Trailer Hitch Installation, Dodge Caravan - etrailer.com

http://www.etrailer.com/tv-hitch_install_dodge_caravan_2004.aspx

Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
The way this hitch attaches is it uses two bolts on each side. It uses this bolt here and this bolt here, what happens is that this bolt will actually get replaced by a new stud and the hitch will reuse this bolt here. On the drivers side uses these two bolts also, what these bolts do is connect to the bumper bracket going to the bumper.

Also before getting started, one good idea is to go ahead on these bolts here is to spray them on the inside. What happens is that these bolts are pretty much self threading from the factory when you take them out sometimes they bind up and they get caught. Then you end up stripping the bolt and worse case you get them out half way and they break.

We'll start out with the back bolt first because we don't want the bracket on the inside to move around while we re-install the the stud. This stud will thread in its place, don't worry about getting it super tight because the bolt will tighten down with the final torque when we're done with the hitch. Now lets move on to the other side. Sometimes you get down so far and it stops. Go ahead and run it back in up and down a few times, that will help save the bolt too. You see they don't always go in perfect so sometimes you might want to use some vise grips just to get it past the friction points, and it just needs to meet the bottom.

Now that we have the back studs in here that will keep the plate from moving and we'll go ahead and take the last two bolts off.
Hitch Installation

Now that we have the hitch loosely installed, i just used a nut and a plate to hold it in place to put enough flexibility to move the hitch around to put the last bolt in here, we'll come back and put the block washer in later. Let's go ahead hold the hitch up and install it. Now that we have the rear bolts in, now we can go change our fasteners to block washers. Now that we have our hitch centered, we'll go ahead and tighten it down.
After Installation

Now that we have our hitch installed, we need to make sure we check for clearance and see how it looks centered on the vehicle. One or two things that come to mind is that sometimes you see the plastic resting on the hitch. Most of the time it will deflect this far and that will be it. It can actually touch it or be loose, it just depends on the bumper, some sag lower than others. Generally if it pushes against here that's okay. That concludes the installation of this hitch.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• trailer
• hitch
• installation
• install
• draw-tite
• hidden
• reese
• dodge
• caravan
• etrailer.com

[goodnamesareallgone1]

thnx, will help a lot when I do it

[fredpatrick]

Thanks, this is great. Thanks for showing me how easy it is.