Flatbed bumper hitches, any good?

LCexplorer

LCexplorer

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2022
Member Number
5785
Messages
49
So I found a nice 9ft CM flatbed for my F450 on Marketplace close to me, It has a B&W gooseneck hitch rated for 30K lbs apparently) a big plus and a 2 inch receiver bumper hitch. The sales brochure on this particular RM model and vintage says that CM rates the 2 in bumper hitch at 18K lbs which is quite a bit for a 2 in receiver.

How good are the bumper hitches on these flatbeds? Anybody ever bend or break one?

I usually run 2.5 in receiver hitches for the extra weight capacity as I have a dump trailer that occasionally hit 14K lbs and a big Boat trailer that tops out at 16K lbs and currently have a Curt 16K lbs 2.5 in receiver hitch for my F450. The problem is the Curt hitch doesn't fit along with this flatbed unless I cut off the flatbed hitch and modify the rear mount. Just wondering if its worth the bother or should I just stick with the current flatbed hitch as is.
 

Attachments

  • 2 in hitch #1.jpg
    2 in hitch #1.jpg
    183.9 KB · Views: 0
  • 2 in hitch #2.jpg
    2 in hitch #2.jpg
    59.9 KB · Views: 0
Cm is decent stuff but that hitch looks light duty to my eyes and not cm package.

I think a couple tie in plates to the bottom of that tail board and say youre gtg depending what the sticker says on that hitch bar.
 
Agree with total newb.

A bumper hitch that came on a CM might be rated for that, but I don't think for a second that that hitch was built by CM. Looks more like a ranch cobble job.
 
This is what the bumper hitch looks like on my CM bed. Similar enough to mine in construction it might be made by CM. AFAIK mine was, but I bought mine used.

I have never had any concern about strength with my hitch, but I also never towed heavy with it. All the weight goes on the gooseneck hitch.

1779805685693.png
 
maveric said:
That looks like a factory CM hitch. We see a lot of them around here. Never seen one that has failed, but as stated above, most heavy loads here are GN.
Click to expand...

I wasn't really sure about the hitch being factory until I saw this site for my same bed:

RD Model Truck Bed - Johnson Manufacturing


RD_3_Qtr_Rear.png


The picture from the above site of the CM RD flat bed exactly like the one I have (but the above pic is all nice and shiny)
 
Last edited:
If you really want to keep your 2.5" ball mounts, just weld a 2.5" receiver in right above (or below if it works better) having both may come in handy.

I've never seen a solid 2" ball mount fail, even pulling 18-22k. I'd only really worry about it at 20k+ and just for the liabilities if something happens and dot finds all your **** is underrated.
 
I have a solid shank forged steel 2" hitch that is rated for 18k. I think the ball is the limiting factor in it not the hitch shank. my '15 Ram 2500 has a 2.5" hitch on it but all my hitches are 2" so it was easier to just keep the same size for convenience.

edit to say ball size is 2 5/16". i believe the shank on the ball is 1.25". the 2" shank size is referring to the square shank that goes in the receiver.
 
Last edited:
You can get 25k rated 1 1/4" shank, 2 5/16" balls. But most 2" ball mounts are 14-16k? My 2.5" ball mount from my last work was rated for 20k. I did bend 2 where the ball mounts pulling a 21k trailer on ****ed up mountain roads. Ended up with a gen y solid 1 piece unit that had 2" and 2 5/16" rated for 21k irrc. No more issues after that
 
Ball mount is cheap and free to bend in just about any direction it wants without taking out other **** or failing. Those are pretty good qualities to have in a fuse.
 
Thanks for all the replies! Very good point about eh ball mount being cheap and the part you want to fail, makes sense.

I went our and order some 2" solid Shank 18k ball mounts that were on sale online at TSC and was shipped an empty box, oh well at least they are trying to make good.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Building a fuse into your towing setup is ******ed. Use parts thst are up to the task and it won't fail.
Click to expand...
Says the guy who nobody here would be surprised if they ripped a hitch off something.

If I was giving someone like you a truck to tow with I would put two fuses in it because otherwise you'd just break something that fails catastrophically and/or expensively.
 
arse_sidewards said:
Says the guy who nobody here would be surprised if they ripped a hitch off something.

If I was giving someone like you a truck to tow with I would put two fuses in it because otherwise you'd just break something that fails catastrophically and/or expensively.
Click to expand...
Why? Just don't break stuff. No reason for stuff to break while towing.

That said, I run cheap and underweight rated hitch and ball, not because I want a ride but because I am cheap.
 
arse_sidewards said:
Says the guy who nobody here would be surprised if they ripped a hitch off something.
Click to expand...

Yet I've towed heavy **** for personal use and work for almost 20 years without an issue....

arse_sidewards said:
If I was giving someone like you a truck to tow with I would put two fuses in it because otherwise you'd just break something that fails catastrophically and/or expensively.
Click to expand...

Using a ****ty ball mount won't fix and underrated hitch :homer:
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Yet I've towed heavy **** for personal use and work for almost 20 years without an issue....
Click to expand...
Except for when you melted down whatever engine that was because you wouldn't take your foot out of it on a grade. Pretty sure you had a bunch of trailer carnage as well.
YotaAtieToo said:
Using a ****ty ball mount won't fix and underrated hitch :homer:
Click to expand...
But it will give you warning before you break that hitch. And a ball mount will just bend, unlike a hitch which has a decent shot of coming off entirely once the first bolt or two rips out.

I'd much rather be over-paying for a ball mount at home depot after a particularly gnarly bump or whatever than trying to ghetto fab a hitch on.

Provience said:
Why? Just don't break stuff. No reason for stuff to break while towing.
Click to expand...
I don't break things either. But I still want the most likely thing to break to be something that's visible, probably not gonna break the first time, easy to replace, etc.
 
arse_sidewards said:
Except for when you melted down whatever engine that was because you wouldn't take your foot out of it on a grade. Pretty sure you had a bunch of trailer carnage as well.
Click to expand...

You mean towing a samurai with a modern diesel? Ya, I'm sure thats why it failed :homer:

Towing trailers everyday at thier max capacity, yes I've had some carnage. Which is why I always preach buying a bigger trailer than you need if you use it everyday.

arse_sidewards said:
But it will give you warning before you break that hitch. And a ball mount will just bend, unlike a hitch which has a decent shot of coming off entirely once the first bolt or two rips out.
Click to expand...

The hitches bend or Crack first also, just check your **** every now and then.

arse_sidewards said:
I'd much rather be over-paying for a ball mount at home depot after a particularly gnarly bump or whatever than trying to ghetto fab a hitch on.


I don't break things either. But I still want the most likely thing to break to be something that's visible, probably not gonna break the first time, easy to replace, etc.
Click to expand...

Again, buying an under rated ball mount to create a fuse is a ******ed idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Threads

SnailMail: Are E-Lockers Any Good?
Replies
0
Views
101
JimmyJet10
JimmyJet10
20' hooper flatbed build
Replies
8
Views
2K
Levigarrett76
Levigarrett76
CageWRX CAGE KIT any good?
Replies
10
Views
3K
Pook
Pook
Top Back Refresh