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receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:17 pm
by JanetG
OK you bft owners.... problem/question: we finally obtained the towbar assembly for our jeep wrangler to be pulled by our 21' BFT. OF course, this rig is a rear entry one so,, what about the accessibility to the ball attachment pin thingy? when it is inserted into the receiver hitch in the bumper,, the step is there... any suggestion to what we are facing?

hurry! we are so ready to get on the road w/ our jeep wrangler in tow!

thanks folks!

Janet Guthrie in texas

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:26 pm
by bcope01
There is a cutout access under the rubber Born Free mat on the bumper/step. The mat is held down with velvro, just pull it up for access.

Bill

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:36 pm
by JanetG
Bill... thanks for the quick reply! I can sleep better tonight. One thing,,, ours is a 95 model... does the step interfere w/ the hitch thingy? we want to tow our jeep wrangler.

thanks for any info you can give us. Do you tow ?

Janet & Roy

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:54 am
by randallrae
I had a 1998 and there was NO access under the mat. The coach came with a ball mount that had an extension welded to it and was pinned between the coach and the bumper . Kim might have details on how to make one .

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:52 pm
by JanetG
boo hoo! no hole beneath the mat. Now gotta glue the mat back down! oh well!

I found that I can buy a longer ball assembly @ my local napa store.. so that will be my next step. Thanks for all the help!


the Guthries

Brady , Texas

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:40 am
by nebraska built 4 two
Janet,

I bought the 98 bft from the former owner posted above, if a pic of the extended drawbar and where it is pinned between coach and rear bumper, would help, let me know .

As I remember it was 10-11 inches to the retaining pin from the face of the recevier, so even a longer bar would need to be drilled for pin location deep in the receiver.

Dave

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:49 am
by Ray
Several BF owners have added a access door in the bumper and drilled a new hole in the reciever for a standard bar and pin retention. I did this with mine so I could use a the standard vehicle tow bar.

It is a little bit of a job as you really have to remove the bumper to cut the door access opening and drill the hole in the receiver. It wouldn't be all that bad but most of the bumper bolts will strip out from the fiberglass bumper and you will have to torch them off or get creative as I did.

I bought the door from BF, Kim can help you with this, or BF could do the work for you if you happen to be in the area.

Once this is done you can just buy standard bars to fit the reciever

Re: receiver hitch question on rear entry built for two

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:45 am
by dsfriday
Really interested on your experiences towing the wrangler with the Born Free. This winter plan to tow 78 Toyota FJ40 to Borrego Springs, wondering if power will be there to adequately move over and down 7% + grades! Returning this summer from Durango, the passes @ 11,000 ft. Worked our 2008 BFT hard. Running around 35 MPH @ 3,500 RPM without an additional 3,000 lbs!