How to install trailer hitch

The average DIY box contains the only day to day basis of repair work. But installing a new part to the car is not a day to day basis thing. Also, access the underside of the car by loosening the exhaust or bumper and remember to tighten them up in place when you finish installing. Start off by placing the wheel chocks on the front wheels. Jack up your vehicle by carefully examining the specific hitch and the work area.

For most installations of the trailer hitch, jacking was never necessary, but while you are doing it at home, you need to be careful with everything. Make sure the emergency brake is on and that there is a safe height to applicate the jack stands to make the vehicle stable.

Do not tighten the bolts; first, hold the assembled hitch where you need to install it, so do further examining. When you are underneath the vehicle and working, you need a good work light to keep your focus in place.

As you will also need to read the instructions now and then too. You will then be able to memorize the areas of bolts and holes completely and access everything properly. Read Also: What is Powder Coating. The spare tire placed underneath the vehicle can be a problem while you are working on the rear space. It is better to remove it with a proper set of instructions. This is also the time when you need to lower the exhaust as it needs to be lowered during the installation.

This is the most important step to properly install the trailer hitch on your car. You need to make sure the holes you drill are not too big; otherwise, your trailer hitch will not be secure to your vehicle.

Use the trailer hitch as a template and then lock it into place with the clamps. Then use the holes from the trailer hitch as guides to the new ones. You should start with going through the instruction manual properly that comes with your trailer hitch.

You will find each and every relevant information there including some necessary precautions. You will get a rough overview of your installation like what to do and what not to do. I am here to help you out. Reading the manual will boost your confidence level up.

Then, your next task is to bring the tools that you will need while installing. The tools may vary depending on the model of your hitch. These tools are basic tools and you will find them in your toolbox. I am attaching a list of tools needed while installing your trailer hitch. You may require to jack up your vehicle. It depends on the type of your hitch. For most trailer hitch, jacking up your vehicle is not mandatory.

A fifth-wheel will utilize a king pin connection, while the gooseneck will utilize the receiver ball-type connection. Both of these connections permit you to tow additional weight with increased control and stability than that of a basic receiver ball.

There are 5 classes for a hitch, all of which are based upon the cumulative weight being pulled, the type of receiver being made use of, and the weight of the security chain needed. A Class I can tow approximately 2, pounds, while a Class V can tow closer to 12, pounds. A trailer hitch lock is extremely recommended to serve as an additional layer of security to avoid theft.

Each hitch kit can fit a different make and design, so it is important to know which set is going to fit your particular car. If it is not meant for your car make and model, you might stumble upon some issues or cause damage to your vehicle.

The hitch is going to be too heavy. Make sure that everything is lined up with the holes if you have to use holes to secure the hitch into position! Now you need to grab the bolts that came with the hitch and screw them into position. They do not have to be very tight now.

They just need to be able to hold the hitch into position while you complete the job. Most people will tighten the bolts up with their fingers. The bolts should be large enough to do that. However, we like to use wrenches to tighten everything up. You just need to know that your partner is strong enough to hold the hitch into position for this long.

Once the hitch is in position with the bolts, the person holding the hitch can release their grip. You will now need to grab your torque wrench and tighten up the bolts as much as the manual recommends. As we said before, this is going to be different from hitch to hitch. Now all you need to do is remove the wheel chocks and the vehicle lift if you were using one.

The job is now complete. Double check them with the torque wrench. In fact, most of the effort comes from ensuring that you choose the right hitch ball for the vehicle that you own.

Every manufacturer of trailer hitches will also sell hitch balls. Just pick up something from the same manufacturer and you are pretty much covered. For the hitch ball installation, you just then need to follow these steps:. Everything should be pretty obvious. Slide the hitch pin through this. Obviously, you will want to ensure that it is going through the hitch at the same time. However, if you have followed these steps, then we are pretty positive that this is not going to be happening anyway.

Perhaps the only thing that you will want to pay extra attention to is the weight limit for the hitch. Since trucks can pull a lot more weight than your average car, you want to ensure that you pick a hitch that you can use to the full capabilities of your vehicle. Other than that, the steps are exactly the same as we mentioned previously. Here is a quick outline for the truck hitch installation:. That is all that is involved. Although, do bear in mind that if you have a truck, you may also want to do a spot of wiring too.

This will allow you to use electric brakes on your trailer. However, the wiring is going to be out of the scope of this guide. It can get pretty complicated. If you are installing it yourself, then it will be the cost of your tools.

Most of the tools required for this job are pretty common, plus the cost of the hitch itself. Again, this is going to be dependent on the vehicle that you have. Some are a bit more complicated to install hitches onto.

This means that you can add a good couple of hundred dollars extra to that price. There are several companies that can install trailer hitches near your locations. In the list below you will find the Top 4 best companies that install trailer hitches:. Pep Boys hitch installation.