Installing a Tow hitch

[Tom P]

I need to buy a new tow vehicle. My 1996 jeep got totaled. So I need to purchase another tow vehicle.

Do most of the 4WD SUV's, like a jeep, come with the wholes pre-drilled in the frame to mount a tow hitch? Or does mounting a new tow hitch require drilling through the frame?

What's involved with the wiring? Do most SUV's have a plug to plug in the trailer wiring? Or will I need to splice into existing wiring?

Thanks much,

Tom

 

[rbh]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Depending what you buy for a vehicle will determin what you get for accessories. As well you will have to determin what class of hitch you need.
If you have to install it yourself and there is no predrilled hole, bite the bullet and take it to someone that has a hoist, you will thank yourself later.
and use grade 8 bolts

 

[piper_chuck]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

There are several online sources of hitches. They provide easy search capability and the installation instructions are available. Some also provide time and difficulty estimates for the install. Armed with this information, you should be able to determine if the tow vehicle you're considering has the necessary holes already.

You can also find wiring harnesses online. Quite a few of them are designed specifically for a vehicle and plug right into existing wiring.

Here are a few sites I've used in the past for info gathering:
http://www.hitchesonline.com/
http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/
http://www.etrailer.com/

 

[Tom P]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Thanks - ETrailer was on the money with pictures and all.

Thanks again - Can do,

Tom

 

[gstanton]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

For those less inclined to DIY, I had a hitch installed - years ago - at a U-Haul place. Cost was extremely reasonable.

 

[mike343]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

If it's a late model truck and doesn't have the hitch, it probably won't have tow package either. Bigger radiator/trans cooler. 3.73 rear end and wiring. Best to get one with the right equipment from the factory.

 

[109jb]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

If it's a late model truck and doesn't have the hitch, it probably won't have tow package either. Bigger radiator/trans cooler. 3.73 rear end and wiring. Best to get one with the right equipment from the factory.

This is absolutely true to get maximum towing capability, but depending on the vehicle and the boat being towed this may not be necessary. For example, if the boat is an aluminum boat under 16' just about anything will pull it (edit: See note below). If something like that was all I ever needed to tow, I would personally actually rather have a vehicle with stock gearing for lower rpm cruising and better fuel economy when not towing. You can always take it out of overdrive for towing and also add a trans cooler if you like. Myself I do tow substantially more than that and have a heavy duty 3/4 ton diesel pickup.

As for the hitch, I have put on several aftermarket hitches over the years (Vally or Reese brands) and every one has been designed so that you don't need to drill anything. They have all used already existing holes in the frame. The types of vehicles I have installed on have been full size Chevy and Ford Ranger mini-pickups, full size Chevy and Dodge vans and 2 different generation Chrysler minivans. Never had to drill a hole.

As for wiring, you can find systems that tap into the stock wiring harness and use the stock connectors to provide the vehicle side trailer wiring. No splicing. These systems are available for just about any vehicle out there.

edit: You should always check the towing capacity of a vehicle in the owners manual for how it is equipped and not exceed the manufacturer rating.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Interesting that you mention towing package. My jeep that got totaled, I bought new. At the time I didn't know about the trans cooler. The dealer just just slapped a hitch on and called it ?the towing package?. I later paid someone to added the trans cooler when I bought a bigger boat. What's involved with adding a trans cooler?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[109jb]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Interesting that you mention towing package. My jeep that got totaled, I bought new. At the time I didn't know about the trans cooler. The dealer just just slapped a hitch on and called it ?the towing package?. I later paid someone to added the trans cooler when I bought a bigger boat. What's involved with adding a trans cooler?

Thanks,

Tom

Trans coolers are very simple to install these days. Mounting is usually just plastic mounts that insert right through the radiator. Takes about 2 minutes. The plumbing is just a matter of cutting into the hose going to the existing stock cooler and running that through the added on cooler.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Do most of the 4WD SUV's, like a jeep, come with the wholes pre-drilled in the frame to mount a tow hitch?
What's involved with the wiring? Do most SUV's have a plug to plug in the trailer wiring? Or will I need to splice into existing wiring?
Thanks much,
Tom

99.9% will have holes in the frame for a bolt on hitch from the factory. All the hitch makers design their hitch to utilize those holes. If it is not a SUV or pickup, then you might run into some that do not have holes meant for a bolt on hitch. But then if there is an aftermarket hitch made for it, the hitch maker usually designs the hitch to utilize existing holes in the frame/unibody that exist for other things.
There are many wiring adapters made that utilize a factory plug/joint in the vehicles wiring harness. Just unplug at the right spot and the adapter goes inbetween.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

I'm looking at some of the wiring kits. Some are just wires that get snapped into the existing wiring. Others include a black box. What's the difference?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

I'm going to guess the black box are for vehicles that have separate turn signal lamps to turn that signal into a blinking signal for the trailer stop/turn/tail.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Trans coolers are very simple to install these days. Mounting is usually just plastic mounts that insert right through the radiator. Takes about 2 minutes. The plumbing is just a matter of cutting into the hose going to the existing stock cooler and running that through the added on cooler.

