Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

[scipper77]

I need a hitch on our '08 Nissan Quest. The reese kit is a bolt on kit (or so it says). It's $50 for Pep boys to install plus another $25-75 to install the wiring.

My question is are these bolt on kits truly bolt on, or will I have to drill holes in the frame, drop the exhaust etc... to get it on?

I I have to do any modification I'd likely pay the $50.

Also there is a wiring kit. How bad are these to install?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I'd personally pay to get it done by someone who was trained and installed at least a few others. It's too important an item for me to trust my ham-fisted talents on. But maybe you're up to it! Good Luck!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

Most of them are installable with no drilling. Personally I'd rather do it myself than trust it to some kid at pep boys.

$25 to $75 for the wiring had better include the kit. Most of them just require removing a taillight - unplugging a connector and replugging the new harness in the middle.

 

[Scottimus]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I bought a bolt on hitch for my Sienna. The instructions said 30 minutes, might have to lower the spare tire and exhaust for room to install, didn't need to do either and it went together in under 20 minutes. It just bolted into the holes where the tow hooks were...

 

[Fastway]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

If your getting a class III hitch it does bolt up without drilling, you do have to loosen the muffler bracket and push the exhaust out of the way to get it in place but thats easy enough. Just torque the bolts to spec.

If they are installing a wiring kit I believe your vehicle accepst a T-connect but it has like 4 connections and you need to remove some interior trim to access them. You also may need to upgrade a fuse under the hood which usually comes with the kit. $25 - $75 is not bad if it includes the wiring kit.

I do agree with oldjeep, I would feel better knowing that I installed it properly.

 

[insearch]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I would suggest you get the best hitch you can find installed by the most knowledgeable person available

It's not amusing to watch your rig pass you on a down grade

 

[paparoof]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I agree completely with Insearch's comment about not wanting to watch your rig pass you... that's why I prefer to do things myself. Then I KNOW whether the job was done right or not.

I've bought 2 bolt-on hitches from etrailer.com, and been very pleased each time. They say yours does not require drilling but does require lowering your exhaust. In my most recent case "lowering the exhaust" meant pulling two rubber hangers off the muffler - not a big deal at all.

Check this page - lower right-hand corner is a link to instructional PDF:
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Nissan/Quest/2008/75159.html?vehicleid=20085496
It's even free shipping!

If you're even a little bit mechanically inclined, it's a really easy job.

The biggest problem I had recently was that the little rubber plugs - that are supposed to protect the holes in the frame where the hitch bolts go - were missing on my car. So the holes were full of rust and crap and I couldn't get the bolts started. Spraying WD-40/PB Blaster didn't help, wire brushing didn't help. Had to go to Sears and buy a tap and die set and re-cut the bolt holes. Worked like a charm, the hitch is installed and solid as a rock, and now I own a tap and die set! But all that messing around took an entire evening.

My real advice would be to go lie under the rear end of your car and check out the holes to see how clean they are. If they're full of rust and icky stuff, it'll be worth the $50 to have it installed for you just to save the time and hassle of cleaning them out. If they're clean and purdy, do it yourself.

 

[phoenixisrizen]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I need a hitch on our '08 Nissan Quest. The reese kit is a bolt on kit (or so it says). It's $50 for Pep boys to install plus another $25-75 to install the wiring.

My question is are these bolt on kits truly bolt on, or will I have to drill holes in the frame, drop the exhaust etc... to get it on?

I I have to do any modification I'd likely pay the $50.

Also there is a wiring kit. How bad are these to install?

I think there is a rebate going on until the 4th of July for hitch installation at Pep Boys. I think there is up to a $49.00 rebate. Most of the hitches are truly bolt on, but in some instances you may need to drop the spare tire, or maybe notch a valence or something. Wiring is more of a PITA in my opinion.

That being said, I prefer to do things myself, as stated above, that way you know they are done right.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

Did more online researching and the hitch install looks like it's about as hard as rotating your tires. Wiring looks a little more PITA but not really difficult (famous last words).

What are the differences between the different hitches like hidden hitch, draw tite, rigid??? If any of these have a lower profile (in this case I mean more ground clearance) that's what I want as the Quest is pretty low to the ground for a mini-van.

