Top 10 Trailer Hitch Installation Tips

In This Article, You Will Learn: • Basic Trailer Hitch Installation Tips • Tips for Handling Fasteners Glossary Terms Used in This Article: • Ball • Coupler • Frame

Written by Glenn Plagens, owner of www.hitchityourself.com

1. Make sure you have the correct trailer hitch for the vehicle. Check the year, make and model against the instructions sheet provided by the hitch manufacturer. Check that you have the correct hardware that came with the hitch.



2. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer thoroughly.



3. Elevate the rear of the vehicle using sturdy car ramps or if you have access to one - use a hoist.
   
   
4. Be safe, be smart and wear your safety glasses. Trust me, a trip to the ER to remove metal shavings or rust from your eye will waste more time and money than you saved installing your own hitch.



5. Fit the hitch to the bottom of the vehicle so you can visualize the installation. Remove anything in the way (exhaust) and remember to put it back later. Undercoating and weld slag from the vehicle manufacture will also have to be removed. You must have a steel to steel contact at all contact points between the hitch and vehicle frame - rust does not count. If the vehicle frame has excessive rust, do not install the hitch - consult a professional.



6. Bring a buddy. It is much easier and safer to install a hitch with an extra set of hands. Hitches can be heavy to maneuver into place and hold while trying to attach with fasteners.



7. Loosely install all fasteners before tightening. If you tighten fasteners before you install all the fasteners, it makes it harder to install the remaining fasteners - again, trust me on this. When installing fasteners into existing weld nuts on the vehicle make sure that they are clean and that the bolt works smoothly into the weld nut without cross threading the nut. You may have to tap out an old, rusty, or dirty weld nut. Never use an existing weld nut that has been compromised in any way.



8. Double check all fasteners against the instructions and follow the torque specifications provide on the instruction sheet. Do not over tighten fasteners.



9. Check your hitch ball!! Make sure the ball you have selected is the size that the trailer coupler takes.



10. Last but not least. Recheck all your work against the instruction sheet. Have your buddy check it too. Double check everything, and never, never, never overload any part of your towing system.