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The factory receiver is a 2" receiver
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- #17
I appreciate you confirming. Would you happen to know why its classified as a "class ii" when the others are classified as "class iii"? These are the types of intricacies I'm trying to hash out. I appreciate you confirming the receiver size. Believing it was 1 1/4 was putting me off of the OEM.
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It’s due to the towing limits for the vehicle, not the hitch. You have a tongue weight limit of 200 and max tow weight of 2200 no matter what kind of hitch you use.
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- #19
Ok. So then WHY are the other two classified as "class iii". Where is the discrepancy, if the ratings are for the vehicle, and not the hitch...and all those hitches are for the same vehicle? Honestly curious.
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The other Companies are advertising that theirs are Class III hitches because technically they meet the requirements for a Class III hitch by themselves and thus it makes them look better, however once they attach to the Bronco Sport, they are limited by weakest point, which is the Vehicle.
Ford will not advertise their Hitch as Class III even if it meets the requirements for Class III probably for legal reasons. OEM doesnt want some yahoo hooking up 3,500LBS and wrecking only to point at the OEM for their part claiming Class III
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I think there may be some confusion. All of the hitches you listed are class III hitches due to the weight rating and the size of the receiver. We don't know what the class rating for the factory hitch on the Bronco Sport, but it does have a 2" receiver implying it is a class III hitch. Regardless of the hitch's class rating, you cannot exceed Ford's weight limits.
Here's a link to a page for Curt's custom class III hitch for the Bronco Sport. Scroll down to the bottom of the product specification section to the notes.
This is a class III hitch, but installing it on a Bronco Sport doesn't negate the vehicle's weight limits.
I suspect Ford chose the hitch it did for OEM installation because of the 2" receiver. There are a ton more accessories available for 2" receivers than for 1.25" receivers.
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- #23
The confusion was always why the hitch was rated as class II on Ford's website. Turns out, it seems to be an advertising/legal conundrum that was explained very well by @Horse n Buggy It was never that you should not exceed the vehicles towing limit. That part is fairly obvious, and I don't think my OP ever came across as otherwise. But apologies if it did.
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Ford does not say what the hitch rating is. It offers a "Class II Towing Package," which I believe reflects the vehicle's tow rating, not the hitch's. I do not believe there is such a thing as a class II hitch with a 2" receiver.
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- #25
Let me be clear. I agree with the logic. Makes sense.
But here is the ad. I guess everyone can draw their own conclusion.
Anyway, this whole OP was about pros/cons about the different bracketing designs in terms of strength. If you can offer something there, I'd be grateful. I know they are all rated generally the same, but there has to be some clear differences, since they are physically attached different. At least between the draw-tite and the other two. Would you use any of these as a recovery point? Any which one, more than the others?
I had a Curt installed on my 21 BB. I asked about using it as a tow point and they said it would be fine. I attach a bike rack on mine so I'm not pulling and it has great clearance because I don't remove it at all. Even off roading.
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Ah, I thought you were talking about the OE hitch installed at the factory. I wasn't aware Ford offered a hitch as an accessory. Yes, it is odd Ford calls it a class II, and it's almost certainly a liability issue.
Ford includes an eyebolt as a recovery option for vehicles sans hitch. If any of the hitches you're looking at bolt to the same structure as the eyebolt it should be fine for recovery work.
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- #29
Similar part numbers.Here's a photo of the label on the bottom of the factory tow package receiver on my BL.
FWIW.
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- #30
I appreciate everyone who chimed in on this thread. Even though in my OP, I said my decision wasn't money-based....in the end, I couldn't pass this up. However, I wouldn't have pulled the trigger if it wasn't for all the people here who vouched for the Curt.
So its a done deal. Curt it is. I think I might have got the last one in inventory at Jegs, so got an extra special price on it. Spent it a little bit more to get to $200 to get a couple of things I needed. It also enabled me to get an extra $20 off and get free shipping.
I'm a big fan of both Jegs and Summit
So its a done deal. Curt it is. I think I might have got the last one in inventory at Jegs, so got an extra special price on it. Spent it a little bit more to get to $200 to get a couple of things I needed. It also enabled me to get an extra $20 off and get free shipping.
I'm a big fan of both Jegs and Summit
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