I pulled a small (9') boat out of the water yesterday. I had a real problem backing the little empty trailer down the ramp, couldn't see it in any mirror. The winch stand is too close to the hitch so I couldn't lower the tailgate safely, if I had I might have been able to see the trailer over my shoulder.

It got me thinking about adding a front receiver. On-line I found reference to a Bodiak P/N THH25D. Does anyone have one of these installed on a GMC and if so are you happy with it? I'm sure there must be others as well. I do want to leave my license plate in place because I'll probably also use the receiver for a bike rack when towing my travel trailer.

they have the receiver on ebay for like $125.00, or you can get the ranch hand replacement bumper (TEXAS STYLE) and it comes with a receiver. I hear you though about the little boat with big truck problem. The receiver on the front end works great also for mounting spare tire, bicycles, or the "throne" when you go hunting so you dont have to dig a ditch!:ro)

Front receiver is also good for a portable winch that can be used in the front or back.

I have one on my Chevy. It is a drawtite. The hitch sits below the plastic valence on the bumper. It just bolts on using bolts that hold tow hooks in place. Longer bolts were supplied with the hitch. I like the hitch. I use it to push a trailer around a tight corner. My only concern with it is how low it is. I put a skid plate in to keep it from getting pluged with junk when working in the fields.

Just a thought on something I did when backing my Jetski trailer down the ramp; I took a 8' piece of pvc pipe and cut it in half and stuck one to each end of the trailer when backing, just pay attension to the poles. Cheeper than the new hitch.

I've got the Drawtite like Toy Fever. Sure makes it handy to stuff my 6x6x12 box trailer into a storage locker for the Winter. I also use it for my Sportplow in the Winter. It's low, but I've got a rubber cover on it and have had no issues - but I'm pretty much a full-time pavement kinda guy.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3448&d=1112807053

Thanks for all the comments. I'll take a look at ebay and Drawtite and also think about a replacement bumper. I've been loading up the truck to go to the dump and there is some PVC pipe in there, I'll pull a couple of pieces out and make the posts you described, Rttoys.

I had a front receiver on my last truck (93 Chev K2500 PU) and I used it for a bike rack and a mount for a portable electric winch. I remember I had to cut a hole in the valence of the old truck for the receiver. It seems to me that installation put the receiver quite a bit higher than having it below the valence on my 05 GMC. But it sounds like you are not having real problems with the low mount on the current trucks.

I thought there was someone outhere that was making one that fit in the frame where the tow hook is located? Sure it's offset depending on which side you install it, but it cures the clearance issue.

http://www.leedengineering.com/front.html

SSTuner,

Thanks for the link about the tow hook replacement receiver. I don't know if one of those would work for me or not. I'll have to put my bicycles on the rack and see if I could bias them to one side. I'll also contact Leed Engineering and see if they have a centered receiver using two of their
tow hook replacement receivers.

Why not just pop the tailgate off? No tools required.

benjammin,

I sure was thinking about taking the tailgate off but I could not remember how to at the time and the manual was not in the truck.

I am still faced with figuring out how to carry our bicycles with us with the travel trailer in tow so a front receiver is probably the long term answer.

I just installed a leedengineering.com (http://leedenginerring.com) hitch. The height of the hitch is what I like. Most front receivers are located below the bumper, which seems to low for me. Loading bikes may be a problem though with the side hitch. Works great for a portable winch.