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Hitch


James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
Joined
Aug 31, 2021
Messages
1,891
City
Roanoke VA
Vehicle Year
1997 and 1999
Engine
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
My rear hitch is rusted. Really detracts cosmetically as back is good otherwise. Seems like a simple matter assuming can get it loose to remove the nut on the bottom.
What do you suggest I put there then? Is there a filler or just leave the hole there?
I don't mind springing for a new shiny ball, but I'm not towing anything at the moment so it would be money down a rat hole unless you say I should have it to be stock. Did they come with ball?
If I ever did tow I'd likely put in a regular Class III hitch so really I don't need the ball there but wondering will it look f'ed up w/out it or look better w/out it or what.
My towing should be 5800 max. I realize I don't want to go max, but still, a 2400 lb car plus say 2,000 for a decent trailer (I might be low on the lbs there) if it totalled say 4500 that should be ok.
And that's only a possibility... I have no towing needs now. It wasn't a deciding factor.
 
I’m assuming you’re talking about a ball attached to the bumper and not a hitch from what you are describing. Most of the time I’ve just seen a hole there if there’s no ball attached. Getting the old one out might be more of a challenge than it’s worth depending on how rusty it is. I usually leave it alone unless I need to get rid of it for some reason if there’s one there, I tow everything with a class 3 or 4 hitch, never the bumper
 
Most bumpers are only good for 2000 lbs with 200 lbs tongue weight, if you're going to pull more then that you will need a class III hitch.

I'd just remove the ball and call it good.
 
but, if you are really bothered by the hole, it might have come with a circle plastic cover the same color as the other plastic on the bumper. my ranger has it still
 
Would the piece look like this? It looks to be the right size. Was with truck I was wondering wtf it went to.
Ford
IMG_3036.JPG
F67B-17D754-AA
95 556
CAV6
SAE TEO
Made in Canada
 
very similar. mine has some designs in it but it could be the piece. the other thing that could be for is if your truck interior door panels have spots for cranks but are power windows. they used to put little push in circle plastic covers over hte holes of the arms
 
Last edited:
Hm, will check that. what kind of designs do you have?
I have power windows no filler or hole for crank
Look at this listing, not exactly same part# but that is the same part and it's for the tow ball hole
Maybe just a little different for yours
Ford Rear Bumper Step Pad Round Plug Trailer Tow Ball Black Cover new OEM 17D754 | eBay
mystery solved
I have one other little cover I haven't figured what it is yet
at least I'm not missing parts... had extra parts. kind of cool they saved that ball hole cover all this time
 
that is cool because until this truck, i had never seen one in real life, ha ha ha.

my bumper pads have lines, like for traction, and the hitch hole cover has them also, i think. i will look later when i get off work. i might be imaging it though, it might be just like those. i will have to take a pic
 
ok thanks. well at least I know for pretty sure that's what it is and it was oem to the truck
 
Well, i had one. Someone stole it
20221028_171340.jpg
 
Oh, no! Well you can get one on ebay easy enough.
Thanks for the heads up... not sure how I can prevent theft. I'm thinking, maybe some silicone sealer which doesn't really glue it but at least makes it so someone can't just easily lift it out. Or you could put a pin thru it underneath. Something like that.
 

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