Removal of Tow Package Hitch?

Hey Guys

Went wheeling this last weekend and broke off the corner of my rear bumper because reasons including but not limited to me being an idiot. Looking at aftermarket rear bumpers now (side note: any suggestions for nice 3g bumpers here would rule). Some of the ones I'm enjoying have the hidden receiver under the license plate, and those dont play nice with the factory receiver.

I haven't actually crawled under the truck and looked, but is the Tow Package receiver assembly welded to the frame or is it bolt on? Knowing if I can remove it without having to cut metal will drive my purchasing decision.

Side note, has anyone actually towed anything with the receiver built into things like the Pelfreybilt bumpers? They are all 'not rated for towing'. At most I'd probably end up using them for a small trailer with a motorcycle on it so I assume they'd be solid.

 

Bolt on

 

Awesome thanks!

 

Just get you an SOS Concepts or Pelfry with the hidden hitch. Avoid the ones where you "add" the hitch, especially the ones that go under. You can haul just as much as the factory hitch, no problem. It's simple to switch everything over

 

There's many rear plate bumpers that keep the hitch in the stock location. Why would you want to remove the hitch?? Just get a bumper you don't have to mess with the hitch.... wait till you take off the OEM bumper (lots o plastic). A new plate bumper is a no brainer.... seriously.

 

I became intimately familiar with how much of that bumper is plastic. I was considering just taking off the hitch for clearance. It dragged ALOT wheeling last weekend I'm also considering relocating the spare tire to the rear

https://goo.gl/photos/V1LeMELjgGUsoUnf8

 

I've thought of that too. But then I realized instead of scraping a solid piece of steel, I'd be scraping/slamming the plastic bumper instead. So mine is still on.

 

Sorry, to be clear, youre saying you thought about removing the hitch but didn't because then you thought you'd hit the bumper?

If I remove my hitch at all, it will be in the same day that I install a new plate bumper, so I figure it should be fine.

 

Really? Why not go look. It's pretty easy.

 

Clearance / departure angle for one.

 

Removing the OEM hitch nets you an easy two-three inches of extra clearance back there.

Definitely getting rid of mine (in favour of integrated hitch) when I get a rear bumper this summer

 

Was at work. Do you have any information to contribute?

 

I just leave the ball bracket in when I head to the hunting ranch. I have a couple of creek crossing and just the ball nut and stud will scrape.

 

Simmer down.

 

Not simmered? There's other questions in this post and I would *love* to assume that guy didn't really just make an asinine comment for no reason

 

so what caused the problem,, the hitch itself, or the receiver ? if it was the hitch, turn it upsidedown when off road..

 

It wasn't really a 'problem' (read: I never got stuck because of the receiver), just that when I was hosing off the undercarriage of the truck I noticed that a crap ton of mud was caked all around the receiver and smashed up into the tow chain cutouts, etc. I also noticed it dragging on the ground in a few of the videos from behind me in spots where clearance came into question. Honestly, I'm fine with removing it, this question was more of a 'is it possible' thing, which I've now established it is. Planning on a streamlined rear plate bumper with the hidden receiver under the license plate for the extra clearance I'll probably never need.

 

The factory hitch/bumper come off as one piece.
A plate bumper will collect all kinds of crap, too.
Getting a plate bumper that puts the hitch in factory location, kinda defeats the purposed of getting a plate bumper?

 

Right which is exactly why I was hopeful that my factory receiver wasn't somehow permanently affixed, because then I'd just have to replace a busted bumper without getting a cool new truck part

 

The point was that is was an easy question to figure out for yourself as you obviously know where to look. Additionally, there are plenty of threads where people are installing their new bumpers. A thread maybe asking about potential upgraded bumpers might be a better topic..... then slip in your "How do I remove my receiver?" in there. I just thought the question was too easy to answer for yourself.... it came off as "I'm too lazy to figure this out on my own, so how do I x?"

Sorry, I read the You probably don't know how to internet. Click here to level up! thread earlier and it rubbed off on me.