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popeyedoyle1 · 03-05-2006, 04:23 AM

Is it a big deal or make sense for those of us who want to haul bicycles or firewood on camping trips to install front end hitch to towing vehicle for cargo carriers or bike racks...i"m talking about 500# max cargo carrier or 4 bike carrier on short trips...250 miles or less!!!????

rseagle · 03-05-2006, 04:57 AM

I've seen it done. Most auto shops could attach a receiver for you and Camping World sells the aluminum cargo carriers and hitch mounted bike racks as well.

GlenCoombe · 03-05-2006, 05:54 AM

You'd be surprised to find out how many folks use a front hitch to "front in" their boats. Some folks never get the hang of backing into a boat ramp and the front hitch is the answer. Now try that with an AS up front and you're really working blind.

The front carrier is o.k. as long as what you're carrying is not going to block or affect the cooling air flow up front.

ZoominC6 · 03-05-2006, 06:14 AM

The front hitch works great for carrying your bikes. We carry two bikes on the front of our TV and that frees up space in the bed of the truck for our generators, dog kennels or whatever we need to carry back there. Go for it.

john hd · 03-05-2006, 07:14 AM

i believe reese makes a front reciever for chevys at around 150 bucks the last time i looked.

i have always wanted one for manuvering in tight places. my grand father had one on his travel all for parking his airstream.

i have the truck that can handle it, snow plow prep package. heavy front torsion bars.

just got to find the time to put one on.....

john

lewster · 03-05-2006, 07:51 AM

They are a great idea. Check with any company that maes tow equipment for motor homes to tow cars behind them like BlueOx or Roadmaster. I'm sure that they will have a front 2" receiver. They have vehicle specific models that bolt p yo the front frame.

sovereignrwe · 03-05-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

try that with an AS up front and you're really working blind.

Sounds like someone that has tried. I was seriously considering a front tow hitch to maneuver our trailer into the back yard. I didn’t do it. It sounds like I may have saved myself some money. Anyone else actually tried a front hitch and have a different opinion, or a solution?

Cracker · 03-05-2006, 08:38 AM

One word of caution: Check the weight on your front axle with the vehicle loaded, using a certified truck scale, and compare it with the allowable front axle weight for your vehicle. Your may be surprised, as I was, that there is very little "reserve" capacity left ---to the extent that it discouraged me from installing a brush guard on my front bumper!

BeBop · 03-05-2006, 08:42 AM

I have a front receiver on my F-250 and it has proven itself to be quite useful. I use it mostly to free up the bed space when transporting the 4 bikes we tote when we tow/car camp. I have even moved a friend and used the front receiver with a tilt rack to move his enduro motorcycle. Quite handy, and not that difficult to install yourself. Just make sure your loaded rig is at or below the maximum ratings. My Reese cost around $160 as I recall...good solid unit.

geosouth · 03-05-2006, 09:59 AM

I put a custom front end receiver on my old TV, a 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser, to accomodate a 'sport utility plow' and found that it served many uses beyond that. We boondock a lot of places where fire wood is scarce or the collection of it is prohibited, so we put a cargo carrier on for firewood. I'm not sure it's more economical to bring a ton of my own wood or not. I just know I'm not willing to pay 5 to 7 bucks for a small bundle at the general store nearest to my

excursion. I suppose if I factored in the reduced mileage with the cargo carrier and wood and compared it to the high cost of the wood I wish to avoid, the cost differential could be anywhere. Plus, we take our mountain bikes and have a reducer for the 2" receiver to the 1 1/4' of our bike rack. All around a good solid investment and versatililty galore.

davidh · 03-05-2006, 10:21 AM

check this site out. http://www.orsracksdirect.com/yakima-8001137.html

davidh · 03-05-2006, 10:40 AM

here is another above box bike rack. http://www.slidesystems.com/Bikeandski.html#

Weissbrewer · 03-05-2006, 01:44 PM

www.bodiak.com
Hasve one on my excursion, On & off in 3 minutes Carry my generator or scooter on it

TomW · 03-05-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

You'd be surprised to find out how many folks use a front hitch to "front in" their boats...

A local welding shop installed a custom-welded front hitch on my '84 Burb for around $150. Never have used it for my Airstream, but it makes short work of manuevering a tight 90 degree bend for parking my boat at home.

Airstream.com sells a nice receiver cover...

Tom

jhart657 · 03-05-2006, 08:03 PM

We had a front receiver installed on our 2001 Yukon. It's great if you have to maneuver your coach into tight places. Ours was made by Curt---models are available for quite a few full sized trucks and SUV's. Relatively simple installation. Should take a hitch shop about 10 minutes to install. Caution: make sure that your truck suspension can handle the weight. Juergen

AIRBORNE SUB · 03-13-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sovereignrwe

Sounds like someone that has tried. I was seriously considering a front tow hitch to maneuver our trailer into the back yard. I didn’t do it. It sounds like I may have saved myself some money. Anyone else actually tried a front hitch and have a different opinion, or a solution?

Our driveway curves so it's easy to see until AS is entering between house & side yard fence. (Just 12 ft wide concrete slab.) Then wife with portable CB directs. Be careful about too much weight on power steering... it will blow seals! Been there done that with a 31 Hi-Lo

. Hensley now on 34 AS. No sag.

I use an acrylic plastic mirror 12" x 30" angled off of bottle cover. Stores in back of suburban. Easy hitch front or rear by myself. Make one... you'll never hitch without it!

Cheers, Airborne Sub.

knunut · 11-07-2006, 11:53 AM

We had a front rcvr put on our Avalanche,work's great for pushing the trailer down the drive that has a hard dog leg corner around the house.We use a Yakima rack for 2 bikes. The bikes bar was rather straight and had little problem,however we got a new bike that the when the bar is held it put's the seat in the driver's view! Next time i plan on removing the seat when it's in place to see if that helps.I was going to put the bikes on the AS bumper,but after reading the post i will work with the front rcvr. Thank's to all for there input.

Fyrzowt · 11-07-2006, 12:48 PM

The California Highway Patrol being what they are, we got stopped once for having one of the bicycle tires blocking a headlight. Sometimes it's a simple matter of positioning, sometimes you have either one or the other blocking a light.

ScottW · 11-07-2006, 01:11 PM

I ordered a Drawtite front reciever for my F-150 TV. I use a three bike rack to carry two bikes on the front. Works well. Installed it myself in about 15 minutes. Cost about $160 delivered.
Scott