I added a trans cooler to the lowtop Chevy conversion van we had years ago. It's quite simple to do. Securely mount the cooler in front of the radiator. Remove one of the transmission lines from the radiator and push the nut back. Run a piece of correct trans fluid grade tubing from that line to the cooler. Run another line from the cooler to the radiator. Using the short piece of tubing supplied with the trans cooler ( or purchased at the auto parts store ) , connect that.

Run vehicle and check fluid level. Add correct grade of fluid to bring level back into full range.

I'm looking at some of the wiring kits. Some are just wires that get snapped into the existing wiring. Others include a black box. What's the difference?

Thanks,

Tom

I'm going to guess the black box are for vehicles that have separate turn signal lamps to turn that signal into a blinking signal for the trailer stop/turn/tail.

That is correct.

 

[surge006]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Like said plenty of times. unless you buy a univesal hitch which you shouldnt. they are made for you vehicle with the holes drilled in hitch acording to factory frame holes. Best bet is order one from uhaul because they carry very good ones and not that bad of price. Wires depend if your vehicle needs a convertor from your blinkers to brake thats why it would have a box or if it needs to be powered from battery. And alot of new cars and trucks are coming with trans coolers anyway. very easy to install hitch either use a jack or a friend to hold it up and drop bolts threw or you will already have threaded bolts in frame already

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Just remembered a helpful tip for installing those hard to get bolts.

You'll need a mig welder ( or friend with one ) for it to work.

Place the bolt upright and start a weld directly in the center of the end of the bolt. As you let go of the trigger, push the welding wire into the weld puddle.

Now, without hitting the trigger, remove the bolt from the grounded surface/clamp. Hit the trigger again and when you get a couple feet of wire out, cut it at the welding tip.

This will allow you to feed the bolt into a difficult to reach spot and then you put the lock washer and nut on th ewire and it lines right up.

Just move the wire back and forth to break it off.

Jeff

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Just remembered a helpful tip for installing those hard to get bolts.

You'll need a mig welder ( or friend with one ) for it to work.

Place the bolt upright and start a weld directly in the center of the end of the bolt. As you let go of the trigger, push the welding wire into the weld puddle.

Now, without hitting the trigger, remove the bolt from the grounded surface/clamp. Hit the trigger again and when you get a couple feet of wire out, cut it at the welding tip.

This will allow you to feed the bolt into a difficult to reach spot and then you put the lock washer and nut on th ewire and it lines right up.

Just move the wire back and forth to break it off.

Jeff

I did a hitch install on a kia sportage, and the Curt MFG hitch i installed came with nuts that had EXACTLY this done to them already. In this case it would have been 100% impossible to install without that, as some of the nuts are inside the box frame rails. (yes, surprisingly a kia sportage has a full heavy duty box rail frame under it)

I just left the rods on, in case I ever have to replace or check anything I can still access them. They only stick out of the frame rails an inch or two, and not in an area that would ever cause a problem.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

Just remembered a helpful tip for installing those hard to get bolts.

You'll need a mig welder ( or friend with one ) for it to work.

Place the bolt upright and start a weld directly in the center of the end of the bolt. As you let go of the trigger, push the welding wire into the weld puddle.

Now, without hitting the trigger, remove the bolt from the grounded surface/clamp. Hit the trigger again and when you get a couple feet of wire out, cut it at the welding tip.

This will allow you to feed the bolt into a difficult to reach spot and then you put the lock washer and nut on th ewire and it lines right up.

Just move the wire back and forth to break it off.

Jeff

Never did that but it is a great idea. And if you have the welder, look at how your suppose to get a wrench on the head too. It might be a good idea to weld a tang of some sort to the head that will stop it from turning when it gets into the desired location.
Just make sure the tang will not prevent you from getting the bolt into the desired location.

 

[SS Flasher]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

I don't think it is very wise to weld anywhere on a bolt. You could be creating stess in the metal.

 

[bigb2008]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

So you know, most of the kits come w/ a "tool" to get the bolts through the frame rails. It's basically a wire, coiled up on one side. You "thread" your bolt onto the coiled end of the wire, and then fish the other end through the frame, and into the hole you need, then you just pull.

Just need to be careful when your putting the nut on that you don't push the bolt back into the frame, then it's a real pain. (been there, done that).

Did my wife's old Saturn Vue last spring to pull the boat, took about an hour to get the thing on. (Make sure you have a torque wrench, as it will be needed).

As far as the wiring, that depends on the car. Some have the wires you need bundled in the back, some have nothing. I wound up having to wire up an adapter, as the turn and brake signals were the same wire. Cost about 20$ at Walmart.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Installing a Tow hitch

I don't think it is very wise to weld anywhere on a bolt. You could be creating stess in the metal.

It literally takes one second to spot/tack weld the MIG wire to the END of the bolt.