How To Install a Trailer Hitch
Posted: Monday, October 24, 2005
by Elizabeth Morgan
Trailer hitch installation may seem like a difficult and confusing process, but it is much easier with the right knowledge and tools. Most people are able to successfully install their own trailer hitches without any help from a professional. In addition to the installation instructions provided with every individual trailer hitch, there are several universal tips that make the trailer hitch installation process as easy as possible.
Next, it is a good idea to use a jack to give the vehicle ground clearance needed to install the trailer hitch. It may be necessary to loosen the truck’s bumper, exhaust system, or other parts to get the trailer hitch to fit into place. It is vital that these parts are retightened after the trailer hitch installation is complete.
Next, the installer must drill the appropriate holes in the truck’s frame. Sometimes, the holes are already present, but there is usually some drilling required. It is important to make the holes no more than one 1/16th of an inch bigger than the bolts that will fit through them. Before drilling, the installer needs to insure that they are not about to drill through any important components of the truck’s undercarriage.
Next, any electrical wiring must be installed. The hitch’s instruction guide should provide all of the details for this process.
Experts agree that it is a bad idea to make any modifications to the hitch frame. Drilling any holes in it or trying to weld it to the truck will weaken the metal and possibly make it unsafe to operate.
Trailer hitch installation is not a difficult as it may appear at first. It is vital that the installer follows all safety precautions when installing a trailer hitch.
This Article has been viewed 9,411 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Generally, this is a worthless article -- it doesn't give any information at all on the actual, step-by-step process of installing. It only gives a few helpful techniques.
Also, this article does not talk about no-drill bolt-on hitches which are even more prevalent than the ones that required drilling or welding.
what kind of bull$%&*$%& article is this?
What is the freaking point in putting this so-called information up? It certainly should not be titled "how to install a trailer hitch". I'd get as much information about installing trailer hitches by reading the nutrition facts on a Snickers bar as I got out of this article.
Not worth the time it took to read it. Does not deserve the rating you give it -- it is less than one star worth of information.
Elizabeth Morgan is not gathering fans too quickly--I'm surprised the site would post such an article.
This is rediculous. I need help, not advice. This advice doesn't get me one bit closer to installing the trailer hitch--this is obvious commen sense stuff.
Worthless article. A big waste of time. Nothing helpful.
How about lowering the exhaust system, internal reinforcement of the frame by using fish wire for U bolt installation, the area of interference to be snipped off hell nothing in the stupid article explains non of that and I need to know how to install the stupid Reese Tow hitch.
Wow, I feel stupider for having read this...
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