OEM Trailer Hitch - Gen 2 TC

[G B L]

You could be right, I checked the ford parts and the hitch is listed as a separate part from

the bumper which gives me hope

Waiting for pictures

[windguy]

ok, took some pictures today and posted them in my gallery - 11 total (hitch 01 to hitch 11). link below to one picture to get you directed there.

kind of hard to get the right angle and light but at least you have some pics to start with.

I can see why the hitch sticks out as it does. They wanted to provide enough clearance so the spare tire can be dropped without any obstruction.

I think they could have shaved the clearance a bit more, it's about 1.5" now and I'm sure you can angle the tire out a bit. Never tried dropping the spare but probably should one of these days to get that practice. Type of thing you say you wish you did when you're changing the tire at night time in a dark place during a storm with coyotes howling in the bushes.

Back to the hitch/bumper. looks like the hitch can be angled out and removed without having to remove the bumper cover. The bumper cover is very close the hitch part and you can see the cover was notched out for clearance. The cover can be pulled backwards a few inches in the middle to provide more clearance. It's unbelievable how tight everything is under the van. very little unused open space. Check it out and let me know how it looks. Thanks.

Edited November 13, 2015 by windguy

[DonShockley]

If I had realized they had to remove the inside bumper support bar to install the Ford accessory hitch, I would have asked for the old parts back when mine got added. It would be nice to have the old part just in case I or somebody else could use them. I had seen it described as "bolt on" so I figured it was just an added part, not a swap, so I never even thought to ask about keeping the removed parts.

[Slonie]

ok, took some pictures today and posted them in my gallery - 11 total (hitch 01 to hitch 11). link below to one picture to get you directed there.

kind of hard to get the right angle and light but at least you have some pics to start with.

Thanks for posting the pics! Interesting to see that the OEM hitch is a separate bumper support with the integrated receiver. That makes it slightly higher than an aftermarket hitch as well, which could come in handy for reducing the chances of scraping a bike rack or cargo carrier when coming out of driveways.

[G B L]

Nice Pictures windguy, The Oem Hitch is about 1/2 of an inch Higher than the Curt hitch .The tire lowers buy My hitch very nicely. I am going

to lower the tire to the ground and see if the Tc will have to be Jacked up to get the tire out from under in the case of a flat. Good to Know before

it becomes a situation.

The pictures confirm that your hitch replaces the bumper support so the removal would require part 40338. That would make it not as easy as I hoped.

I have made a Rear step that rides in the receiver that I use when I Stand on the bumper to get things out of the back I will post a Picture tomorrow

when I have light It might be a solution for you.

[windguy]

If I had realized they had to remove the inside bumper support bar to install the Ford accessory hitch, I would have asked for the old parts back when mine got added. It would be nice to have the old part just in case I or somebody else could use them. I had seen it described as "bolt on" so I figured it was just an added part, not a swap, so I never even thought to ask about keeping the removed parts.

was yours added at the Ford dealer after you got your van, ordered as a spare part?

if that was the case, then yes you should have gotten your original bumper back since it was yours.

[windguy]

Nice Pictures windguy, The Oem Hitch is about 1/2 of an inch Higher than the Curt hitch .The tire lowers buy My hitch very nicely. I am going

to lower the tire to the ground and see if the Tc will have to be Jacked up to get the tire out from under in the case of a flat. Good to Know before

it becomes a situation.

The pictures confirm that your hitch replaces the bumper support so the removal would require part 40338. That would make it not as easy as I hoped.

I have made a Rear step that rides in the receiver that I use when I Stand on the bumper to get things out of the back I will post a Picture tomorrow

when I have light It might be a solution for you.

thanks for the parts diagram. the 40338, original bumper, looks just like the trailer hitch bumper with the welded hitch removed.

it would be slick if you can easily remove one bumper and replace with the other. that would solve my whining and save my legs.

what happens is that I'm constantly working out of the back of the van to get gear in and out and leaning forward. I use the bumper cover to lean against with my shins. all is cool if I'm on either side of the hitch but if I lean against the middle where the hitch is, my shins will get nailed unless I come in very slowly. even still it's rough shaped metal and not like the bumper cover that's smooth and slightly forgiving. same when sitting on the tailgate changing clothes or just hanging out. snags the back of my calf if I'm not careful. Too bad the hitch part isn't bolted on some how so just that part can be removed. appreciate the help.

