Trailer Hitch installed!!!

[nfpgasmask]

Yup, Tone's hitch is fantastic, but it is no fun to install!

Bart

I just finished installing Tone's hitch on mine and it turned out great. KUDOS Tone.

[tom4bren]

It was labor intensive but actually not that difficult. The only problem I had was when I removed the tail skirt, I broke 2 of the mounting flanges. Thank God for PC-7. If I hadn't told you nobody would have ever known.

It did take longer than the 4 hours indicated but that was because 1) I'm slow. 2) My drill with the 1/2 inch chuck is cordless and the battery was dead. 3) I'm slow. 4) My Brother-in-law helped & he's slow-er

[nfpgasmask]

For me, it was the side cladding torque screws that were a whore to get off. Other than that, yeah, just a little labor intensive, but that is fine with me.

Its a great, solid hitch, and it looks sweet too.

Bart

It was labor intensive but actually not that difficult. The only problem I had was when I removed the tail skirt, I broke 2 of the mounting flanges. Thank God for PC-7. If I hadn't told you nobody would have ever known.

It did take longer than the 4 hours indicated but that was because 1) I'm slow. 2) My drill with the 1/2 inch chuck is cordless and the battery was dead. 3) I'm slow. 4) My Brother-in-law helped & he's slow-er

[tom4bren]

those "the side cladding torque screws" you mentioned were the ones that went through tail skirt flanges I broke off on the passenger side.

[tom4bren]

BTW - finished product. SWEET!

[cyronman]

I got my rear hitch step bar thing today, and I'll be getting a bike rack next week, now all I need is the hitch!

So, to double check...IS IT or is it NOT necessary to remove the cladding OR cut it to install the Curt (non-Tone) hitch?
I've been leaning in it's favor a little but if the install work is similar, I might just go for Tone's.

Thanks!

[Ascinder]

Install is fairly similar for both. I have the Curt and what you have to do regarding the cladding is remove several of the rear cladding torx screws and pull on the cladding to get a tool in there if I remember correctly in oder to take it off. I also had to take a pair of needle-nose pliers and peel back some metal in the frame mount area in order to be able to fish in the mount bolts for the hitch. You will also need a large power drill to drill the holes for the hitch. I think the shank on the one I used was larger than the standard 3/8" size. It's a good idea to plan on more time than you think it will take. I haven't done any trailer wiring on mine, so I can't help you there.