My Ford reducer was handed to me along with the paper work when I paid for the truck. I made sure it was part of the deal. I'm like you and have all 2" hitches.

 

I made my own out of a 6" length of 2 1/2" tubing. It works great and cost next to nothing.
Gary

 

Me too, took all of 10-15 min to make. Only thing I had to do was grind down the seam on the inside of the square tubing I used. Fits like a glove and best of all the price was right, $0!

 

I had a similar problem, but with a 2" hitch bar not fitting into a 2" receiver (hitch bar was more square, receiver opening was more rounded). It was solved by filing the receiver out a bit. I could have just as easily filed the edges of the hitch bar down. Since you won't be using the adapter in any other vehicle but this, do whatever is needed to make the adapter fit in your factory 2.5" receiver.

 

I picked up a reducer on my way home today, went to put it in and had the same problem. So I called my friendly neighborhood Ford dealer, the Ford reducer is listed at $87 but they could do $58 for me. I would rather whittle one out of a chunk of pig iron before I pay that much for 8" of tube. UPDATE; the other dealer in town quoted me $49 and I didn't just spend $50k with them.
I think I may be taking the paint off of this one to make it fit. I just know it is going to be a PIA to take out. My weight distribution hitch cost way too much to replace and who knows if a new one would even fit.

 

I ordered a 2.5"-2" reducer from U-Haul and it cost me $20.48 (including tax & shipping). It fit just mine with no adjusting needed.

 

I paid $20 for the one that didn't fit. I just removed the powder coating and it slid right in. Now I'm waiting for the thin layer of paint I put on it to dry before I test fit it again. Hopefully I can get enough paint on there to keep it from rusting, I don't keep my hitch in there unless it's in use so it should be good.

 

I picked up a hitch from tractor supply that wouldn't fit. I took it back and 2 attempts later (before leaving parking lot) I got a fitting hitch. Take it back and try several before writing off your money.

 

I paid 14.95 at U-haul for mine, it fit like a glove.

 

My truck came with the 2.5" to 2" adapter. I noticed (6 months later) that the adapter would slide right out the back of the receiver with no effort. So now I make sure I leave my pin in the receiver so I don't lose the adapter. I think I'll buy a locking pin, now that I know the adapter will cost $$ to replace.

 

To keep it from rusting, you may want to spray it with Gibbs brand lubricant:

Lots of reading material is available if you Google it.

 

How come some of the reducers have giant bold print that says "for hitch mounted accessories only". Is this just lawyer talk? The one we bought was solid steel and I can't see it not being able to handle the 2" hitches.

 

I have seen 2 different types, one is for accessories like bike racks and the other is for towing. I honestly don't know what if there is much of a difference, could be in the type of steel used.

 

My dealer handed me the adapter. As I was moving the hitch from old truck to the new truck. Said none of the new trucks were coming with it and he just had to run over to the parts window. Not a word about any cost.

 

My truck came with a 2.5" receiver and all of my current equipment is for a 2" receiver. So, I purchased a Reese 2.5" to 2" reducer from Tractor Supply, but the reducer does not fit. The corners of the receiver are much more rounded than the corners of the receiver. I checked with my local service manager and Ford makes a reducer, but the cost is $40!!! He also says he knows of two other guys who have had problems with the Reese reducer, but he doesn't know what we could buy to fit other than the Ford reducer.

Has anyone purchased a reducer for the 2.5" receiver that fits, and if so, what brand did you purchase/ I just can't bring myself to spend $40 for this with Ford.

Let me guess: You work in the Department of Redundancy Department?? :lol:

 

Thanks information on this issue. I have tried several adapters from different companies and none fit. I guess I will have to grind adapter I already have a bit more so it fits correctly.

 

I got one from my local NAPA. It was made by Valley Hitch products. They make the hitch for Ford,Dodge,etc. Google them and you'll find a online dealer.
It fit just right. But I painted it and it wouldn't go in so I had to strip the paint back off. It was galvanized. Can't see it anyway.

 

I went the other way- I purchased an adjustable hitch with a 2.5 inch shank.. No more adapters to rattle around or to mess with.

DT-ALBM6625 - 6" Drop/2.5" Shank DT Adjustable Ball Mount | Adjustable Hitches | TrailerHitchSource.com

 

If I'm not mistaken, and that is certainly possible, using the 2 1/2" to 2" adapter reduces the capacity of the hitch setup by some amount. The one that I bought (my trailer is only about 3100 lbs) would not fit in the receiver either, so I clamped it in the bench vise and went to work with my angle grinder and a metal polishing wheel.........just enough to take off the thick coat of paint and to radius the corners slightly. When I was done, I cleaned it with some spray contact cleaner and repainted it with rattle can paint. Good to go.

 

my uhaul adaptor was a little tight to put in. I towed the trailer for about 6 miles and the adaptor comes in and out fine now. My adaptor also says the tow rating on it. And it is a lot less than the hitch is rated. I am scratching my head with that one.

 

I had the same problem. Ford dealer had to grind some of the metal flakes from the inside of the 2.5 in. receiver. Be certain to coat the reducer with NEVER SIEZE or you will never be able to get it out in the future. If you drop the spare tire, it is possible to pound of the reducer. You gain lbs. of toing ONLY if you use the 2.5 in. hitch. Very few of us have any 2.5 stuff in our supplies.

Merry Christmas

 

Put my Reese brand reducer in from Tractor Supply last night after I got my truck home and it fit right in with no mods, must have got lucky on first try.

Now on to bigger and better things !!!! :thumbsup:

 

The 2.5" to 2" adapter I got for free with my previous 2007 Chevy fit just fine... (Why doesn't Ford do this? I also got the 7-pin to 4-Pin trailer wiring adapter for free with the Chevy too...)

No grinding, no painting, but I do spray it down with WD-40 every once in a while.

 

The 2.5" to 2" adapter I got for free with my previous 2007 Chevy fit just fine... (Why doesn't Ford do this? I also got the 7-pin to 4-Pin trailer wiring adapter for free with the Chevy too...)

Dealer gave me my adapter, painted and fits loose.

 

I attacked my adapter with the grinder today. I took off the paint on three sides and 1/64th on each face to make it square on the sides. The roll of the corners was the problem. I spayed some rustoleum and let it dry. It fits great now.

I was going to buy a different adapter but decided to grind first since I already had one.

 

I bought one from U-haul. $15.00 It was a little tight but fit good after I "de burred" the edges a little with a grinder, then a little black spray paint.

 

Which trucks got the 2.5" hitch? Mine has a 2" receiver.

 

Which trucks got the 2.5" hitch? Mine has a 2" receiver.

You sure about that? I understood all trucks with receiver hitches had the 2.5

 

Going to have to call Sean over at ProPride Hitches and see if he has a 2.5" version of hitch to plug up into my anti-sway/load balance ProPride hitch.

 

The answer was right under my nose. Per the ordering guide:

12.5K Built Ford Tough® Trailer Hitch Receiver
Includes 2" trailer hitch (N/A diesel w/156", 158" or 172" WB)
F-250 and F-350 SRW models

14K Built Ford Tough® Trailer Hitch Receiver
Includes 2.5" trailer hitch
F-250/F-350 SRW Diesel (156", 158", & 172" Wheel Bases)

So, because I have the 142" wheelbase I got the 12.5K hitch. However, I do see some trucks in the spreadsheet that have the 2" receiver that I think should probably have the 2.5" receiver.

Note that if you use an adapter the 14K hitch is reduced to the 12.5K values. The picture is from a truck on the dealer's lot.