I am looking at putting a Curt front hitch receiver on my 2008 F-250 super duty. From my previous beach buggy life in the 80's I still have a Hamburger's (Pt. Pleasant, NJ) custom made aluminum cooler/rod holder rack. I had 2 square receiver tubes welded to the front frame of my truck for easy attachment and removal. Instead of welding new receivers on my F-250 I was thinking about just buying a Curt, 500 lb. capacity front hitch receiver. 4 bolts to the frame and it's on. The thing I am worried about is the sway and give with a single attachment point. Is the hitch receiver snug and tight with the different implements you can use with it?

I've never had a receiver that fit snugly with the draw bar, and many implements/ramps/carriers will be quite loose. There are holding devices to use that will snug up/tighten this issue, some better than others. It will likely never be as solid as using two receivers, but depends a lot on what you haul.Jerry

They make a locking hitch pin that is threaded, a spring loaded nut fits inside the tube of whatever you are going to insert into the receiver. I use them and no sway at atl to the tray or bike rackhttps://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Locks/Lets-Go-Aero/63232.html?feed=npn&gclid=CjwKCAiAp5nyBRABEiwApTwjXk50x20iJUmhxRHSvrVpsxjitnWqO-Lj30w7pXHlW6MxikTPSVmkLhoCKhwQAvD_BwE

Add some stabilizing turnbuckles from the tow loops to the outside corners of the front rack like this. It will be rock solid then. :):)

I have a 05 F 350 dually diesel and I had a hitch mounted where the fog lights used to be. I bought one ofthese to carry the 500 Harley I have.

Not sure what year body style changed, but I had front hitch on 2006 F350 and it was mounted under tow hooks, so easy job and worked quite well. For 2017 the hitch is mounted under the frame, so quite a task to fish all the bolts and than not only required removal (or cutting) lower trimm, but hitch scrapes steep driveways, or high curbs. I use it for short platform with generator and have to pay attention where I drive.In the past, I used rear hitch on motorhome for PWC carrying, so I added 2 more receivers on the sides with additional bars. That not only stop any rocking of 500 lb PWC, but added security.

Front Hitch receiver F-250 | Good Sam Community

stevenal
Nomad II
Apr 11, 2020
WyoBull,
Exactly what I'm setting up. Too bad Torklift didn't put a receiver for the plate bracket on their Lock and Load Sidekick carrier. Need to be legal with the carrier off and on. I decided to modify the original Ford bracket to make it easier to transfer to the carrier.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2020
WyoBull wrote:
I installed a Torklift Central front mounted EcoHitch on my 2017 Ford F350. It mounts to the frame of the truck, has a very clean look and the receiver sits right where the license plate mounts....

Interesting TL come with quite different concept than Curt.
The same 2017 model, but Curt hitch mounts under the truck frame.
It looks cleaner, but then I have to be careful crossing ditches and high curbs.
Also when others report problem with engine cooling having front loads, I tested mine with 6500lb camper, 124F in Death Valley and pulling very steep, long grade at 55 mph. Newer Ford, when engine temp raise - will show digital display with better accuracy. Don't remember the numbers, but it never come to danger zone and cooled down within seconds once I reached flatter highway.
WyoBull
Explorer
Apr 08, 2020
I installed a Torklift Central front mounted EcoHitch on my 2017 Ford F350. It mounts to the frame of the truck, has a very clean look and the receiver sits right where the license plate mounts. They ship a bracket that you mount your license plate to and insert it into the receiver. Unless you knew it was there with the license plate on, you would never even know a hitch was there.
It sits up high behind the grill and bumper so there is no issue with clearance.

https://torkliftcentral.com/trailer-hitches/front-mounted-receiver-hitches/ford
mellow
Explorer
Apr 06, 2020
MD is a front plate state, I just moved it to the side.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2020
Nevada require front plates, but lot of cars drive without them.
My generator, sitting 1" from the plate completely covers it.
Drove like that 25k miles via bout 30 states & provinces. Occasionally without rear plate neither when I forget to transfer it from camper.
My car come with no front bracket, so for 2 years I drive with front plate placed in the trunk.
Even if the cop stops you - that should be fix-it ticket, with no monetary penalty.
stevenal
Nomad II
Apr 06, 2020
Any of you front hitch users live in a front license plate state? I'm looking for a good way to mount a plate legally when hitch is in use. Ideas are welcome.
time2retire
Explorer
Mar 24, 2020
I just installed the Curt front bumper hitch. Had to take the front bumper off and do some slight mods but overall fit pretty good.

I went with the "Silent Hitch Pin" before getting involved with turnbuckles and straps for stability. $35+s/h. No need for anything else. It's tight as a nut!

thanks for all the advice here.

Rick
AnEv942
Nomad
Feb 20, 2020
Our scooter rack. I ended up adding the turnbuckles to stop side to side rock.
At 6' long the movement from center out is amazing how little at hitch it takes.

Our turnbuckles (amazon link)are 3/8x 16" but the body is extruded aluminum, rated about 200#.
They really dont see that kind of load. Ive had no issue (luck). Cost of steel about 3-4xs but rated at 3000#+.

On the rack side I just drilled holes for the J. Opened up eye to fit over tow hook.

I was going to say 14" seemed close to ground, ours is 26" (receiver). But with drop hitch, bottom of rack is 14" but never hit it.
mellow
Explorer
Feb 19, 2020
This is pics of mine on my old 250 and now on the 350, I am guessing it is close to yours. I need to put turnbuckles on it so it doesn't rock so much, I have them on my work bench just never took the time to put hooks on the front hitch rod holder.
time2retire
Explorer
Feb 19, 2020
brholt wrote:
time2retire wrote:
Just finished installing the Curt front hitch. It wasn't as easy as their videos show. We ended up removing the bumper to remove the tow hooks. We had to grind off a 1"x1" corner of the hook bracket as the install bolt was to fat for the bracket to lay down flat on the frame. Took about 3 hours.

It is solid as a rock on the frame.

How much do does it impact your clearance?

The bottom of the hitch receiver is 14" off the ground. The cooler/rod implement extends about 28" in front of the truck so you have to keep that in mind navigating hilly areas.