Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch

gatornek

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So I chimed in on this thread, a couple of months ago, to try to generate some opinion on which is the best hitch to install for those of us who weren't lucky enough to get it straight from the factory.
Best Tow Hitch for '21 - Using for Beach | 2021+ Ford Bronco Sport Forum - Broncosportforum.com

But I didn't really get a lot of feedbck except for one user who commented that he was rear ended, and the technician claimed that if he didn't have the hitch that essentially slides into the rear chassis endpoint 'sleeve' (the bottom two BELOW), then he wouldn't have had that extra extended damage on the chassis, as he experienced.

Essentially, I'm on a mission to create a solid rear recovery point AND add as much cargo space as possible........so some sort of 'hitch system' looks like a great idea.

So I want to revisit this. Here are ESSENTIALLY the three options for hitches. This does not include any eBay knocksoffs or stuff like that. As far as I know, these are the 3 "legit" options. Let me know if I missed one. AGain, no Chinese or eBay knock offs.

1) Draw-Tite

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882090118


2) Curt

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882203406


3) "Ford Parts"

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882302408



What say you? Which one of these will offer me the best SUPPORT?? Let's say price is no object, or they are all priced equally.
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wireman

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Draw-Tite looks like the receiver would hang to low. Like the Ford because of the plug mount.

I'd get the Ford knowing you will have to notch out the lower facia. I don't like any aftermarket hitch that hangs low and shows the support bar.

They all should be rated for the maximum towing capacity of 2200# and 220 # tongue weight.

When I was looking for a used BS BL, I made sure it had the Tow Package or it was eliminated from consideration.
 

Kraken23

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I installed the Curt one on mine, still had to notch the fascia and no support bars show, looks sort of "factory" I will try and find a picture of what it looks like. I choose the Curt because the install looked easier than the Ford one, at least the videos I watched.
 
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gatornek

gatornek

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Draw-Tite looks like the receiver would hang to low. Like the Ford because of the plug mount.

I'd get the Ford knowing you will have to notch out the lower facia. I don't like any aftermarket hitch that hangs low and shows the support bar.

They all should be rated for the maximum towing capacity of 2200# and 220 # tongue weight.

When I was looking for a used BS BL, I made sure it had the Tow Package or it was eliminated from consideration.
So the Ford is rated as "Class II". I believe this means it has a 1 1/4 receiver? Is that correct?

I see what you're saying about the height of the receiver. But I wonder if its an optical illusion of a picture with no real orientation, since the receiver is notched in the same location on the fascia, on all 3.
 
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gatornek

gatornek

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I installed the Curt one on mine, still had to notch the fascia and no support bars show, looks sort of "factory" I will try and find a picture of what it looks like. I choose the Curt because the install looked easier than the Ford one, at least the videos I watched.
Yes. With the DrawTite, you DEFINITELY have to take off the bumper. The Curt install video simply advertises that you drop the exhaust. Was that your experience?

I don't mind taking off the bumper, if someone can tell me definitvely that the DrawTite method of being affixed to my chassis will make it a better solution, not only for towing, BUT ALSO FOR RECOVERY.

If apples equal oranges, then I'll probably go with the easier install.
 


Kraken23

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Yes. With the DrawTite, you DEFINITELY have to take off the bumper. The Curt install video simply advertises that you drop the exhaust. Was that your experience?

I don't mind taking off the bumper, if someone can tell me definitvely that the DrawTite method of being affixed to my chassis will make it a better solution, not only for towing, BUT ALSO FOR RECOVERY.

If apples equal oranges, then I'll probably go with the easier install.
Yes the install was failry easy and I did have to drop the exhust as the videos show. It helps to have 2 people and take your time on the "cutting" of the fascia. I ended up taking multiple passes just so I didnt make too big of a hole the first time. I havent yet used it for towing or recovery but it does attach to the frame just not the same as the OEM.
 
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gatornek

gatornek

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Going to NC/Tenn in late fall/early winter.

