Hitch cover replacement

[JAMADOR]

Wonder if anyone makes a shorty 7-pin adapter that you could mount to the modified cover, and plug into the OE plug. Then you just plug your trailer wiring into the cover, instead of routing it through a grommet.

 

[Andy B]

This would be a great product idea.
I hope one of our vendors is watching.

 

[Yupster Dog]

Wonder if anyone makes a shorty 7-pin adapter

This would be a great product idea.
I hope one of our vendors is watching.

There are adapters out there for many situations @ many lengths already.(google it) Can find exactly what you want? Buy the ends and you can make whatever you need very easily.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

My spare cover has finally shipped, so I’ll be trimming and adjusting this week. I’ll post up results later this week unless it’s a complete disaster.

Well - was it a complete disaster?

 

[Andy B]

There are adapters out there for many situations @ many lengths already.(google it) Can find exactly what you want? Buy the ends and you can make whatever you need very easily.

Thanks, but I meant a modified cover that looks nice and still allows use of the hitch.

 

[Pancho258]

Look closely at the picture, how do you get your trailer light connection plugged in? You’d have to remove the cover to access the plug. I’m not even sure you could connect the safety chains with the. cover in place.

 

[lobsenza]

The proper way to do this is to design a plastic part to mount behind the hitch. The current hitch cover can be used when the hitch is not in use. I have thought about doing this, but haven't done it yet. I think it would be a profitable part for a 3rd party supplier.

 

[yankeecause]

If you’re going to leave the hitch in coat the insert with anti seize or the like. It could rust in and be darned near impossible to remove.

 

[TravisD]

Well - was it a complete disaster?

Not a complete disaster just yet. I have the spare cut and primed. Just been busy and haven't painted yet. I should get it done this week. It looks like its going to work, but my craftsmanship could have been better. It was tough cutting the plastic smoothly, and a couple measurements were off just a hair making a couple lines off, so the safety chain cutouts are a wee bit crooked and a bit bigger than they need to be. I’ll put up some pics when its done.

 

[Andy B]

Not a complete disaster just yet. I have the spare cut and primed. Just been busy and haven't painted yet. I should get it done this week. It looks like its going to work, but my craftsmanship could have been better. It was tough cutting the plastic smoothly, and a couple measurements were off just a hair making a couple lines off, so the safety chain cutouts are a wee bit crooked and a bit bigger than they need to be. I’ll put up some pics when its done.

I hope you post pictures.

I may try something like this.

 

[Dennis48755]

I’ll put up some pics when its done.

TravisD could you please post the Ford part number that you ordered.

Thanks, Dennis

 

[Deadman]

If you’re going to leave the hitch in coat the insert with anti seize or the like. It could rust in and be darned near impossible to remove.

My dad had one rusted in so bad that someone stole the new shiny hitch pin he put in it after he broke the old rusted pin. He didn't even know it, but he towed for months with no pin it the receiver, the rust held it! lol

 

[TravisD]

TravisD could you please post the Ford part number that you ordered.

Thanks, Dennis

Sure. Part # NL1B-17F000
This is it in primer. The square hole is 2 7/8 square. The round is 2 1/4” centered vertically with the square, and is7 5/8” left of center. You can see the 2 chain holes on the bottom. They are 1” wide and 2 3/4 long. Could be shorter, but I tried a rounded end and buggered it up so just lengthened and squared the ends off. Its far from perfect, but if it looks somewhat OK, I may get another one and refine a bit.

 

[Dennis48755]

Sure. Part # NL1B-17F000

Thanks

 

[JAMADOR]

Nice work TravisD, any test fits on the truck? Curious how a hitch plug would look with it, when you don't want the drawbar installed.

 

[TravisD]

I should add, with the smallish hole for the drawbar I had to lay underneath and put the pin in from below the truck. I think a hitch plug might look OK with it, but if I try another one I want to relocate the plug in to eliminate or disguise the round hole.
Also, the aerosol touch up paint from scratcheshappen.com is a perfect match and flowed out really well. Cant tell it apart from the factory.

 

[JAMADOR]

Nice work, that looks great. Genuinely surprised they don't offer something like this, OE.
I guess it's more work than most people would want to deal with, compared to just taking it off to tow.

 

[Dennis48755]

I should add, with the smallish hole for the drawbar I had to lay underneath and put the pin in from below the truck. I think a hitch plug might look OK with it, but if I try another one I want to relocate the plug in to eliminate or disguise the round hole.
Also, the aerosol touch up paint from scratcheshappen.com is a perfect match and flowed out really well. Cant tell it apart from the factory.

Looks really good TravisD, also thanks for the tips and referral to scratcheshappen.com.

Dennis

 

[TravisD]

Nice work, that looks great. Genuinely surprised they don't offer something like this, OE.
I guess it's more work than most people would want to deal with, compared to just taking it off to tow.

Thanks for the compliments It really wasn't that hard. A holesaw and a boxcutter and there you have it. I just wanted to be able to leave the hitch installed and not have that huge gaping hole back there. Plus, if you want to steal my hitch, you’re gonna have to really work at it.

 

[JAMADOR]

If we towed, at all, I'd really look into doing this, plus a 7-pin adapter/externsion & mount it to the cover, so you don't have to fish the cable in to the connector.