Valley Hitches?

[jrs1958]

I’ve retired my 1976 GMC gas pig pickup from towing duties and went out and bought a 2005 Chevy Colorado Pickup to tow my mate next season. The Colorado has a step bumper that accepts a ball, but I’ve always been leery about towing anything off a bumper, so I’m looking for a class 3 hitch. Etrailer.com has a Draw-Tite brand square tube receiver hitch and a Valley brand round tube receiver hitch. I’ve heard of Draw-Tite brand but have never heard of the Valley brand. Has anybody had any experience with the Valley brand?

1984 Predictor 1968 Mercury 1250 I-6 125 HP

[TCAT]

Valley has been around for quite a long time. I had a Valley hitch, weight distributing drawbar and a sway control back in the early 80's. They were OK but when I need some parts for the sway control I could not find anyplace that sold them. But not much goes bad on a hitch. Up here in Canada the U-haul dealers install a lot of them. Never heard anything bad about them.

I was told but this is not verified that they have been in and out of the light vehicle hitch business several times. Their main business is supposedly 5th wheel hitches for the big transport rigs.

I have had Draw-Tite too they were ok but I remember one that seemed a little sloppy on the receiver fit right from new and after several years the pin hole was oval and the drawbar clunked on acceleration and braking. It was not the draw bar as I had three different ones and they all fit the same on that hitch but fit fine on GM factory hitches. It could have just been a bad one as other guys I know have Draw-Tite and they are happy with them.

Don’t think you can really go wrong with either one.

[BullittBen]

I worked for Advance Auto Parts quite a few years ago. We only sold Valley Towing accessories. I saw many of them go out, and none come back in, so they have to be fairly good. I know that I have some Valley brand racheting tie down straps that are of extremely good quality. I wouldn't have any problem buying the Valley hitch (and I prefer the round type anyway).

[Chris]

I just usually get my hitch from GM.

They usually fit without having to drill any holes and the price is usually competitive anyway.

Just my .02 cents. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[JW]

I just read about your search for a bed cover. A friend of mine has the same truck as you, and he got the one chevy offered, the aluminum fold-up type. No problems with weather shrinkage there! If your roll-up doesn't last long, looking into that fold up aluminum job.
As far as hitches go, he also has the hitch that Chevy offeres. You can't beat the fit of that hitch.

[illMATTic]

i sell after market access. for a living to all the jobber shops in MI and FL. I have installed just about every hitch out there. you want to go with hidden hitch. they are a lil more money but the quality is higher. hidden hitch offers the round tube design like you would see come from gm. the finish lasts alot longer aswell. valley and draw-tite will show signs of rust in 2 years. these hitches are very easy to install. no drilling or cutting. you could put this one on your 05 in less than a half hour. you will also need the 4 way wire kit. hoppy makes these in a plug and play design. there is a larg plug under the rear of the bed by the spare tire that you will use. hope this info is usefull in your quest.

matt

[jrs1958]

I went with the Valley Tube Hitch. Took about 45 minutes to install. Also got the Hoppy converter harness, too. E-trailers.com listed it at a Class 3:
http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=Colorado&category=hitch&year=2004&make=Chevrolet&t1=&h=e

But Valley Hitch web site lists it at a Class 4:
http://www.valleyorders.com/Valley/Public/cgi-bin/IPA003R?ITMNBR=82640

So I bought it and it’s a Class 4.

1984 Predictor 1968 Mercury 1250 I-6 125 HP