sixstringdave
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Ok everyone. I got my Curt MFG. hitch reciever all installed and i figured i would share.
First you need to jack the truck up and chock the front wheels and throw a couple of jack stands under it. Safety first:top: Use your head and make sure the truck is solid on jackstands. And that the truck wont roll or shift off the damn things
Next, unbolt the X-brace and remove it completely from the truck. Set it aside along with the bolts that hold it on.
Now loosen the bolts on the bumper brackets. They basically hold the bumper onto the truck. You want to remove the foward(towards the front of the truck) bolt and the bolt below that(as you look at the bracket) But leave all the rest of the bolts in place.
You want to make sure and loosen all the bolts enough to get the brackets to separate from the frame. The hitch receiver mounts in between the frame and the bumper brackets.
Push the receiver up in between the brackets and frame. I had to use my legs to lift the other side as i lifted one end up with my arms. It weighs about 40lbs. so its not heavy. Just make sure and line it up IN BETWEEN the brackets and the frame. Once you have it there use the bolts you removed from the brackets to hold it into place. Then you'll have to remove the rear most bolts in order to install the steel spacers.
In this next pic, you will see the receiver in between the brackets and frame. And you will also see the steel spacers provided in the kit you must use. (the bolts on the right side in the pic)
Now you need to mount the X-brace back up. You'll have to use 2 of the new bolts in the kit to secure the brace. The two rear-most factory bolts that hold the brace on will be replaced by new ones. And then you will use the 2 other new bolts in the kit to help secure the receiver. I left ALL the bolts loose until i had all of them in and double checked to make sure everything was all good.
Once i knew it was all good, i tightened all the bolts down using an impact gun. The kit instructions say to tighten it all down the around 65 foot lbs. But i banged them all down real tight using my gun.
Well, i suppose that is it. Pretty easy. And somewhat fun. Rememeber to be safe when getting under your truck. Use common sense! Make sure it is solid, up on a good set of jackstands!
Enjoy!
First you need to jack the truck up and chock the front wheels and throw a couple of jack stands under it. Safety first:top: Use your head and make sure the truck is solid on jackstands. And that the truck wont roll or shift off the damn things
Next, unbolt the X-brace and remove it completely from the truck. Set it aside along with the bolts that hold it on.
Now loosen the bolts on the bumper brackets. They basically hold the bumper onto the truck. You want to remove the foward(towards the front of the truck) bolt and the bolt below that(as you look at the bracket) But leave all the rest of the bolts in place.
You want to make sure and loosen all the bolts enough to get the brackets to separate from the frame. The hitch receiver mounts in between the frame and the bumper brackets.
Push the receiver up in between the brackets and frame. I had to use my legs to lift the other side as i lifted one end up with my arms. It weighs about 40lbs. so its not heavy. Just make sure and line it up IN BETWEEN the brackets and the frame. Once you have it there use the bolts you removed from the brackets to hold it into place. Then you'll have to remove the rear most bolts in order to install the steel spacers.
In this next pic, you will see the receiver in between the brackets and frame. And you will also see the steel spacers provided in the kit you must use. (the bolts on the right side in the pic)
Now you need to mount the X-brace back up. You'll have to use 2 of the new bolts in the kit to secure the brace. The two rear-most factory bolts that hold the brace on will be replaced by new ones. And then you will use the 2 other new bolts in the kit to help secure the receiver. I left ALL the bolts loose until i had all of them in and double checked to make sure everything was all good.
Once i knew it was all good, i tightened all the bolts down using an impact gun. The kit instructions say to tighten it all down the around 65 foot lbs. But i banged them all down real tight using my gun.
Well, i suppose that is it. Pretty easy. And somewhat fun. Rememeber to be safe when getting under your truck. Use common sense! Make sure it is solid, up on a good set of jackstands!
Enjoy!
