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03-08-2014, 07:13 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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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03-08-2014, 10:25 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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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.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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03-08-2014, 10:56 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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.
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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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03-08-2014, 11:12 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
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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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03-08-2014, 11:30 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by grayghost03
We have the front hitch, straight bolt on, no drilling or modifications, about a 20 minute job.
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Hi John,
What brand did you go with?
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03-08-2014, 11:39 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
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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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03-08-2014, 11:54 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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
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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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03-08-2014, 12:44 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,324
M.O.C. #4831
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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.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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03-08-2014, 01:23 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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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03-08-2014, 01:24 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Interesting. We"ll be looking at a bolt on of some kind for sure.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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03-08-2014, 02:04 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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.
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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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03-08-2014, 02:15 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
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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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03-08-2014, 02:20 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Galena
Posts: 989
M.O.C. #7380
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We have the same front hitch that bolts up through the tow hooks. Love it!
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03-08-2014, 02:29 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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.
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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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03-08-2014, 04:12 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,324
M.O.C. #4831
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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.
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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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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).
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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03-08-2014, 04:53 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
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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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03-08-2014, 05:14 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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Quote:
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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03-09-2014, 05:20 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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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.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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03-09-2014, 07:58 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
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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.
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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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03-09-2014, 10:52 AM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,284
M.O.C. #11675
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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!
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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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