Draw-Tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

Video Transcript for Trailer Hitch Installation - 2009 Mazda 6

Today we are going to be installing Draw-Tite hitch part number 24832 on a 2009 Mazda 6. OK, we are underneath the vehicle now and we want to go ahead and point out the mounting locations for the trailer hitch. Before we can do that, we actually need to lower the exhaust out of the way. To do that, we need to remove it off of three hangers. We have got one here on the passengers side, one on the drivers side, and then one dead center of the vehicle. To remove the exhaust off of its hangers, it is a good idea to spray the studs down with a spray lubricant like a WD-40. Before I remove the third forward hanger from the vehicle, I want to do two things.

On the Mazda 6 models that have the exhaust trim here at the rear which covers the exhaust tubes, this trim will prevent the exhaust from coming down once I remove it off the hangers. To do that, we want to go ahead and remove these two push pins here holding the fascia to the bottom of the trunk well. You can do so by just taking a basic, flat-bladed screwdriver and just popping the fastener right off. Go ahead and remove the chrome tips that are part of the exhaust trim. To do so there are three screws that need to be removed to allow it to come off. There is one here at the bottom side the second one is at the top of the chrome piece and then the third one is on the outboard side here underneath. When we remove those three, we should be able to get the chrome tip to slide back so that we can get the exhaust down. OK and again, lastly, before I remove the exhaust off of its third hanger, I want to make sure I support the exhaust tube with some kind of a strap or bungee cord, because once you remove the exhaust off this hanger, it will fall, and it could damage your exhaust.

OK, with the exhaust lowered, we can go ahead and point out the two holes that are already located in the vehicle frame for the trailer hitch. You can see just rearward of the stud where I removed the exhaust from, there is an existing hole in this flange. And then right here at the bottom of the frame, toward the rear, we have got an existing hole that we are going to be using as the rearmost attaching point on the bottom of the frame. We are also going to be drilling another mounting hole somewhere in this area right here. And what we are actually going to do is when we get the hitch up in position, it will mark our spot for us, and we can go ahead and drill through. OK, I have got the hitch loosely installed with the vertical bolts. I do want to point out two things. When putting the hitch up, one: you want to make sure that the vertical tab on the hitch is on the rear side of this flange. And two: you want to make sure you take the head of the hex bolt on the forward side and the nut will be here on the rear side.

The instructions state to go ahead and drill this hole to 1-1/8 inches and use that as the access hole to fish not only this bolt into place but the rear one as well. I am actually just going to go ahead and drill it to 1/2 inch, which is the size of the bolt. I went ahead and snugged up the bolts on the vertical tabs to ensure that the hitch does not move when I go ahead and drill out the hole. I am going to go ahead and start with a 1/4-inch pilot bit and then I will enlarge to my 1/2 inch. And we just want to repeat that for the other side as well. I am going to go ahead and enlarge this hole here at the forward side and use it as my access hole to fish the bolts into place. All right, with the access holes enlarged, we can go ahead and fish our bolts into position. We are using the bolt leaders that are provided in the installation kit. It may be necessary to lengthen them a little bit for the rearmost attaching points, if you are finding that the bolt leader is not long enough.. And then we just want to put on the conical-tooth washer and nut in all four locations. And with all the hardware up in place, we can go ahead and torque the bolts down now. You want to check with your directions to verify the appropriate torque rating for each individual bolt. With all the bolts torqued down, our hitch installation is complete. We do want to make sure we put the exhaust back up, as well as any fascia pieces that may have been removed in order to get the hitch up into position. This will conclude the installation of hitch part number 24832 on a 2009 Mazda 6.