heaterswa
Plainfield, IL. USA
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Joined: 11/15/2003
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Installed mine alone, was not that difficult on the GMC's as the receiver bolted into the front tow hooks. I did use the floor jack to help hold it up.
-Bryan
Me, Wife and 3 daughters
TV: 06 GMC 2500HD D/A SLT 4WD / Prodigy / Reese Signature 18K
TT: 04 KZ Frontier 2505QSS-F / Hensley
FW: 07 KZ Durango 315BH / Fifth Airborne / Sidewinder
Ft. Wilderness, WDW.
April 2007
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Badbowler111
Illinois
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Joined: 09/11/2007
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razorbass wrote:
In retrospect, I might have gone ahead and spent a bit extra for the bodiak since it appears to be much easier to install...but so far at least, I'm happy with the purchase.
I'm planning on getting the Bodiak one myself for my 2000 Expedition. Mainly because we don't keep our trailer at home. And many storage lots are a pain to back into. And with the Bodiak design I can easily remove it if I want too!!
2000 Coachman Catalina 264QBS
2000 Ford Expedition (Main Tow Vehicle)
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Back-Up Tow Vehicle)
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Rubiranch
Salt Lake City, UT
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Joined: 03/09/2004
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The original owner of my truck built this one himself, it seemed pretty stout. He had a 17' boat and an awkward spot in his back yard where he kept it.
I never did try moving the trailer with it and ended up taking it off because I didn't like the looks of it and thought one day I would bang my shin on it.
TV: Mint 1972 Ford F-250 XLT
TT: 1969 19' Excel; entertains 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2
You don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive.
I don't carry because I have to, I carry because I get to.
I like new things-
- when they're 40 years old!
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parametric
Kamloops, BC. Canada
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Joined: 03/08/2008
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If you push your trailer into a spot often, don't forget if possible to offset your hitch a bit, that is have the ball about 6-8 inches toward the passenger side of TV. That way, you can see down the side of your trailer instead of staring at your propane tanks.
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seabee128
Largo, FL
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Joined: 03/17/2004
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heaterswa:
Did you have to cut or modify your lower front valance panel below the bumper to install your hitch?
Thanks
2005 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Dmax/Allison EC SB
Husky 16K Slider Rancho 9000's:Firestone Ride Rite Air Bags
2005 CC Silverback 29LRLBS 5th Whl
Equa-Flex susp. and Trailair Air Pinbox
CCRVC#186
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Mike Schriber
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Mind posting a picture of your lighting rig? I was planning on doing something similar on my Suburban.
Thanks!
Mike
ejbrandley wrote:i've got one on the front of my suburban it's nice use the old cargo rack from my tenting days usually keep the cooler on it when i go fishing and when we go camping 3 bikes go up front along with some other odd and ends that weather won't hurt i also built a kc daylighter insert that i use up the mountains havn't had to use it to move the camper though
2005 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 LT (8.1 liter with 4.10 gears)
2004 Starcraft Homestead 29BHS (16,000 pounds combined)
Twin Honda EU2000i Generators - 12' Porta-Bote
Prodigy / Putnam XDR / Equal-i-zer
SoCal Family Campers
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IPegasus
Wisconsin
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Joined: 06/22/2006
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I mounted a receiver hitch on the front of my tractor. Sure does make manuvering into a tight spot very easy. A friend of mine has a ball mounted in the bucket of a Bobcat. That's even better, the short wheelbase makes the difference. I did have a front mounted receiver on a Suburban we used to have. Didn't use it much as I had good camper mirrors and had better visibility backing up than driving forward looking at the propane tanks.
Bottom line is if you have to manuver in a tight location the front hitch and a spotter is the way to go.
2003 Chevrolet 2500HD DA LT 4x4
Class 5 Air Safe Hitch, Reese DC HP, Ultrafab 3500
1999 Wilderness GL 27F
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ejbrandley
Entirely too young to be a
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Joined: 06/18/2007
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Mike Schriber wrote:Mind posting a picture of your lighting rig? I was planning on doing something similar on my Suburban.
Thanks!
Mike
ejbrandley wrote:i've got one on the front of my suburban it's nice use the old cargo rack from my tenting days usually keep the cooler on it when i go fishing and when we go camping 3 bikes go up front along with some other odd and ends that weather won't hurt i also built a kc daylighter insert that i use up the mountains havn't had to use it to move the camper though
sure will as soon as i get a new battery for my camera darn kodak batterys arn't lasting more than 2 charges
but until then i'll explain it was a fairly easy and simple set up installed a switch on the dash wired up a relay and ran wires down to the hitch which are wire tied to it just a simple 2 wire plug on the truck and the light bar and welded up a triangular bar with 1/2 square steel tubing ran the wires through the bar kinda ugly but it works well i also added a 3 rod plastic fishing rod holder onto it after looking at the prices of aluminum rod holders the whole setup cost about 35$ welded myself and wired myself
TV 1997 GMC SUBURBAN, 92 Mustang Rag Top
PUP 1992 Starcraft Starburst
Eric 32,Tammi 37,Anthony 12,Julia 10,jason 9,Briana 7,Ashley 5,Robert 2
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ejbrandley
Entirely too young to be a
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Joined: 06/18/2007
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Jon W wrote:ejbrandley wrote:i've got one on the front of my suburban it's nice use the old cargo rack from my tenting days usually keep the cooler on it when i go fishing and when we go camping 3 bikes go up front along with some other odd and ends that weather won't hurt i also built a kc daylighter insert that i use up the mountains havn't had to use it to move the camper though
Do you have any problems with the cargo rack on the front. I am looking to use a cargo rack instead of my bike rack on the front. I just wanted to make sure of no problems.
no problems just remember it is there i had to make a u-be and forgot it was there it botomed out really bad almost bent it but no problems at all nice for picking up fire wood too
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ejbrandley
Entirely too young to be a
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Joined: 06/18/2007
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heres some pics of the front hitch set up on my truck
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