 

[jbing81]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I would install it myself.

I have friends who work at places like pep boys, most of them have little to no training at all... They are likely to read the supplied instructions in the same maner as you would...

I trust myself, I do the work myself

 

[old heap]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

the box or instructions will have a no drill sybol its full bolt on just pay to get the wiring done i work at pepboys get these questions all the time long as the no drill pic is there youre good on youre own just make sure they gave you the right hitch

 

[scipper77]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I'm most likely going to install myself.

A for the different hitch brands it would seem that the hidden hitch brand has the low profile I want but uses an anti rust paint that I think means they are too cheap to powder coat and will rust.

Draw tite and reese are the "BIG" players and likely well worth the $$.

Any advice on what brand to order??? If rust wasn't an issue I'd likely go with the hidden hitch, but it's so hard to find any reviews on these things from someone who isn't trying to sell me one.

EDIT// Just found this article http://ezinearticles.com/?Dont-Fight-Over-Getting-a-Draw-Tite-or-a-Hidden-Hitch&id=570605

 

[insearch]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I have had a draw-tite since 2001, except for some fade it is the same hitch I bought 10 years ago

I launch in Salt water

 

[paparoof]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

The two I've done were both Hidden Hitch and both ordered from etrailer.com. They were both sent with free shipping, fit perfectly and worked great. Absolutely zero complaints from me. edit: just re-read your post and see your concern about rust. I sold the first car within a year and I this latest one is also under a year old, so I can't comment about the rust other than to say "so far so good".

Just shop around for price, pay attention to the specifications so you're comparing apples to apples and you'll be fine.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

Back in the "good old days" in England I used to make and install my own hitches. They were without a doubt built with "overkill" and attached the same way to be certain.
Won't do it now though !!!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I'd personally pay to get it done by someone who was trained and installed at least a few others. It's too important an item for me to trust my ham-fisted talents on. But maybe you're up to it! Good Luck!

I'd say a high school kid working at pep boys with almost no training probably doesn't count... When it all goes belly up they aren't the ones that get to figure out how to handle a trailer passing the vehicle!

 

[Scottimus]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

The class III hitch I purchased and easily installed was from Curt Manufacturing. Nice simple look, fairly hidden under my vehichle, lifetime warranty for original purchaser...

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

Throw me into the Hidden Hitch brand purchased from eTrailer.com. Great service at that place, good prices and easy install. They actually had a video of the hitch being installed on my Equinox, which I watched briefly before I installed.

As to the wiring, like has been said, your car probably just has a little plug that you stick the wiring harness into, and then run the ground wire to a bolt somewhere back there.

Also, my boat trailer has brakes and an electronic override, so I had to pop off a tail light and run a 5th wire to the reverse lights...but that was easy as well.

 

[geeco1]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I have installed several hitches myself and would not pay for someone to do it. I would suggest that you have another person help you as it can be difficult to hold up the hitch while trying to get the bolts started. It would be a shame if it slipped and popped you in the head

 

[mtp9302]

Re: Opinoins on installing my own hitch.

I did my own 1999 Suburban; not nearly the same vehicle, I know, but I've got a few relevant comments.

I also bought my hitch from eTrailer like so many have said, and they were fantastic. Great product, great price, fast delivery, zero complaints. I'd buy from them again in a heartbeat.

On my truck, I did have to open up the existing holes (no problem) and fish the carriage bolts into the frame rails and down the holes. This is not the kind of fishing that was fun; I don't think I've ever sworn so much in my life. Very frustrating. If the hitch bolts thread into the frame rails, you can definitely do it yourself. I'm really happy with how it turned out, but if you told me that I could have it installed for $50 when I was on my back trying to fish those bolts in I would have give you $50.

I helped a friend remove his hitch from a 2007 Saturn Relay minivan (he had to take it off to return the vehicle at the end of the lease), and the wiring was butt-spliced into the harness for the tailights. He actually had his connector installed on the inside of the vehicle and just ran it out underneath the liftgate when towing. The foam seal around the liftgate had enough give that it wouldn't crimp the wires, and his connector looked brand new when he took it off. He had an RV dealer install it this way, and he was very happy with it.