Stock Raptor hitch is very weak

[Ray Knight]

Well there’s your problem...

Ball mount i meant.

 

[dewalt]

What Ray is saying is the stock frame is weak and need to be reinforced by adding side plates. And Ford advertises a stronger frame in the Raptor. Go Figure.

 

[brettmess24]

I see your pictures and also see a very odd receiver set up that is much longer than needed. Could this be why it bent? Is it bent or is the sleeve undersized? Maybe you add to much tongue weight with that extended reach set up?

Attaching a ball to the bumper is not even remotely close to the OEM hitch and extremely misleading.

Everyone honestly believes all the F150’s sold from 2015 until today are “weak”? Rays is the only one to have an issue of being bent?

Anyone else hear of this problem before Ray? This is the first I have heard, if it’s as bad as his set up it’s time for a recall!!!

Why haven’t you brought the truck in for warranty?

Sorry I’m not buying that all F150’s have a “weak” tow hitch. How many are sold every year?

My brother and I have towed many trailers with SXS, wood, stone and our 6k+ lb boat with no issues and thousands of miles.

We use these with zero issues:


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[Johnkn]

Appears Ray's ball mount has 2 mounting position holes. In his initial post the ball mount is installed in its shortest position. The most recent pic it's installed in it's longest position perhaps to better show the droop. Agree, you always want the mount as short as possible while avoiding interference in order to reduce the negative leverage.

 

[NeverEnoughHP]

No offense to the OP but I don't know that his hitch is actually bent. All F150's have the same negative pitch for some reason. I noticed it on my 2018 before I even hooked the trailer up the first time. I went to my local dealer after hours and checked several non-Raptor F150's and they all were basically the same. I know the reciever should have a small degree of downward pitch but this just seems excessive. Local dealer says they have had a few complaints and have replaced a few with hitches that had the same overall design and downward angle. I think it is stupid but it looks like for some reason Ford designed them like this.

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[jabroni619]

We have a shit load of people here who tow at, near or over the 8000lbs rating and never once (until now) have I ever heard of a problem with a bent receiver. People go so far as to modify the rear suspension to tow heavier, and still no problems with bent receivers.

 

[R1jamn]

I would bet that these hitch's are outsourced and quality control is subpar. As long as the welds look good then they will pass inspection.
My Gen 1 Raptor had a hitch that had a lateral angle (sideways angle).
I noticed it after about a week of purchasing my '14 Raptor new from the dealership.
The dealership did everything except replace the damn hitch. They would loosen the bumper and shift it around and call it good....I mean "Normal".
I had to remove the bumper myself and take pics of the damn thing proving that it had been welded on at an angle.
I finally gave up and bought a used hitch that had been fabricated and welded together properly.

Oh....The angled hitch? That went straight into the dumpster.

Keep in mind also that these 2" receivers have quite a bit of clearance for the ball mounts.
It's not a perfect 2" square receiver either. The receiver had more vertical clearance than lateral clearance.
I have attached shims to my ball mounts to tighten up the clearance. I don't like mounts bouncing around in the receiver.

 

[Gilligan]

lol this thread is ridiculous. The hitch is attached to the frame and it is also the same hitch as most other f-150’s. The suspension is the limiting factor so OP is claiming all new gen f-150’s have unsafe hitches that are going to bend..

 

[Ray Knight]

Appears Ray's ball mount has 2 mounting position holes. In his initial post the ball mount is installed in its shortest position. The most recent pic it's installed in it's longest position perhaps to better show the droop. Agree, you always want the mount as short as possible while avoiding interference in order to reduce the negative leverage.

I put it in the "long" position to better show the angle. Tow with the shorter position. Less leverage.

 

[Ray Knight]

lol this thread is ridiculous. The hitch is attached to the frame and it is also the same hitch as most other f-150’s. The suspension is the limiting factor so OP is claiming all new gen f-150’s have unsafe hitches that are going to bend..

Not saying they are all bad but mine sure is and i doubt its its only one. I said the CHECK your hitch and make sure its not bent. Mine in particular is very clearly weak.