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Buzzcut1's avatar
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Jan 10, 2019

Installed a front receiver on my F350 today

When I did a similar install on my 03 F350 many hears ago there was much cursing, modifying, prying and cracked knuckles. I'm happy to say there there was none of that this go round.

I had a break in the weather this afternoon and decided to tackle the front receiver install.

The receiver is a Curt 31018 specific to the F350 4x4, My 2011 fits the model yr range of this product I got it off Amazon for $115.

I watched the online video and it made the install look easy, It was.

Start to finish took less than an hour. Fishing the bolts through the frame was a piece of cake using the supplied hardware.

The biggest pain in the butt is that without a lift or putting the truck on ramps or jack stands it was really hard to get leverage on my big torque wrench and crank the bolts to 110/ft pounds. my shoulders and arms got a work out.

The only tools I needed were a 3/4 socket, a ratchet wrench, a torque wrench, a small flat head screwdriver (to stick in the bolt threads to prevent them bolts from falling back into the frame while I removed the fish wire and screwed on the nut), and a dremel tool to cut the notch in the plastic air dam.

The vertical fins go on first then the cross bar upside down to mark where you will cut the air dam. flip the cross bar add the bolts, tighten and torque

The kit

In place

air cam cut

Honda 2000 in a Torklift Sidekick rack ready to go

17 Replies

  • I finally put the front hitch on mine. I took it off the previous RAM. Pretty snug fit trying to torque some of the nuts.
    Tell us about those truck front wheel hub caps/lug nuts/studs/whatevers.
    I've thought about removing my plastic chrome hub caps and going with chrome acorn nuts.
  • Torklift makes nice hardware, but costly.
    I posted picture of my front mounted Honda 3000, when couple of members ask me about mount details.
    Here is a sketch how I build it with material "laying around"
    I only bought additional metric bolts and rubber pads, so my generator sits on rubber mounts both ways.
    Metric bolts are hidden from the outside for security.


    Click For Full-Size Image.

    Comparing the hitches, on my 2017 model the hitch goes lower as it is mounted at the bottom of cross bar.


    Click For Full-Size Image.
  • 1handyhubby wrote:
    Sweet. Where did you get the cargo carrier and how much was it? Just installed a front receiver on my 2001 F350 and am using the fold up carrier which is larger than I like. Thanks


    its a torklift sidekick it is designed for Honda and Yamaha 2000-2200 generators. keeps them secure while driving and from 5 finger discount shopping in camp. all the online hitch places carry them. theyalos have a version for the 3000 watt gensets.
  • Sweet. Where did you get the cargo carrier and how much was it? Just installed a front receiver on my 2001 F350 and am using the fold up carrier which is larger than I like. Thanks
  • work2much wrote:
    Easier install than on my Ram. You might want a cover for the generator to protect it from water, bugs, etc.


    I have one but it makes for a crappy demonstration photo :B
  • Easier install than on my Ram. You might want a cover for the generator to protect it from water, bugs, etc.