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I'm looking for information on hitches... and I know nothing about them, so be gentle!
My wife and I are moving soon. We are likely to take two vehicles which will tow... a 1982 Dodge Ram truck and a 1976 Ford Thunderbird. The truck has three holes in the bumper, presumably for a bumper-mounted hitch. The only problem is that the bumper is somewhat bent at both ends and I'm not positive how strong it is. It feels solid, but it isn't totally straight.
The Thunderbird has no hitch mounts at all, from what I can tell, although it is surely strong enough to be able to tow.
What I would want to be able to tow with one or both of these cars is a flat trailer, which may or may not carry a car (we have three, and maybe we could save gas by driving two cars and hauling the third). If I'm not towing a car, I want to be able to tow furniture / boxes / whatever.
Using a rental truck would be outrageously expensive- over $2,000 for the rental cost plus diesel fuel.
My questions:
1) Approximately how much should a complete frame-mounted hitch assembly, with installation, cost for the Thunderbird?
2) How much does an average flat trailer (18 foot length or so) weigh and cost?
3) Is it okay to tow a trailer that might be that heavy using a bumper-mounted truck hitch? If not, what are my options?
Using a rental truck would be outrageously expensive- over $2,000 for the rental cost plus diesel fuel.
My questions:
1) Approximately how much should a complete frame-mounted hitch assembly, with installation, cost for the Thunderbird?
2) How much does an average flat trailer (18 foot length or so) weigh and cost?
3) Is it okay to tow a trailer that might be that heavy using a bumper-mounted truck hitch? If not, what are my options?
Interesting questions, NWPAguy.
First off . . . how far is the move?
Modifying a vehicle to SAFELY tow a large trailer should only be performed by a professional and is anything but inexpensive.
I have a feeling if you calculate the total expenses associated with modifying your vehicle plus trailer rental compared to a simple one-way, one-time truck rental including a tow trailer for one of your vehicles (remember, all of the wear and tear will be on the truck), I bet they will be fairly close.
Plan B may be to consider having your stuff moved professionally.
Ultimately, if it isn't worth it to get a tough trailer that can haul a car, I'd consider a cheaper trailer that didn't have that kind of weight rating. My wife wants to keep our furniture.
NWPA, I worked for a year or so for U-Haul as a mechanic and put a lot of hitches on vehicles. Maybe I can help with one or two points...
First off, forget about bumper hitches. IF you could even find a place to install it, they're notoriously weak. U-Haul discontinued them a few years ago.
A professionally-installed hitch is attached to the frame of the vehicle - they drill holes in the frame and use humongous bolts to attach it. The Ram won't be a problem towing a car, but the T-Bird (I think) would be. I realize it's a big old-school Bird but again these installers are scared to death of liability issues. They have charts that tell them what class of hitch you can safely put on what vehicles, and somehow I doubt you could get anything but the smallest class hitch for it. That would be sufficient to pull a 5x8 trailer but not much more than that.
At U-Haul, a hitch for the Ram fully installed would probably run $170-$200. For the T-Bird, more like $125-$150.
As for the weight and cost of the trailer, sorry but that I can't advise you on - it's been a while.
I doubt the T-bird would be able to safely haul an 18' loaded twin axle trailer capable of hauling a car. Your owner's book should list the towing capacity of the car with a frame mounted hitch, or a hitch dealer should have that information on the hitches they sell. In any event, the T-bird is not a good "tow car" for much of a load.
The bumper hitch on the Dodge truck is wholly inadequate for a vehicle loaded trailer, too. There should be a stamping on the bumper listing the gross weight and tongue weight it is rated for ... but you say the bumper is already damaged, so I'd not want to load it to the full rating. You should definitely get a frame mounted receiver hitch mounted on this truck for any serious towing. Don't forget to get the electric trailer brake controller installed, too, with all the wiring for the trailer lights and brakes.
