The annoying thing about Ford's SuperDuty F-250 Hitch: Safety Chain Hook Problem/Solution

Hi there...This is a set of solutions for the problem of the SuperDuty F250 hitch receiver being too thick for the safety chains to fit.  (same thing for the Chevy 2500HD)  The TL:DR here is... buy either the red Durabilt coupler or the black Peerless hammerlock.  When you install, put the pin in the freezer, get a big hammer, a block of wood, and a friend to help. Go all the way down if you want to see the installation video and skip the sales pitch.

The pictures below are of a 2019 Ford F250 SuperDuty hitch receiver (the one with the red couplers)  The plate steel is thicker than the opening of any normal size safety chain hook.  The solution to the hitch problem is to put another connector in the hole, and then hook your safety chain in to that.  

Some folks put in a threaded oblong quicklink, but according to the Peerless Chain website, the working load limit of their 1/2 inch link is only 2,650 lbs.  (They're made of low-carbon steel, without much of a heat treat.)

Ford must have known about this problem for over two years, since we've been selling hundreds and hundreds of these 1/2 inch grade 80 12,000 lb couplers.  The red one is the Durabilt brand connector, and the black one is the Peerless brand connector.  Both are 12,000 lbs.  Both work on Ford F250 hitch receiver, as well as GMC and Chevy  (They must be using the same sub-contractor to build their hitch receivers.)  If you have a Ford F-150,  you shouldn't need to purchase this solution.

Red Durabilt Connecting Link Solution for Hitch Safety Hook Problem

Peerless Hammerlock Ford and Chevy Hitch Safety Hook Solution

Above is the Peerless hammerlock solution for the same safety hook fit problem on the hitch receiver of a Chevy Silverado 2500HD.

Another solution, if you trust people not to steal it, is to use an alloy screw pin shackle.

Screw Pin Shackle Hitch Solution

This has a 5 ton safe working load limit, so it's better than the quick link above.  However, thieves can easily appropriate it from your truck with a pair of pliers... or even a strong pair of thumb and fingers!

OK, so let's say you want to install the Peerless Hammerlock and Durabilt Connecting Link hitch solution, because you don't want anyone to steel the darn connecting link?  One thing you need to know is how these hammerlock connectors work.  They're not exactly easy to put them onto your hitch receiver, but they're almost impossible to steal.

Click here for installation video

Funny story... I used to only sell hammerlocks and connectors of these kind to a railroad customer who used a lot of high tensile chain.  Then I noticed we kept selling two hammerlocks at a time.  These were web orders that came on the weekends mostly.  Curiosity got the better of me, and I finally called up one of the customers and asked him why he wanted 12,000 lb WLL hammerlocks.  He told me about the problem he was having with the hitch receiver being too thick for the hooks on his safety chains.  It was then that I figured we might as well put together a package deal, and put it in the USPS priority mail box which cost a hell of a lot less than UPS to deliver.  (and faster, too.)

THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER... PUT THE DRIVE PIN IN THE FREEZER THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU WANT TO INSTALL THESE.  AND LEAVE THE REST OF IT OUT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. 

Shrinking that pin down just the wee tiniest bit makes it easier to install this couplers.  Might even save you from hitting your finger with the hammer. 

ALSO, GET A FRIEND TO HELP....THIS GOES MUCH EASIER WITH TWO SETS OF HANDS, A BIG HAMMER, AND A BLOCK OF WOOD.