Harbor Freight Step Reciever?

[magnetbox]

I've been shopping around for a cheap way to put a 2" receiver on the bumper of my '94 Ranger. New hitches are expensive, of course.

Today at Harbor Freight I noticed their step bumper receiver is on sale for under $20:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97019

The only problem is that my stock chrome bumper doesn't have holes to match. Should I drill it?


FWIW I don't need to haul much with the receiver, just a rack for my mountain bikes. I might have about 100lbs of weigh on it total. Good idea?

 

[ranger_mclaren]

how many bikes are you hauling? you might try this:
http://www.nextag.com/Yakima-BlockH...rices-html?nxtg=81cf0a1c0529-BEED49C72F72D44F simular to what I use but I only haul two bikes. but I know I could fit atleast four if i baught two more, but requires to drill holes in bed, and get a little inventive

Heres mine: (this allows me to lock it to the truck too when I'm not around)

Then I just put wheel here:

With bike:

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you decide to drill your bumper, grind a bit of chrome off or you'll dull your bit.

 

[magnetbox]

Heres mine:

I've done that before...works great! But I should have mentioned that I have a camper top on my bed now, so the bikes won't fit in there without being laid down. And of course stacking one bike on top of another is a drag...

 

[Doofy]

Those bolt-on receiver hitches work just fine. Cheap and easy to install. They are rated at 5000 lbs. I had one on a 3/4 ton chevy and regularly hauled a 10,000lb load.

 

[93Ranger4x4]

Make sure your bumper is nice and rigid if you plan on using that for more than just a 100lbs. I had one on my splash when i first bought it, i hooked up a 1/2 ton trailer, fine with that one there, then i loaded 2 utility quads and a dirt bike and my bumper twisted down like a pretzel. unhooked everything and the bumper went back to its normal shape. My 89 rangers bumper was a helluva lot stronger than the bumper on my splash.