I'm mounting a class III Reese hitch that came without hardware. How much trouble am I begging if I rely on the 4 towing hook bolts only as hardware to mount the hitch? Only plan to do light occasional landscape towing/bike rack type stuff. If I really need to do the two other bolts at the front how in the heck do I get the bolts in and through the frame? Any tips to share?

Thanks for any input...

 

The bolts drop down in from the inside of the frame, and they have square type "washers" that are approx 1.5" x 2" that prevent the bolts from spinning while your tightening up the nuts. I've also heard of some aftermarket applications where they use a strip of metal approx. 1.5" x 10" (or so) instead of 4 individual "washers". When i initially took my hitch off, I left the bolt closest to the front of the truck in the frame simply because I didn't want the hassle of trying to put that one back in. I'm sure its not an easy task getting it in place. I would think the metal strip I mentioned above might make it easier to get it in position, but I also thought about untwisting a metal coat hanger and using it as a sort of pair of tongs/chopstick style and use that to drop the bolt in. Good luck either way.

 

I took one off tonight.

4 17mm head bolts and then the ones closest to the front are nuts on studs. The studs are welded to plates slid up in to the frame. Pull them out with a coat hanger easy and put in place by sliding them in from the end of frame. Nothing to it.

Take 10 minutes tops to install. I ripped it off in about 45 seconds with an impact and it hit the shop floor with a loud clang.

:wabbit2:

 

Lucky it didn`t hit your foot!!

 

I wonder if those studs welded to plates are available at the dealer? Sounds like a simple solution compared to getting a bolt in there that may tend to spin when I tighten the nut...

 

I would not tow with just the rear 4 bolts. A bike rack should be fine.
My stock hitch was held on by those bolts plus 4 more (2 on each side) toward the front. Mine had 2 nuts welded to a metal strap that was slid into the frame (the end of the strap reaches to the rear of the frame rails). Then the bolts are threaded into them from below.

Go to or order them from a hitch store. You could make them if you can weld.

 

The bolts for the rear holes are M12x1.25x35mm. There is an access hole in the side of the frame rail to get the nut in place over the hole, but those plates with welded nuts that slide into place sound much easier.