Definitely want to off road with a couple of others who are making the trip with me.

I probably should've added that in the OP, which I will go back and do so now.

I definitely need to add a recovery point in the rear, and wanted to know which one of these hitches would server best for that AND towing strength.
 

Kraken23

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Just took some pics for you to see install.
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_1032
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_1033
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_1034
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_1035
 

CrashBend

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So I chimed in on this thread, a couple of months ago, to try to generate some opinion on which is the best hitch to install for those of us who weren't lucky enough to get it straight from the factory.
Best Tow Hitch for '21 - Using for Beach | 2021+ Ford Bronco Sport Forum - Broncosportforum.com

But I didn't really get a lot of feedbck except for one user who commented that he was rear ended, and the technician claimed that if he didn't have the hitch that essentially slides into the rear chassis endpoint 'sleeve' (the bottom two BELOW), then he wouldn't have had that extra extended damage on the chassis, as he experienced.

Essentially, I'm on a mission to create a solid rear recovery point AND add as much cargo space as possible........so some sort of 'hitch system' looks like a great idea.

So I want to revisit this. Here are ESSENTIALLY the three options for hitches. This does not include any eBay knocksoffs or stuff like that. As far as I know, these are the 3 "legit" options. Let me know if I missed one. AGain, no Chinese or eBay knock offs.

1) Draw-Tite

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882090118


2) Curt

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882203406


3) "Ford Parts"

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch 1692882302408



What say you? Which one of these will offer me the best SUPPORT?? Let's say price is no object, or they are all priced equally.
I had the Draw tite installed by a near by U-Haul dealer. The tech there made it look like a factory installed hitch. Where he cut the bumper it does not look like he cut it. My local Ford Dealer would not even install a hitch, the service manager there is a "not nice" man.
 
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gatornek

gatornek

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Briar Gates

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I liked the fact that the Curt hitch has horizontal safety chain hookups, v/s the Ford factory hitch. Also a big fan of the fact that Napa offers the Curt under 200$ plus free shipping. My opinion is that the Curt or Ford factory hitch is likely the easiest Install. With Drawtite, the rear bumper has to be removed, because the hitch frame replaces the crash bar-and you still get to drill the cut-out for it.

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_0055


Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_0054
 
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gatornek

gatornek

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I liked the fact that the Curt hitch has horizontal safety chain hookups, v/s the Ford factory hitch. Also a big fan of the fact that Napa offers the Curt under 200$ plus free shipping. My opinion is that the Curt or Ford factory hitch is likely the easiest Install. With Drawtite, the rear bumper has to be removed, because the hitch frame replaces the crash bar-and you still get to drill the cut-out for it.

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_0055


Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch IMG_0054
Everything installed and torqued to spec,....If you had to get pulled out of somewhere using that as the recovery point, do you feel confident that it would hold??
@Kraken23 that question goes for you too.
 

Briar Gates

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Everything installed and torqued to spec,....If you had to get pulled out of somewhere using that as the recovery point, do you feel confident that it would hold??
@Kraken23 that question goes for you too.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use it gatornek. Although the Ford factory hitch mounts appear slightly different than the Curt, it looks like both hitches with similar capacities either top load, or side load the bolts to the frame. In addition, even if the hitches by themselves are rated at 3500/350, any of the above are limited to the vehicle tow ratings: 1500/150, 2000/200 and 220/2200 for the Base, BB/OB, and BL/FE.
 

Horse n Buggy

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I can't speak for the other hitches, but I installed the Ford factory hitch myself in an afternoon. Rear bumper had to come off and the hitch replaced the rear bumper crash beam so I'd tend to believe it's very structurally valid. It bolts in from the side and the bottom.
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch tmp_74b4290f-0d69-4ce8-8b26-b2e66c7bb2e0
Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch tmp_c2509d43-4a71-44bf-adcc-c956fef9a2bc

Ford Bronco Sport Best "NON-straight-from-the-factory" Hitch PXL_20230713_221620392
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