I generally see two axle 18' flat bed trailers with electric brakes (a very desirable safety item for a heavy load) and 7,000lb axles selling for around $3,000 new (with loading ramps included). Used, it's typical to see them in the $2,000 price range ... although I got one in beautiful condition at a farm auction a year ago for $1,000 (with surface rust on the fenders and a couple of binder chain attachment points poorly welded to the top of the frame rails ... cosmetically poor, structurally very good overall).
U-haul will rent car dollies that work well for FWD cars, if that's the 3rd - they also rent the box trailers, I think your truck could pull a fair-sized one. One question is if you want to set the truck up to operate electric trailer brakes, or not. If you go with the brake unit, install costs go up but you can safely tow more. Offhand I don't think this makes sense unless you want to tow habitually with the truck.
You have to figure out how much value you would get from putting the hitch on the T-Bird, vs. the cost. You could probably tow a box trailer full of furniture. At the end of the trip, you still have the hitch on the car - which may or may not improve your resale depending on who you are trying to sell to -
Consider riding Greyhound back after the 3rd car, for 1400 miles that may or may not be practical - or Amtrak or fly even - I think it's a 2-day trip unless flying.
At the end of the day, consider how much better/worse this deal is than using the U-Haul truck (remember the U-Haul should have working air, and if it breaks down in the middle of nowhere, U-Haul rather than you are on the hook to fix)
Probably the cheapest way out is to tow the 3rd car with the Ram, and maybe a small trailer with the Bird.
You can buy flat tow trailers, the nicest ones are aluminum, but unless you plan to continue using the trailer or think you can recover most of your $ by reselling it, maybe renting trailer(s) makes more sense.
If you decide to tow with your "old" rigs, it would probably improve your odds if you resolve to go slow-ish, particularly up longer grades -
Towing a trailer behind either your T-bird or Ram, assuming they are in good condition, is not a problem. I doubt that the bumper hitch is rated for the weight. You will have to have a hitch installed. Stopping the combined weight is another story. If your trailer doesn't have electric brakes and tow vehicle a controller you are asking for trouble. This can also be done, for a price. I have always done my own work so I can't help with price but if hitch installer tells you it needs it, believe him.
NWPA, I worked for a year or so for U-Haul as a mechanic and put a lot of hitches on vehicles. Maybe I can help with one or two points...
First off, forget about bumper hitches. IF you could even find a place to install it, they're notoriously weak. U-Haul discontinued them a few years ago.
A professionally-installed hitch is attached to the frame of the vehicle - they drill holes in the frame and use humongous bolts to attach it. The Ram won't be a problem towing a car, but the T-Bird (I think) would be. I realize it's a big old-school Bird but again these installers are scared to death of liability issues. They have charts that tell them what class of hitch you can safely put on what vehicles, and somehow I doubt you could get anything but the smallest class hitch for it. That would be sufficient to pull a 5x8 trailer but not much more than that.
At U-Haul, a hitch for the Ram fully installed would probably run $170-$200. For the T-Bird, more like $125-$150.
As for the weight and cost of the trailer, sorry but that I can't advise you on - it's been a while.
Good luck!
what ever you do listen to what this guy is saying. i my self have installed a few hitches. everything he is saying is true and he has the experience to prove it. bumpers won't tow any thing but a row boat. there not made for anything heavy. as far as your t bird, you won't be towing a car with that because it's not made for towing that heavy of a load. a tandem axle trailer (double axle) weighs about 1000 to 1500 lbs with out anything on it. but with your experience with hitches have it installed at uhaul. you won't be sorry
Modifying a vehicle to SAFELY tow a large trailer should only be performed by a professional and is anything but inexpensive.
Absolutely!!! I did it. Chose the top-of-the-line Reese hitch, for the reasons above, and had a professional install it on my 350 Econoline Ford van. Towed an 18' loaded travel trailer in peace, comfort and no problems whatsoever. When I ended that life, I was able to sell the hitch, which a professional unwelded properly.
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good luck
