Class 3 hitch

[daninflag]

OK! I have a 2004 sportrack and buying a hitch to pull a small camper. My choices are one made by CURT with three pieces, and one made by Draw-Tite that's 1 piece. The prices are close to the same. Has anyone had either hitch? Going to install it myself, does one have any advantage over the other? Thank you all!

 

[curtis james]

i have only seen the one piece style. it has been awhile since install and only ones i have seen are 2 inch and 1,1/4 and you want the 2 inch, both are good brands.depending on camper ya might look at rear suspension, i went with air bags in rear and ya might want a programmer to change shift points. if your in flagstaff area there is some serious hills. i loved that area back in the day.

 

[daninflag]

i have only seen the one piece style. it has been awhile since install and only ones i have seen are 2 inch and 1,1/4 and you want the 2 inch, both are good brands.depending on camper ya might look at rear suspension, i went with air bags in rear and ya might want a programmer to change shift points. if your in flagstaff area there is some serious hills. i loved that area back in the day.

I hadn't thought about rear suspension, by air bags do you mean air shocks? I'm not planning on a big camper, and I do have a programmer. 2" hitch for sure. I am thinking the 3 piece might be easier to install since I wont be having any help to position the 1 piece and start bolts at the same time. Thank you Curtis!

 

[curtis james]

i run airlift system so i can adjust for load, when i started towing a trailer 14ft with bikes, it was sagging and bouncy, and kept shifting, so i was either revving high or to low, programmer fixed that, my trac hauled my 22 weekend warrior but did not like it as much with water tank filled and loaded but moved great downhill. if ya got a floor jack it makes putting a hitch on easier.

 

[daninflag]

i run airlift system so i can adjust for load, when i started towing a trailer 14ft with bikes, it was sagging and bouncy, and kept shifting, so i was either revving high or to low, programmer fixed that, my trac hauled my 22 weekend warrior but did not like it as much with water tank filled and loaded but moved great downhill. if ya got a floor jack it makes putting a hitch on easier.

Yes, I have a floor jack. The one piece might be harder to get hands into tight spots to start bolts I'm thinking. What kind of airlift system? What model programmer? Thx again Curtis!

 

[curtis james]

the last hitch i put on my freestar had little tabs with a arm to put nuts in place, really easy, my trac i ordered it without hitch and power locks and added myself but it was back in 2004 and was way easy with jack and stands. the airlift system i have i tried to find kit for ya, but i found one and posted it a few months ago on here but the kits i see now show 2 gauge system and mine is single, it goes to a 100 pounds and i run 40 and when hauling i adjust for weight but rarely do i go above 70. the pic sucks but that is my gauge on bottom of dash.

 

[lincolnman666]

OK! I have a 2004 sportrack and buying a hitch to pull a small camper. My choices are one made by CURT with three pieces, and one made by Draw-Tite that's 1 piece. The prices are close to the same. Has anyone had either hitch? Going to install it myself, does one have any advantage over the other? Thank you all!

Draw-Tite is easy! Make sure to follow the instructions! It's easy to get side tracked. Get another person to help you, it will bolt right in as long as you have help.

 

[DILLARD000]

Curt# 13407
DrawTite# 75112
HIdden# 33020\41542\44718\51141\70670\87008
Reese# 51141
FordMotorCraft# ?

 

[daninflag]

Curt# 13407
DrawTite# 75112
HIdden# 33020\41542\44718\51141\70670\87008
Reese# 51141
FordMotorCraft# ?

Ordered the Curt, Thinking the 3 piece might come in handy for future access to spare tire.

 

[DILLARD000]

Do update this thread with how easy\hard that install goes.

 

[daninflag]

Do update this thread with how easy\hard that install goes.

Thank you so much!

 

[Duane Foster]

I started to post this on my phone last week, but didn't have my log in info available, and forgot to post from the computer later. I have the 3 piece Curt hitch on both of my Sport Tracs. I installed the first one on my '02 by myself in the warehouse at work on a slow day. Installation went pretty smooth. Installing a 1 piece hitch without help would have been more difficult. Fortunately, I installed the hitch on the '01 at home where I had more tools available. It did not go as well as the '02 installation as the truck's frame was tweaked just a little and some serious hammering was required. Still easier than installing a 1 piece would have been.

 

[daninflag]

I started to post this on my phone last week, but didn't have my log in info available, and forgot to post from the computer later. I have the 3 piece Curt hitch on both of my Sport Tracs. I installed the first one on my '02 by myself in the warehouse at work on a slow day. Installation went pretty smooth. Installing a 1 piece hitch without help would have been more difficult. Fortunately, I installed the hitch on the '01 at home where I had more tools available. It did not go as well as the '02 installation as the truck's frame was tweaked just a little and some serious hammering was required. Still easier than installing a 1 piece would have been.

Thank you so much! I figured the three piece had some kind of advantage over the one piece.

 

[curtis james]

sorry i noticed i forgot tuner, superchips micro, i have used it for a mustang and f150 over the years, i have seen them cheap on craigslist, just got to make sure they uninstall as only one vin at a time and it worked on my 05 but made for 04. as far as hitch i am glad ya got one but to me they are way easy to install solo, only major tip is to pressure wash under bed good and let dry, i know it takes the fun out of it, i did installs at a van shop and have installed so many that there just way easy on trucks vs cars, i just do not recall any that were not a one piece, good brand curt and my middle name so good find.

 

[TRizzi]

I just installed the CURT 3 piece on my 01 ST. It was simple, although, as stated earlier, sometimes the bumper has been "moved" a bit and it needs a little nudge to get the hitch cross-bar into place. It seems really solid. I have a Gulfstream Vintage Cruiser 19' ultralight and it tows nicely. I do have an Anti-Sway Weight Distribution Hitch, which solves the issue of needing air shocks. It levels out the rig and handles nicely.

 

[curtis james]

i tried a distribution hitch on mine and had the chains way tight and it just sagged, I was wondering if it was the lift and why it did not work. i put my stock tires on but it still sat a little high...