if going to see on the front, The four 1/2" bolts holding it to the frame, and four holding the hitch to the side plates should be fine. That's anyone's own call though.
It's as high as possible and back pretty far, out of the way when not in use. Barley even visible. It sits directly under the radiator and doesn't protrude into my under-hood standing space. You won't have that with a V8 though, it's a I6 benefit only. I show it with my motorcycle rack in, to see if it'd fit, which I only use on the rear. My truck, with the camper shell and motorcycle on the rear carrier was too light on the front, so adding this hitch also gives me a place to add some weight to the font so it doesn't drive like a shopping cart. With front and rear hitches now, a hitch mounted winch would be great.
Final pics of how it fits.
260247260248260249260250260251260252260253260254
It done fine on the way home. I stopped by Appomattox and a couple distilleries.
260256260257260258260259260260
A front hitch is so useful and versatile, I don't ever want to be without one again. Even if just for one of those front steps to use while working under the hood, it's worth it. I've about pulled my chin off a couple of times from slipping off the front bumper while doing engine work.
I took a gamble and bought the Reese Multi-Fit hitch, part #37042. I installed it 1,200 miles from home, at a campsite, in the dirt, with minimal tools. It's definitely quick and easy to do at home, with beer in the fridge.
260229260230260231
The box even doubles as a nice, earth friendly, recyclable, work mat. I burned it after use.
260232
Being a multi-fit accessory, it comes with bonus spare parts, but it also comes with these super nifty things.
260233
The hitch comes with multiple, predrilled plates, that can be positioned in several ways. The center has three pieces and is adjustable for frame width.
260234
For the 1979 F150, the narrowest adjustment is needed. This is as far in as it goes, with a little wiggle room either way because the end pieces have elongated holes. Everything is left loose until it's installed.
260235
Getting the bolts and backing plates into the hitch is where those wire pieces come in. They're also bonus tools, usable after this installation.
260236260237260238260239260240
These are carriage head bolts, and the nuts are locking. It helps to put a pry bar in the hitch to back the bolts when installing the nuts. Remember to leave them just loose enough that the pieces will slide during installation.
Now the part that took a few me a few minutes to figure out, the side plate orientation. These are supposed to be hanging down, and facing the other direction. Not on this installation! This hitch is meant for the rear, and to hang a little lower, but on the front, you'll probably want it as high as it'll go. Luckily, with this orientation and spacers, I was able to get it to just under the bumper. The hitch itself doesn't even hang below the frame, just the receiver box does.
260241
This isn't the only position it can go in. It's just where I put it. Install it as far forward or rearward as you like. Two things to remember on my installation. The truck is a 2x4 and doesn't have a anti sway bar. A sway bar will possibly still fit, but I have no idea about this installation on a 4x4.
This is a original hole I used for the front bolts. I drilled a second for the rear. They are 1/2" bolts. I didn't measure the distance, just used the hitch side bracket holes as a reference.
260242260243
The cordless drill I keep in my truck while on the road. A Wally World special that's definitely worth the price. Inexpensive, lightweight and packs well. It comes with a sensibly sized charger that just slips onto the batteries instead of some hulking monstrosity to take up space.
260244
The hitch installed. All bolts are left loose until everything is in. The ONLY interference is at the top, back. It barely touches the frame, but I still needed to coerce them in. A lick with an angle grinder would take care of it. I didn't have an angle grinder with me.
260245260246
Bonus hardware.
260255
I think the way this hitch is intended to be installed, there's some more bolts in the side plates. For no more weight than this if going to see on the front, The four 1/2" bolts holding it to the frame, and four holding the hitch to the side plates should be fine. That's anyone's own call though.
It's as high as possible and back pretty far, out of the way when not in use. Barley even visible. It sits directly under the radiator and doesn't protrude into my under-hood standing space. You won't have that with a V8 though, it's a I6 benefit only. I show it with my motorcycle rack in, to see if it'd fit, which I only use on the rear. My truck, with the camper shell and motorcycle on the rear carrier was too light on the front, so adding this hitch also gives me a place to add some weight to the font so it doesn't drive like a shopping cart. With front and rear hitches now, a hitch mounted winch would be great.
Final pics of how it fits.
260247260248260249260250260251260252260253260254
It done fine on the way home. I stopped by Appomattox and a couple distilleries.
260256260257260258260259260260