HOW-TO: Step by Step Curt/Uhaul Hitch Install (LOT OF PICS!)l

[Kermit]

It has been continually asked and I have yet to see a step by step guide to installing a Curt (or UHaul) Class I Hitch. I put mine back on my car today so I figured I'd do a tutorial along the way. Detailed installation instructions from Curt Manufacturing can be found HERE. My instructions are almost word for word with Curt's only I added a little here and there to make it a bit easier to understand.

Disclaimer: You can install yours any way you want, this is how I installed mine. I had to get the undercarriage of the car dirty so the new hitch would stand out and easier to spot in the pictures.

Here is what the hitch looks like, sorry I left out a pic of the hardware of various nuts/bolts etc.




The car ready to go up on the lift. If you don't have access to a lift, a good creeper and a set of jack stands will work.




Step 1: Remove serpentine belt cover. There are two plastic giant push rivets. You can pull them out with a set of pliers. Rivet is the circle above the spring.



Pic should have been rotated 90 degrees to the right. Tilt your head to the left and it'll be OK.




Step 2: Remove the 2 existing 12mm bolts on the left and right at the rear of the frame. Use a 14mm 12point socket (I forgot what E torx it is). Socket and chrome extension are below the bolt that needs to be removed.

[Kermit]

Step 3: Raise hitch into position and secure using the bolts removed in Step 2.

Left side



Right side



Step 4: Using the hitch as a template, mark the position of the middle hole on the passenger side frame rail. (Confirm the alignment on the driver side frame rail at this time.) (NO PIC)

Step 5: Remove the hitch and drill a 1/2 hole in the passenger side frame rail at the marked location. NOTE: Use safety googles, metal will be flying. Also be careful once the bit goes through and bites. I got a nasty cut - it'll leave a scar. (NO PIC)

Step 6: Enlarge the middle holes in the frame rails using a rotary tool with a carbide bit to allow insertion of the 7/16" carriage bolt and the rectangular spacer. Hole is 1/2" x 1.13"



Step 7: Fishwire a 7/16" carriage bolt and a rectangular spacer into each of the forward holes in the frame rail.

2 springy wires are included. They thread onto the carriage bolts.



Forward hole with bolt inserted



Step 8: Reverse fishwire a 7/16" carriage bolt and rectangular spacer into each of the middle modified holes.

Right side



Step 9: Raise the hitch into position over the 7/16" bolts. Secure the hitch by starting the 12mm bolts. Tighten the bolts until there is about 1/2" between the hitch mounting plate and the frame rail on each side. Slide a 'U' shaped spacer (no picture) in between the hitch mounting plate and frame rail on each side. Tighten 12mm bolts slowly ensuring spacers stay in place.

Step 10: Position a square spacer between the hitch mounting plate and frame rail at the middle modified hole aligned with the 7/16" carriage bolt. Secure with a 7/16" hex nut.

Hard to see in this picture from underneath looking up



Step 11: Modify the rear hole in the serpentine belt cover so that the smaller 7/16" washer fits inside the hole. Use the large diameter 7/16" flat washer to retain the cover and secure with a 7/16" hex flange nut. (NO PIC)

Step 12: Torque all 7/16" fasteners to 50ft-lbs. Torque all 12mm fasteners to 62ft-lbs.

Job done. Complete!



The question has been asked before will it work with a custom center exhaust. In my case YES it will work with a Genius Exhaust. I have a my own tip on mine which I will have to make some very slight adjustments to.

[smark]

Where did you use a lift at?

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by smark

Where did you use a lift at?

At school. I turn 12 next week.

I'm 2 months ahead of schedule in school so I do little things here and there to waste time. It's a tiny Vo-Tech I go to. I'm the only adult student. We have a whooping 3 bays. One 4 post with a front end rack and then two 2 posters. VERY nice setup. I checked out a lot of other schools and I was afraid I would have gotten shot at those.

[hihosilver]

Good writeup and great pics. Brought back memories and that's exactly how it was. What is the other rack for? Looks like you are getting ready to hit the road. Your smart looks great.

[Kermit]

The other rack has a few additional things that can be added. In the pic is cooler rack. It also has a spare tire holder, bike rack, and golf bag racks. I have a four day weekend coming up so I hope to finish my trailer. I'm getting there.


I've also installed the hitch in other cars by pulling off the rear panels and rear internal bumper. Decided to cut this time since I had a quality carbide tipped bit. Worked quick and excellent.

[chieftmc]

Hey frog..... You da man

Thanks for taking the time to document

[Kermit]

Thank you. Took me forever to write this one out. . These hitches have been out for sometime, I can't believe no one already did a tutorial on it. Really surprised at that.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Kermit

The other rack has a few additional things that can be added. In the pic is cooler rack. It also has a spare tire holder, bike rack, and golf bag racks. I have a four day weekend coming up so I hope to finish my trailer. I'm getting there.


I've also installed the hitch in other cars by pulling off the rear panels and rear internal bumper. Decided to cut this time since I had a quality carbide tipped bit. Worked quick and excellent.

Now you just need one of these with an adapter:



Stupidiotic Giant 6" Ball / Hitch

[Kermit]

I was going to do what forest did, get a good sized ball and use some chrome spray paint on it.