Edited November 14, 2015 by windguy

[DonShockley]

was yours added at the Ford dealer after you got your van, ordered as a spare part?

if that was the case, then yes you should have gotten your original bumper back since it was yours.

Yes, it was added at the dealer. It was the hitch from the Ford Accessory website, along with the wiring harness kit.

http://accessories.ford.com/exterior/trailer-towing/kit-trailer-hitch-bar-10765.html

http://accessories.ford.com/exterior/trailer-towing/kit-trailer-hitch-electrics-10797.html

They were part of the purchase deal, ordered through the dealer parts department. I'm sure I could have gotten the parts back if I had thought to ask for them. I thought the hitch was just an addition to the existing bumper parts. So I thought they were only adding items, not removing any, so I didn't ask for the old parts. It would have been nice if they had asked. And by the time I found out that the job involved parts replacement, they no longer had the parts.

Edited November 14, 2015 by DonShockley

[G B L]

Here are the photos of the Step that I use to access the back of the van I put rubber treads on both the step and the bumper cover

[windguy]

Yes, it was added at the dealer. It was the hitch from the Ford Accessory website, along with the wiring harness kit.

http://accessories.ford.com/exterior/trailer-towing/kit-trailer-hitch-bar-10765.html

http://accessories.ford.com/exterior/trailer-towing/kit-trailer-hitch-electrics-10797.html

They were part of the purchase deal, ordered through the dealer parts department. I'm sure I could have gotten the parts back if I had thought to ask for them. I thought the hitch was just an addition to the existing bumper parts. So I thought they were only adding items, not removing any, so I didn't ask for the old parts. It would have been nice if they had asked. And by the time I found out that the job involved parts replacement, they no longer had the parts.

okay. The probably put that original bumper back in their parts inventory. they might have charged you extra if you wanted to keep it.

the picture in the link shows the hitch as being slightly recessed on the bumper cover, not sticking out. The flanges where you'd attach a safety chain look slightly different too. I'm sure your hitch sticks out like mine as seen in the pics. thanks

[windguy]

Here are the photos of the Step that I use to access the back of the van I put rubber treads on both the step and the bumper cover

thanks for sharing. looks like a nice solution for you. snow already? you must be at a higher elevation.

my rear bumper has the parking sensors, so something like that would cover it up. I don't really crawl inside the van much at all so nut much need for a step.

just grabbing stuff from the rear at ground level and sitting on the edge.

so how hard would it be to swap bumpers?

can it be done without removing the bumper cover?

if you remove the four nuts on each side will the studs stay in place or move around?

seems like if you remove the nuts, undo the wiring that spot tied to the bumper, you should be able to remove it fairly easily unless I'm missing something critical.

thanks

[G B L]

If you look at the parts picture of the Hitch assembly there are parts that stick quite far forward . It they are not inside the tubes it would be easy . If they are inside the frame boxes then getting it out would be much harder.

The other question is how much is the bumper support? Depending on the price there is another option.

Do you know any Good Welders?

[windguy]

If you look at the parts picture of the Hitch assembly there are parts that stick quite far forward . It they are not inside the tubes it would be easy . If they are inside the frame boxes then getting it out would be much harder.

The other question is how much is the bumper support? Depending on the price there is another option.

Do you know any Good Welders?

not sure why that pic shows the hitch extending beyond the attachment bracket, where the part number is shown.

that seems like it's a different hitch, maybe for a Gen 1 TC.

maybe I'll swing by the local Ford parts and ask how much the original bumper frame is.

might also find a local hitch place and pick their brain. will report back. thanks

[G B L]

The Price at fordparts.com was 285.00, More than the hitch! At that cost you could cut the Receiver off and get an aftermarket Curt hitch when you need a tow option. Installing my hitch took less than 1 hour.

Keep the updates coming.

[windguy]

thanks GBL

I've got a hitch & welding shop in town that I plan to go consult with when I get some free time.

before going I want to practice dropping the spare tire to see what's involved in doing so and what the tolerances are in that area between the spare and hitch.

I'd be less inclined to remove the hitch part from the bumper frame. I'd loose the tow hook capability if ever needed so that would have to be remedied somehow.

[G B L]

Should you decide to remove the hitch part the Curt after market hitch will mount to you

Tc In less than 1 hour and as my pictures show, does not stick out from the bumper

The Spare drops nicely with the hitch in place. The only test I have yet to do is to see

if the Tc would clear the spare with a flat tire in the rear.

