Trailer hitch help - '02 XLS

Folks,
This was discussed several months back here but I can't find the post, so
if anyone can help I'd appreciate it.

I have the smaller, 1 1/4" trailer hitch on my XLS. I want to use by
Thule bike carrier which fits into the 2" but I don't want to go with the
adapter since the tongue weight drastically drops when using this. A
company makes a hitch that utilizes the smaller hitch with an add-on part
that upgrades to a 2" reciever.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

TIA,
Ken

A Google Groups search turns it up quite quickly. I think you are
referring to the Valley Hitch # 82430. I have to admit I wasn't
impressed, but it may be the right solution in some cases.

Bill Jeffrey
===================
knagy389us wrote:

> Folks,
> This was discussed several months back here but I can't find the post, so
> if anyone can help I'd appreciate it.
>
> I have the smaller, 1 1/4" trailer hitch on my XLS. I want to use by
> Thule bike carrier which fits into the 2" but I don't want to go with the
> adapter since the tongue weight drastically drops when using this. A
> company makes a hitch that utilizes the smaller hitch with an add-on part
> that upgrades to a 2" reciever.
>
> Anyone know what I'm talking about?
>
> TIA,
> Ken
>

Thanks, Bill. This is what I meant. It seems this is the only alternative
for me since it looks like the factory 1 1/4" hitch is part of the frame
and can't be replaced? I only want to be able to use my bike rack, which
is well under the 500lb. tongue weight spec of the Valley hitch. Open to
suggestions though.

Ken

Bill,

I have the #82430 installed on my 2003 Explorer. I use it often and love it.

Just curious, why did you say that you were not impressed?

John
________-

"Bill Jeffrey" > wrote in message
news:UV5Qd.96451$mt.4535@fed1read03...
> A Google Groups search turns it up quite quickly. I think you are
> referring to the Valley Hitch # 82430. I have to admit I wasn't
> impressed, but it may be the right solution in some cases.
>
> Bill Jeffrey
> ===================
> knagy389us wrote:
>
> > Folks,
> > This was discussed several months back here but I can't find the post,
so
> > if anyone can help I'd appreciate it.
> >
> > I have the smaller, 1 1/4" trailer hitch on my XLS. I want to use by
> > Thule bike carrier which fits into the 2" but I don't want to go with
the
> > adapter since the tongue weight drastically drops when using this. A
> > company makes a hitch that utilizes the smaller hitch with an add-on
part
> > that upgrades to a 2" reciever.
> >
> > Anyone know what I'm talking about?
> >
> > TIA,
> > Ken
> >
>

John,

Do you have any pixs of the installed hitch? It doesn't hang down too
low, does it?

Ken

John -

Let me be right up front about the fact that I have never seen one in
the flesh, and I can't find a picture of it at the moment. However, if
memory serves, it was some big elaborate bolt-on affair that hung way
down below the factory hitch. Looked mighty close to the road to me.
If you mount this thing and then drive over any kind of rough road (or
the swale at a filling station exit, or anything else that isn't level),
I could imagine that it will drag. And since it is a permanent addition
to the vehicle (the installation process looked nasty), you don't get to
choose when you have it mounted and when you don't.

Ah, just found the link.
http://www.valleyorders.com/ISheets/82430.pdf

Bill
=======================

f wrote:

> Bill,
>
> I have the #82430 installed on my 2003 Explorer. I use it often and love it.
>
> Just curious, why did you say that you were not impressed?
>
> John
> ________-
>
> "Bill Jeffrey" > wrote in message
> news:UV5Qd.96451$mt.4535@fed1read03...
>
>>A Google Groups search turns it up quite quickly. I think you are
>>referring to the Valley Hitch # 82430. I have to admit I wasn't
>>impressed, but it may be the right solution in some cases.
>>
>>Bill Jeffrey
>>===================
>>knagy389us wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Folks,
>>>This was discussed several months back here but I can't find the post,
>
> so
>
>>>if anyone can help I'd appreciate it.
>>>
>>>I have the smaller, 1 1/4" trailer hitch on my XLS. I want to use by
>>>Thule bike carrier which fits into the 2" but I don't want to go with
>
> the
>
>>>adapter since the tongue weight drastically drops when using this. A
>>>company makes a hitch that utilizes the smaller hitch with an add-on
>
> part
>
>>>that upgrades to a 2" reciever.
>>>
>>>Anyone know what I'm talking about?
>>>
>>>TIA,
>>>Ken
>>>
>>
>
>