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Old 03-08-2014, 07:13 AM   #1
seahunter
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Bike Rack Mounting Solution - Bodiak?

http://www.bodiak.us/

Just wanted to share a neat product I found. Had never seen these, so thought I would pass it along.

I have been researching bike racks, and the pros/cons of hitch mount on Montana, etc.

Did not want it on the back, and the stock Montana hitch is supposed to be insufficient...

I thought of a front-mount, but didn't want the expense of a fabricated hitch mount on my nice new pickup, and thought it would look bad.

Solution - front-mounted hitch that bolts right on to your pickup's tow hooks! No drilling, cutting, welding, etc.! I had seen front-mounted ones before, but not one that just bolted right on to the tow hooks...

 
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Old 03-08-2014, 10:25 AM   #2
WeBeFulltime
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About 3 years ago I also considered this product, but felt it would make the bikes too high and visible from inside the truck cab. I went with a "Hidden Hitch" brand which puts them much lower and was a easy bolt-on. Hardly notice it being there when not in use. Ordered it from etrailer.com.
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Old 03-08-2014, 10:56 AM   #3
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime

About 3 years ago I also considered this product, but felt it would make the bikes too high and visible from inside the truck cab. I went with a "Hidden Hitch" brand which puts them much lower and was a easy bolt-on. Hardly notice it being there when not in use. Ordered it from etrailer.com.
Hi David,

Does it require any drilling, or does it match up with pre-existing bolts underneath? Do you recall which one you went with? The part finder is only for rear installations so they don't even have my truck listed, and not sure which one would work on the front of my pickup.

Thanks!
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Old 03-08-2014, 11:12 AM   #4
grayghost03
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We have the front receiver hitch, straight bolt on, no drilling or modifications, about a 20 minute job. Works well for bike rack.[/URL][/img]

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Old 03-08-2014, 11:30 AM   #5
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quote:Originally posted by grayghost03

We have the front hitch, straight bolt on, no drilling or modifications, about a 20 minute job.
Hi John,

What brand did you go with?
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Old 03-08-2014, 11:39 AM   #6
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It is a Curt I believe, 500 lb tongue weight and 9,000 lb trailer capacity, it carries our 2 26" mountain bikes pretty easy
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Old 03-08-2014, 11:54 AM   #7
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by grayghost03

It is a Curt I believe, 500 lb tongue weight and 9,000 lb trailer capacity, it carries our 2 26" mountain bikes pretty easy
Thanks for the photo John! Looks like it doesn't interfere with visibility at all. Now is that a class II 1-1/4", or a class III/IV 2" receiver?
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Old 03-08-2014, 12:44 PM   #8
Carl n Susan
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Watch out for the fog lamps on the Ford. I know the Bodiak (and perhaps others) covers them up. I looked at a Drawtite (some time ago) and it required removing the fog lamps. If you use the fog lamps at all, loosing them is a consideration.
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Old 03-08-2014, 01:23 PM   #9
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Thanks Carl, never thought about the fog lights! How about ground clearance on the other brands that bolt lower? Its not any lower than the rest of the front end is it?
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Old 03-08-2014, 01:24 PM   #10
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Interesting. We"ll be looking at a bolt on of some kind for sure.
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Old 03-08-2014, 02:04 PM   #11
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Carl n Susan

Watch out for the fog lamps on the Ford. I know the Bodiak (and perhaps others) covers them up. I looked at a Drawtite (some time ago) and it required removing the fog lamps. If you use the fog lamps at all, loosing them is a consideration.
I was just thinking Carl - I'm too lazy to go look - but aren't our fog lights outside of the tow hooks? I think this might be okay??
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Old 03-08-2014, 02:15 PM   #12
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2" receiver. I did modify the bike rack, it came with a 1" with a filler plug. It bolted in really tight, but being thick wall 1" there was some flex, I am pretty sure it would have been fine, but I have my own shop and I like to build things to last, so I modified it a bit. Alittle stouter now The piece on the ground is the original.
[/URL]
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Old 03-08-2014, 02:20 PM   #13
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We have the same front hitch that bolts up through the tow hooks. Love it!
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Old 03-08-2014, 02:29 PM   #14
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by grayghost03

2" receiver. I did modify the bike rack, it came with a 1" with a filler plug. It bolted in really tight, but being thick wall 1" there was some flex, I am pretty sure it would have been fine, but I have my own shop and I like to build things to last, so I modified it a bit. Alittle stouter now The piece on the ground is the original.
Nice work on that! Hey, I lean toward overkill too. Better safe than sorry, and much safer be overly strong than not strong enough.
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Old 03-08-2014, 04:12 PM   #15
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by seahunter

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Carl n Susan

Watch out for the fog lamps on the Ford. I know the Bodiak (and perhaps others) covers them up. I looked at a Drawtite (some time ago) and it required removing the fog lamps. If you use the fog lamps at all, loosing them is a consideration.
I was just thinking Carl - I'm too lazy to go look - but aren't our fog lights outside of the tow hooks? I think this might be okay??
Here is a picture of the Bodiak from their web site.



But you are right, that picture is of a 2005 model. The 2011-current models have the fog lights well outside of the tow hooks. Another issue, especially in CA, is the covering up of the front license plate. CA requires a front plate and will get you if it isn't clearly visible (red light cameras, bridge tolls, etc. depend on you having a front plate).
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Old 03-08-2014, 04:53 PM   #16
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Not enough money in the world to register my vehicle in California. So no issue there. They don't block my lights, none of them, I drive all over Texas and never had a front license plate issue.
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Old 03-08-2014, 05:14 PM   #17
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quote:Originally posted by grayghost03

Not enough money in the world to register my vehicle in California. So no issue there.
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Old 03-09-2014, 05:20 AM   #18
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Thanks seahunter. I have looked at some of the other ones in the past. Really didn't like the looks of them. This one looks very practical and would look good on my 2012 F350. I will be ordering Monday morning so I can get it on before my trip north in April.
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Old 03-09-2014, 07:58 AM   #19
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by JandC

Thanks seahunter. I have looked at some of the other ones in the past. Really didn't like the looks of them. This one looks very practical and would look good on my 2012 F350. I will be ordering Monday morning so I can get it on before my trip north in April.
Be aware, that if you are going to use it as a bike carrier, I measured my Chevy this morning. That with my rack which drops pretty good, if I came straight out from the tow hooks for the receiver, my 26" bikes would be 9" above the hood, don't have a Ford here at the house to compare to.
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Old 03-09-2014, 10:52 AM   #20
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by cdaniels

We have the same front hitch that bolts up through the tow hooks. Love it!
Hey Bill,

Glad to see someone who has it! If you're using it for bikes, do they stick up above the hood very far?
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