The Curt hitch is 151 and change from Etrailer.

This option would Protect your legs, keep your recovery tow options open and allow you

to tow a trailer if that ever became necessary.

Win,Win,Win

[windguy]

thanks GBL

when you say clear the spare when the tire is flat, is your concern that with a flat tire, the van is lower and the spare might not clear the hitch after it's lowered because the lower hitch might block it?

if that were the case you'd have to jack up the van before sliding the spare out.

I was looking at the Curt hitch on etrailer, link below

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/Transit+Connect/2015/C13167.html?vehicleid=201522753

the pictures of the van don't look like the US based TC Gen 2.

so how does this hitch manage to stay within the boundary of the bumper and the Ford OEM extends beyond it?

you would think that if one can do then the other can.

is the receiver part the same length in terms of how deep it goes, front to back?

not sure if there is some type of standard for how deep this needs to be. not much experience with hitches and towing.

I'd like to see a comparison pic to the one below between the OEM and the Curt

Edited November 17, 2015 by windguy

[G B L]

If you go back in this post there are pictures of the Curt hitch on my Tc check them out

[G B L]

If the Pictures posted are not good enough I will get more this weekend when I get back home

this week end.

[G B L]

The oem hitch hangs from the upper support and the shape of the gussets won't allow the

receiver tube to be moved further under the car. The Curt hitch has the receiver tube

between the support tube halfs making it easier to adjust the stick out

The hitch you checked out was the correct one and fits perfectly.

[windguy]

thanks. sorry I didn't remember about those pics on page 1. checked them out.

I think the square tube that the ball mount goes into could have been positioned further forward and still be functional.

it would encroach on the spare but there's extra room there.

I've been looking at hitches on other cars, SUVS, pickups and none of them stick out beyond the edge of the bumper.

I've got some options to consider.

[G B L]

If your hitch shop has the right person the receiver tube could be cut off

and put back up flush with the bumper with new gussets!

It would take somewhere between one and two hours.

[windguy]

If your hitch shop has the right person the receiver tube could be cut off

and put back up flush with the bumper with new gussets!

It would take somewhere between one and two hours.

Thanks, I had the same thoughts about having that done.

I'm pretty sure this local shop can handle that task.

http://eckharts.com/index.html

For those interested in the Curt hitch, the link I provided earlier also shows a nice hitch installation video.

I missed that the first time and can't provide a direct link to it, but the video link is below the group of product pictures. check it out.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/Transit-Connect/2015/C13167.html?vehicleid=201522753

I think etrailer website does a nice job in how they promote their products.

Edited November 18, 2015 by windguy

[G B L]

I think they should be able to do it

take some pictures when it is done!

[windguy]

haven't gone to the trailer hitch place yet, but I did practice dropping the spare tire.

A good exercise all should do just to be familiar with it before the roadside flat change.

I first read the manual, then dropped the tire, but was still confused as to how to undo the main cable.

There are two cables, one main support cable and the second must be a safety. I was trying to position the bracket to go through the hub and having trouble trying to get it out so I had to consult the manual once more. Turns out you remove the main cable from the bracket first, which the manual says to do. Not intuitive looking at it. The cable releases from the bracket like a brake cable on a bike brake, has this small tab at the end of the cable.

there isn't much clearance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the hitch.

I can see if you have the Curt hitch solution, those cross support bars would make tire removal more difficult, even more so if you have a flat tire.

Take a good look at the jack before you remove it from the bracket so you don't forget how to put it back afterwards. I hadn't done that.

I also tried out the jack lifting the van just a little to check that part out too. Pretty straight forward there.

Before lowering the spare, I wedged some wood scraps into the hitch and let that stick out 1.5" towards the spare to check the clearance.

Once the tire starts to drop there is room to push the tire forward slightly to provide ample clearance.

There are two nubs attached to the body above the tire that help lock the tire into position when the tire gets close to the frame.

Minimal clearance between the spare and the muffler in front of it so don't think those nubs could be move forward but that would help provide more clearance to the hitch. I think the receiver tube can be moved 1.5" forward and not provide any obstruction to the spare. I wouldn't go any more than that. We'll see what the hitch shop has to say. Will report back when I learn more.

Edited November 21, 2015 by windguy