jbass020:
While I can't speak for all trailer hitches; the 2 different styles I have installed:
a. mounted to the bottom of the frame rails
b. mounted to the outside of the frame rails
b. is the heavier hitch as it has 8 bolts in shear rather than 4 in tension holding it on...
Neither interferes with the spare (without rear gas tank) so wouldn't affect your truck with the rear tank.
Rangers that came from the factory with the rear "Aux" tank
also come with some extr steel reinforcement to the rear frame.
this takes the form of some rather thick preformed steel pieces that mount inside the frame channel and include a protruding tie-down hook on either side
Tese pieces are to prevent tie-down hook damage to the rear tank when the new vehicle is delivered or later towed by the rear for repair. but they are also constructed to reduce the likelihood of the frame ralis bending in the event of a rear end collision resulting in crushing the rear aux tank...
You MAY need to remove these pieces in order to install a receiver hitch.
Doing so is going to be an ugly job as the bolts are certainly firmly rusted in place...
AD