tow hitch cover modification

[tominwi]

Yep I parked our other truck in the garage and Wife walked-into the hitch ball. I'd left it on cuz was about to leave and needed it.

I've learned to remove it, or otherwise to put a bucket or something over the top of it so as not to harm Wife or myself!!!!

 

[Fastcar]

Ouch!! Fastcar. Sorry to hear about that. That's a painfull story. Hope she's OK now with not too bad of a scar, to live with. Lance

Thanks for that Lance. She was really pissed off cause she couldn't go to the beach for a few weeks. As far as a scar she's usually tanned most of the year.

 

[LanceExp2025]

Yes tominwe, that's a GREAT IDEA to put a bucket, or maybe even a towel, over the hitch to bring it to your/someone's attention!

On my work 2023 Transit T350 Cargo Van, I leave the hitch in 'permanently' because I use it so often. But, when I had it made really heavy duty, I had them totally radius the plate end where the ball bolts through (no sharp 90 degree corners), it's tucked right up next to the bumper and I had them put a heavy steel wheel on the bottom w/ a 5/8" Grade 8 axle bolt so that it would roll instead of the ball threads dragging on the pavement approaches. I also have a hardened 1/4" bolt and nylon locking-nut bolted through the hitch pin (instead of the clip) to deter someone from stealing it. It works great and even though I am aware of it, I still have clunked my shin into it a few times but, while slightly painful, it doesn't tear my hide off. I also always carry a couple of small orange cones in my van to put behind it a couple of feet to maintain rear door opening radius clearance, which also protects walker-byes from walking right up next to the van where the hitch sticks out. So far, so good? Here's a picture of my Transit Hitch. That's my 2 cents worth on these hitches, for what it's worth, Lance

 

[tominwi]

Yes tominwe, that's a GREAT IDEA to put a bucket, or maybe even a towel, over the hitch to bring it to your/someone's attention!

On my work 2023 Transit T350 Cargo Van, I leave the hitch in 'permanently' because I use it so often. But, when I had it made really heavy duty, I had them totally radius the plate end where the ball bolts through (no sharp 90 degree corners), it's tucked right up next to the bumper and I had them put a heavy steel wheel on the bottom w/ a 5/8" Grade 8 axle bolt so that it would roll instead of the ball threads dragging on the pavement approaches. I also have a hardened 1/4" bolt and nylon locking-nut bolted through the hitch pin (instead of the clip) to deter someone from stealing it. It works great and even though I am aware of it, I still have clunked my shin into it a few times but, while slightly painful, it doesn't tear my hide off. I also always carry a couple of small orange cones in my van to put behind it a couple of feet to maintain rear door opening radius clearance, which also protects walker-byes from walking right up next to the van where the hitch sticks out. So far, so good? Here's a picture of my Transit Hitch. That's my 2 cents worth on these hitches, for what it's worth, Lance

The radius edge is a great idea, but you've inspired me to wonder if any wheel at Harbor Freight might have an "axle hole" big enough that one could just put it thru the ball extension underneath. Bump into rubber instead of metal.

I don't know if you can buy a ball with a long throw that would be required.

 

[hoopty114]

Thanks again hoopy114; I will then copy your modified cover design & maybe w/ a slightly larger bottom rail, as you suggested.

One more question, with your opening cut-out size, is it possible to get the hitch pin and clip in and out without removing this modified cover? The reason I ask is, that our Expedition MAX is always garaged and, if the hitch is left in place, the garage door will hit it while going down. So, we must remove it after each use. My wife uses the Expedition every 6-8 weeks to tow our cube (horse feed) trailer to the feed store and back w/ 2000# of hay cubes loaded up. If your modified style hitch cover is left in place (which would be easiest for my wife) I just wanted to make sure the hitch pin and clip can be installed & removed without this modified covers removal??

Thanks again for your time and knowledge here, Lance

I tried to make it big enough to be able to take the hitch pin on and off without removing the cover.

with a simple hitch pin it is not a problem, slip it in and out on the left side over the electrical.

we use a locking hitch pin since we have a pricey B&W hitch. at first I had the lock on the right and it is a pain to get the key into the lock side (but possible). not really possible leaving the key on my key fob with the bunch of other keys. I swapped sides and slid the pin into the right, which is easily doable, and now locking and unlocking on the left, in front of the electrical, is a piece of cake, and I can leave the key on my key fob without problems.

the B&W stowage feature has been very nice and makes avoiding banging your shins on the hitch a no-brainer. no painful tik tok videos

 

[LanceExp2025]

Thanks hoopty114 for the great pictures! That makes it perfectly clear and it will definitely work for us too! No locking pin for us because we put the hitch in to tow the trailer to the feed store then, back to the barn, un-hitch and the hitch comes out when we put the Expy back into the garage. Much appreciated, Lance

 

[LanceExp2025]

Hey tominwe, I don't know if "long shank" balls are available in 2" diameter sizes (never looked for nor bought one in 2") but on the 2-5/16" balls (that I use on my Transit, for both our trailers) they are available w/ long shanks but mostly I've seen them in the heavy duty (7000, 8000 & 10,000 #) balls w/ 1-1/4" & 1-1/2" dia. shanks.

As far as putting a wheel/tire from Harbor Freight on the shank, I guess that would work but you would definitely want to put it below the clamping nut holding the ball to the hitch, by using a second nut jamb-nut. You don't want anything to cause loosening of the ball to your hitch. In our case, it would have to be a very small diameter tire so that it wouldn't hit the drop-downs of the larger couplers.

If you ever end up making one, please post a picture of what you came up with! Thanks, Lance

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[lyanheart]

I came here looking for information on this very subject for the 2023 I recently picked up (prior to this, I had a 2006 and 2016 expeditions). Instead of cutting a hole in the cover, I am going to try "replacing" the PITA lock tabs with some dual-lock velcro on the edges of the panels and see how that goes to make removing it easier. At least a replacement panel is easy to get and inexpensive if it flies off someplace. But I have had good luck with the dual-lock stuff keeping things secure riding on my boat and trailers. It has a very positive snap together action, much stronger than traditional velcro.