[A/S] F-350 -- Does Ford make Hitch Receivers

["Thomas Dickieson" <lleather@xxxxxxxx>]

Yes, Ford makes their own hitch receivers.

Do you want one - No, not if you have a choice, as you have with a 
truck which came without one.  Fords hitch receivers are a licensed 
knockoff of Draw Tite hitch receivers.  Ford manufactures them to a 
lesser standard than Draw Tite by about thirty percent.  Where Draw 
Tites class III receiver is 1000 tongue/10,000 max tow weight, Fords 
is 700/7000.  Ford wants 600 dollars extra for the tow package which 
includes this receiver, a wiring harness which sells over the parts 
counter for about $55, and a transmission cooler package which sells 
over the parts counter for about $165.  Draw Tite sells their class 
III receiver for in the neighborhood of $100 and it is self 
installable.  Do the math.  About $310 in parts for a sub standard 
hitch receiver, so save yourself some money and visit your local Draw 
Tite dealer and get a better product.  Also, being an F-350, the
truck may be a one and one quarter ton chassis, depending on the
year. Hunter's new truck is I believe an F-250, which is now on a one 
ton chassis.  The three quarter ton's are now built from F-150s with 
7700 GVWR Ratings.  Can you believe that - a three quarter ton truck 
with five bolt wheels?  I have one and I love it as a truck, but it
is definitely not what I would call a three quarter.  There, hitch 
class 101 is out.  Somebody else will do 201.

Tom