Front mounted trailer hitch on truck

[Debbie Asher]

Does anyone know if you can attach a front mount trailer hitch on your truck so that we could take our Honda Metro with us when pulling the 5th wheel? We know that we can't attach a trailer hitch to the 5th wheel so our next idea was can we attach a hitch to the front of the truck. We are in California and was told that we needed to check with DOT, but they are as slow as a snail.

[JandC]

I would wonder about mounting something that weighs over 170 pounds up there? But then again, my truck has the snow plow package so I know my front suspension would handle such a modification.

[grayghost03]

Just mounted a Curt front receiver to our 2013 3500 Chevy, 9000lbs tow and 500 lb tongue weight capacity. Took about 30 minutes install time. We are using it at this time for a double bicycle carrier. Other plans for the future. Thanks Jimmy for the suggestion last week

[8.1al]

Hidden Hitch also makes a nice bolt on hitch for the front

[bncinwv]

We have the Hidden Hitch which is about an hour install. We have carried four bikes with no problems on the front. Visibility and night-time driving are the other things to consider. We have to use the fog lights at night since the bikes do interfere with the headlights. 170 pounds is no problem at all for a one ton truck
Bingo

[Art-n-Marge]

There are several front mounted hitches that would work. As long as the front axle and GVWR can take the weight and like grayghost mentions, keep under the 500 lb hitch rating it should be fine. You might also have a concern if the headlights are blocked. Then like in Goodyear, AZ, there might be laws about this blocking the headlights that just using fog lamps might not be enough.

I had a front mounted hitch on my shopping list until I found that it mounts right were my fog lamps are located and didn't want to replace them since I use them in lots of places we tow. I'll need to find an alternate lighting solution, then it will be back on the list. I would use it for a bike carrier and if the headlights are blocked, bicycle wheels are very easy to remove for me.

Or else, instead of the Honda Metro buy one of these instead (but ouch, the price): http://www.rvrover.net/

[Phil P]

Hi

Last week I went in a Bar and Grill with my wife and there was a GMC 3500 DRW parked out front that had a platform big enough to easily stand and walk around on with a winch mounted flush, and a receiver as big as the OEM receiver that comes on the back of the truck.

The headlight guards like you see on the 4x4’s were mounted on the front of this so if you did stand on it you wouldn't walk off the edge.

Kind of big and bulky for what we use the truck for but I would guess that the assembly probably weighed about what you all are talking about before they put anything in the receiver hitch.

This Silverado we are pulling the fifth wheel with is the first truck I have owned that didn’t have a receiver on the front in the last 40 years.

Phil P

[Carl n Susan]

The Curt Front Receiver Hitch (and there are other makers) http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/f...500+2WD+or+4WD is rated for 500 lbs of tongue weight. That is more than adequate for a 179 lb. Metro. You should have no problem even in CA.

[Debbie Asher]

Does anyone know if it is legal in California?

[rmthelen]

Another consideration would be restricting air flow to the radiator, could cause overheating.

[bigskyjimmy]

Look at my pic and you will see what I haul with my front Draw- tite Hitch, my scooter weighs 230 lbs and works Perfect nice and stable with NO air flow problems as long as I do not put a cover on the scoot while driving Total time to install 30 min it just bolts on the frame and it costs 130 bucks and the scooter carrier is from www.discountramps.com for 120 bucks........Problem Solved

[Carl n Susan]

quote:Originally posted by Debbie Asher

Does anyone know if it is legal in California?

Dennis (Hamrad) has had a front carrier for his scooter as long as I have known him (over 8 years). His truck is registered, lives and is driven in CA all the time. I have never heard of any CA restriction on a front carrier.

[Tom S.]

If your 3500 is four wheel drive, you are probably close to the max weight recommended for the front torsion bars already. That's why at one time, you couldn't order the plow package on the 3500's - but not sure if that has changed. Before you invest the money, get the front end weighed and check the specs.

[hookman]

I have a front mounted boat loader which I load a 14' aluminum boat that weighs 235 lbs. and have never had a problem. The picture is my old boat that weighed 125 lbs. the loader weighs about 100 lbs.

[bigskyjimmy]

A Honda Metro Moped only weighs about 170 lbs I've been hauling my 230 lb 150cc scooter for years with my 3500 4WD chevy with No front end problems I cannot even tell it is there it rides smooth

[Art-n-Marge]

Debbie, when last I checked on this it was legal in California as long as they can see the front plate and the headlamps aren't impeded. I don't know if you can impede the headlights during the day, but at night it's definitely a concern. You never know if some LEO might give you a fixit ticket during the day.

[Debbie Asher]

I'm finding this real interesting because DOT said that I need to check with Dept of Motor Vehicle in each state that I travel. So it could be legal in California but if I travel to another state that it isn't I have to remove it? Sometimes all this stuff just boggles my mind, maybe it just wasn't worth buying a Honda Metro. This was a toy that the husband had to have now I like to kick him in the rear end. I guess I will go ahead and gt the front mounted hitch and take my chances that no one will give us a ticket.

[Art-n-Marge]

This is what I was thinking, too and all but Goodyear, AZ will usually respect other state's laws and therefore you SHOULD be okay unless some LEO in another state wants to take something out on you.

You might take some very close measurements (how high does the hitch sit and therefore how high and wide will the Metro sit and are your headlights blocked?) The Honda is a low and small vehicle and maybe the wheels will not block the headlights. That would be the big issue traveling state to state. You cannot guarantee you will never drive at night. Best of luck to you... Go easy on your husband, make him drive so he gets the ticket.

[bigskyjimmy]

Debbie, I think you are getting a little paranoid( no offense) on getting a ticket ,I travel with mine all over cali,ore,wa state for years and have never even got a second look from the man in blue I am sure they have better things to do IMO,they are more than toys for us they are great for traveling around all the coastal towns and beaches on the coast easy to park at stores 80 mpg and yes a heck of a lot of fun or if you are really worried about it and have a long bed like me get a ramp and put it in the bed behind the cab like I do my Honda 80 Elite it fits perfect sideways and with the new front caps there is plenty of clearance when you turn tight

[c214dick]

We put a hidden hitch on the front of our 3500 so we could haul our bikes along with Monte.