Differences in tow hitch setups on a 91

I'm looking at doing some medium trailer towing with my 91 with a A4LD. It does not have a factory towing package. I'm trying to get a grip on what all is out there.

It seems that I have a choice to use a frame mounted hitch (I have a frame mount with 6 bolts with a hole for a hitch) or a hitch that is mounted to a tow bar. Are both of these factory setups or is the tow bar aftermarket? Which setup is preferable?

I grabbed what I believe is a factory ball hitch when I was at the junkyard. How do I know what towing class this hitch is? I can find specs for newer Explorers online but not anything as old as mine.

Are these really stupid questions because this is all stuff that would be in the owner's manual if I had one?

 

[rileyrs]

you want a frame mounted hitch.
id get one that is designed for your specific car, but if you can find a universal that fits, that would be ok.
mount with grade 8 bolts as usual.
if its a 2 inch receiver, then its class 3, which is what you want.

 

[runderwo]

What advantage is there to a receiver type hitch over a frame mounted ball hitch with no receiver? I'm guessing that it's with the frame mounted ball, you can only tow one specific height of trailer, but with a receiver, you can get a different hitch to match each item that you want to tow?

http://www.hitchesonline.com/hitch_selection.htm

Also it looks like the frame mounted ball is a class 2. Would something like this work fine for me?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1991...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[Lacky01]

with the bumper mounted ball, you are limited on how much weight you can tow. the bumper is not nearly as strong as a frame mounted receiver.

 

[rileyrs]

ok, first, OP, you have your wording very wrong.
this pic here: http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/3771/2042597960039763510S600x600Q85.jpg
is a frame mounted hitch/ receiver.
on this hitch, you simply slide the ball into the receiver end, and hook the trailer on it.

this is what you need if you want to tow anything bigger than a small motorcycle.

the little ball on top of the bumper, is a bumper mounted ball, and its virtually useless. it is NOT considered a frame mounted hitch, since its not mounted to the frame, only the bumper.

 

[runderwo]

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know! I had no idea what I was talkingabout when I started this thread and thanks to you guys now I know what to buy.

 

[runderwo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tow_hitch

Another helpful article

 

[runderwo]

Happily I scored this hitch at the junkyard for 30 bucks:
http://www.autoanything.com/towing/61A3372A0A0A1815501.aspx

My Explorer only has the 3.55 rear axle and an automatic trans so the class 3 hitch is a bit overkill, but what the hey?

I also found all the wiring just as was stated here. The tow pigtail as well as the wiring behind the left tail light.

I also found a beefy trans cooler off a Jeep Cherokee. It is about twice the size of the Explorer factory trans cooler.

I hope this is all I need! Thanks for all the help.