Jimfromvirginia
Virginia
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Joined: 12/20/2006
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I am thinking of adding a hitch to front of my 2003 F350 truck, primarily to put a bike carier on. Tired of the hitch carrier blocking my entrace to the bed of my truck (I have the bike carrier that attaches to hitch and still allows towing).
My concern is how much affect will this have on my trucks cooling ability. There obviously going to be a certain amount of air flow reduction, but is it going to affect engine/transmission temperature?
2006 Rockwood 8315SS towed by Ford F350 4x4 Diesel
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Depends on the design of the hitch and where the cross tube is placed in relation to the air flow. On my truck, the front hitch is completely behind the bumper and doesn't block any air flow at all.
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Texcam
Argyle,Tx
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I just put a hitch on the front of a Suburban for a bike rack. It fits under the bumper so no cooling issues. But,they are adult bikes and they end up blocking part of the headlights and stick up a bit over the hood. I can cut and lower the rack to take care of the height issue but I'm perplexed with the headlight problem. I don't want to be unsafe or risk getting a ticket.
Any ideas???
Texcam
07' Coyote 23CFK
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campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
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My 1500 Suburban did run about 5 to 10 degrees hotter than usual in the summertime when I was carrying my Honda Trail 90 on a motorcycle carrier on my front receiver hitch. The engine and closed part of the bike's frame blocked the center of my radiator grille. But the Suburban's temp gage never went near the red zone, even in our torrid Texas summer heat. I can't guarantee that your F350 will react the same, but if you are carrying bicycles, and not a motorcycle, I would think that there wouldn't be much difference in your coolant termperature at all.
As SoCalDesertRider's photos show, the design of most front receiver hitches is such that the hitch bar itself will rarely block any air from reaching the radiator, it's only what you carry on the hitch that could be a problem.
EDIT: I neglected to say that the 5 to 10 degrees hotter reading on my temp gauge was only while towing my 30-foot travel trailer in weather warmer than about 85 degrees F. In temperatures cooler than 85 degrees, or when not pulling the trailer, carrying the motorbike on the front hitch didn't change the temp gauge from it's normal middle-of-the-gauge reading (about 210 degrees), which is what it would read when not towing the trailer and not carrying the motorcycle on the front hitch. Considering your diesel's cooling system and the relatively light trailer it's pulling (in comparison with what it's rated to tow), I doubt you'll have any problems using a front hitch while towing your trailer.
* This post was
edited 07/19/08 05:44pm by campercajun *
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
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Jim & Gayle Bryant
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Texcam wrote:I just put a hitch on the front of a Suburban for a bike rack. It fits under the bumper so no cooling issues. But,they are adult bikes and they end up blocking part of the headlights and stick up a bit over the hood. I can cut and lower the rack to take care of the height issue but I'm perplexed with the headlight problem. I don't want to be unsafe or risk getting a ticket.
Any ideas??? Most bicycle front wheels are easily removeable with the quick release axle cam flip lever. Some higher end bikes have quick release on the rear wheels too. That would get the wheels outta the way of the headlights and then just throw them in the back of the vehicle or trailer for the trip.
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Jimfromvirginia
Virginia
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Sometimes the obvious answer stares you in the face and you do not see it! I have Treks and never thought of removing the tires, so thanks SoCal for waking up my sleeping brain.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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 Have fun on your trip!
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ksd
Medina, MN
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Joined: 10/22/2003
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What's the purpose of a front hitch, other than attaching a bike rack?
2006 Suburban 2500 LT 8.1/4.10 with GV overdrive
2005 Daughter, a.k.a. "Princess"
2003 Son #2, a.k.a. "Bubba"
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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ksd wrote:What's the purpose of a front hitch, other than attaching a bike rack?
A lot of people use them for backing their trailers into tight spots. It makes it quite easy and you can see what you are doing for the most part. Also, boat owners use them to launch their boats. Not only easier to maneuver but you keep the truck drive axles farther up the ramp and out of the water where it is not quite so slippery.
I have also seen people with generators, motorcycles, scooters, utility boxes etc. mounted on the front of their vehicles with a front mounted hitch. So you can see, there are quite a few uses for one other than for bike racks!
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
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camperdave
northern, California
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I carry 4 bikes on a front rack (currently 2 adult, 1 tag along and 1 kids bike) and have not noticed any significant increase in temps. They do block the lights a little, but not enough for me to worry about. I've thought about adding a set of driving lights under my bumper to use on dark backroads but haven't yet. Here's a recent photo of the van with bikes.
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