Replacing Existing Receiver Hitch

[MikePA]

Any tips for how to do this safely when working alone, both removing the old one and installing the new one?

 

[kevinj]

Any tips for how to do this safely when working alone, both removing the old one and installing the new one?

On what????

 

[rus_geek]

Assuming this is the style where you have to mount/dismount the entire hitch in one piece, attach it to a transmission jack. If you don't have one, a regular floor jack with a random assortment of clamps, straps and boards can function the same way. That way you're only working on the bolts and not trying to support the hitch weight at the same time.

-rus-

 

[MikePA]

On what????

Good question!

My pickup truck and the hitch is the one piece kind that has 4 bolts on each side.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do lots of hitch's, maybe 10 per year. What I did was take a 2x2 piece of steel or you could use a ball mount, and welded on a 3/4" diameter bolt. I then take the jack pad off my floor jack, slide the bolt though the hole, and hand tighten a washer and nut. Then put the hitch on the bar and jack it up into place.

Chris

 

[kevinj]

Good question!

My pickup truck and the hitch is the one piece kind that has 4 bolts on each side.

Well, if it is a simple pickem-truck bolt on then any jack, straps around the frame etc will work.

I changed mine with an air impact by laying on the creeper with my knees holding the hitch up tight while I pulled the last two bolts.

Reversed to install.

Diamonds idea would be real slick if you do a lot of them:thumbsup:

 

[jayste]

Well, if it is a simple pickem-truck bolt on then any jack, straps around the frame etc will work.

I changed mine with an air impact by laying on the creeper with my knees holding the hitch up tight while I pulled the last two bolts.

Reversed to install.

Diamonds idea would be real slick if you do a lot of them:thumbsup:

Same here. Bought mine to fit my truck and bolted it on. Used the "hold it up with your knees/ contorsionist(sp?) method"!:laughing: If I put on 10 or more per year as Chris does I'd incorporate his handy dandy floor jack method.:thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well, if it is a simple pickem-truck bolt on then any jack, straps around the frame etc will work.

I changed mine with an air impact by laying on the creeper with my knees holding the hitch up tight while I pulled the last two bolts.

Reversed to install.

Diamonds idea would be real slick if you do a lot of them:thumbsup:

I have done them the way you are talking about a few times and for Class III hitches its ok but when you get into Class V hitches like the Titan they weigh about 2 to 3 times more.

Chris

 

[MikePA]

I have done them the way you are talking about a few times and for Class III hitches its ok but when you get into Class V hitches like the Titan they weigh about 2 to 3 times more.

The shipping weight on this one was 61 pounds. Straps and knees should work.

 

[wkpoor]

I did my Class V Titan the contortionists way and a little help from my wife. Worked OK for a one time deal. Would have been way easier but one bolt wouldn't line up on the Titan so I fought it up and down several times while I reamed out that one hole.
If I had it to do again I would have had my hitch custom made. The Titan is a little heavier but not really all that much when you get right down to it from the factory unit. Factory hitch was constructed identical to the Titan with one size down on tubing but same size flat stock on ends. Fab shop said they would have doubled plate size, increased tube wall thickness, and and picked up the side on the frame instead of the bottom. All for the same price I paid. I would have had to paint it though.

 

[mojoinco]

Mike, I did the Titan using the knees/floor jack method.

Diamondpilots method will work by just removing the ball from a ball carrier and a using a bolt. Nice.

I believe you have the same truck as I do. The mounting instructions were not completely accurate for the Titan, but didn't take too much to figure out. The lower models made by this company (3 or 4 brands) may have similar errors. The Titan is a LOT heavier than the GM hitch (which isn't a class V, nor does the Titan attach to the middle of the bumper). The factory GM hitch is a toy compared to the Titan.

You will need the after market electric plug and special bracket for it, as the standard GM version twists into a GM unique bracket on the factory hitch. The wiring harness side of the connector is the same as used by Ford and Nissan too, and is not too hard to find. The special bracket is a little larger than the standard 7 pole after market bracket. You can modify a new connector to fit the standard 7 pole bracket, but why not order the correct one for about the same money?

Southwest wheel offers a tractorbynet 5% discount, and etrailers offers a lowest price match. Both are easy to work with.

 

[wkpoor]

Titan is a LOT heavier than the GM hitch (which isn't a class V, nor does the Titan attach to the middle of the bumper). The factory GM hitch is a toy compared to the Titan.

If you are comparing the new style that connect to the bumper also than yes it the Titan is alot heavier. However 10yrs ago and the one supplied with my van attaches exactly like the Titan and was constructed very similar. Only diff is the tubing is upsized 1/2" to accept 2 1/2 receiver. Thats about the only real difference. However the plate that caps the ends and bolts to the truck on the Titan is flat steel. The OEM Valley rolled the angled edge all the way about 20" worth to give that flat steel rigidity. I would have liked to see that on the Titan.
IMO they tried to get fancy with the new hitches (ones that tie to the bumper also) so they were somewhat hidden. The older tougher ones just hung down in the open air. Another case of form before function.

 

[Kaliburz]

When I put the hitch on my van, I used a forklift to hold it.... doesn't help does it.

I think the above mentioned straps and jack method work fine. Also wedging it in place w/ a block of wood also works.