hitch after body lift

[99rngr]

well i just installed this brand new valley hitch that i got from a guy off of craigslist. but im wondering if there is anyway for it to look better with a body lift. the hitch is a tubular style. if anyone has any ideas without a lot of cutting or anything like that it would help a lot. thanks.

[pillen140]

depending on how much it drops down, can you flip it? or does the frame get in the way?

[99rngr]

tried that. but.... the bumper gets in the way by like a inch.

[midget]

notch the bumper your not needing its strength anymore with a reciever hitch. or crazy idea ditch the body lift.

[99rngr]

i was thinkin about notching out a little bit. and i like it lifted. but dont have the money for a suspension lift. so im keepin the body lift on there

[Will]

How about a picture?

[99rngr]

i might be able to get some up later. if i can figure out how to post them on here.

[MudSlutII]

photobucket.com

[99rngr]

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/99rngr/0325091444b.jpg

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/99rngr/0325091444a.jpg

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/99rngr/0325091444.jpg

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/99rngr/0325091443.jpg

[99rngr]

sorry the pics are so big. didnt feel like resizing them.

[99rngr]

any ideas?

[ford1386]

i went to a junkyard with a tape measure and found a straight box tubed hitch and cut the side plates off and rewelded pieces of angle onto the ends and bolted it to the frame sticks less than the stock hitch did without the body lift....if you know how to weld or know a welder it works....

[99rngr]

i was originaly thinking of doing that. but i got a good deal on this hitch. paid 80 bucks for it. brand new in the packaging. from what i can see on the internet it was 220 brand new. so id like to just keep this one on there.

[85_Ranger4x4]

depending on how much it drops down, can you flip it? or does the frame get in the way?

Has anyone done this on a first gen? I have yet to do anything with my bumper, I think a gap between the tailgate and bumper looks better than a gap between the hitch and bumper. My hitch has been on there a LONG time and won't be a easy ordeal to remove just for the fun of it.

any ideas?

Drill new holes and move the cross tube part up?

[midget]

Drill new holes and move the cross tube part up?

Yeah what he said lol

[TomB1269]

I relize you have already dropped $80 in to it but check out the reese link I attached for your model year. The 3000/300/Wd5000lb hitch is $126 this hitch will mount up much more flush, and is very similar to mine which sit nice and tight to the bumper. I have a feeling you may have been sold one for "Without step bumper".
http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-3887&bool=AND&category=reese_combo&maxhits=25&keywords=1999&keywords_2=Ford+Ranger&GO=GO%21

[85_Ranger4x4]

I relize you have already dropped $80 in to it but check out the reese link I attached for your model year. The 3000/300/Wd5000lb hitch is $126 this hitch will mount up much more flush, and is very similar to mine which sit nice and tight to the bumper. I have a feeling you may have been sold one for "Without step bumper".
http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-3887&bool=AND&category=reese_combo&maxhits=25&keywords=1999&keywords_2=Ford+Ranger&GO=GO%21

I think it is the right hitch, just after the bodylift moved the rear bumper up it doesn't look right. My hitch is a straight square tube like the one in your link and if I moved by bumper up to match the bed it would be left hanging down there all by its lonesome too.

[99rngr]

yea im not too sure what the best thing to do is yet. i can always look into that hitch TomB was talking about. or i might see if i can get some different mounting plates made up and see how that works. i just wish some company would just make a hitch thats made for body lifts like they do for some other vehicles. save so much hassle if somebody did!