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

Video Transcript for Trailer Hitch Installation - 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Draw-Tite

Today on our 2000 Jeep Cherokee, were gonna install a Draw-TIte Hitch part number 63260. Here are a couple of measurements that will assist you in selecting accessories for your new hitch. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost part of the bumper 3 inches. From the top of the receiver tube to the ground is 18 inches. This will assist you in selecting accessories such as a draw bar, a bike rack or a cargo carrier. Now lets go ahead with the installation.

Our first step, were gonna clean up the weld nuts here on the passenger side just above the tail pipe. The rear two most weld nuts will be the ones were gonna clean out. To clean them out, well use a little spray lubricant, spray it down the threads and then Im gonna take a -inch nylon tube brush part number 814092 and really work it in the threads to clean out all the rust, debris and build up. Were gonna make sure we clean this out thoroughly before we try and install the new hardware. After you get the weld nuts thoroughly cleaned out, I recommend you take a new bolt from the hardware and go ahead and make sure you can thread it in and out by hand nice and easily.

Now, with both attachment points are thoroughly cleaned out, we need to go ahead and remove the rear tailpipe hold-down. This bolt tends to be difficult as dirt and debris will build up over time inside of the frame rail causing it to be difficult to remove. Be careful when removing it not to break it off. To assist me in holding the weld nut plate in the frame, Im gonna go ahead and install one of my fasteners and just snug it up to hold the plate in place while we remove the rear exhaust hanger bolt. With the exhaust hanger attachment point removed, we can now move over to the driver side and start installing our hardware into the frame.

Now starting from our rear attachment point moving forward, were gonna have three here on the driver side. Well use the rear two most attachments holes that are already in the frame and the forward attachment hole will be the smaller round one next to the larger access hole. To pull our hardware into position, well start from the front, go up through the attachment point and out the end of the frame. Now for our forward attachment point, well be using an inch and 1 -inch x 2-inch block and a 2-inch carriage bolt. We do not want the block and the carriage bolt to come together until were up inside of the frame.

So we slide the block onto our pole wire and then thread on our carriage bolt. Now Im gonna go ahead and take the block and slide it into the frame first. Now with the block into the frame, well feed the bolt in. Once we have them both into the end of the frame, well go ahead and pull into position. Once our attachment point is in position, well go ahead and remove the pull wire and go to the center attachment point.Well be using the same block and bolt combination for our center attachment point. Now for our rearmost attachment point, well be using a 1-inch x 1 -inch block and a 2-inch bolt.Since we can access this attachment point from outside the frame channel, well just go ahead and set them in position. Now with our three attachment points prepared and ready on the driver side and the three attachment points cleaned out and ready on the passenger side, well go ahead and remove the bolt we installed earlier to hold the nut plate. Be as careful as possible not to disturb the nut plate as it will need to line up with the holes in the frame so that we can install our hitch. With our bolt removed, were now ready to go ahead and put our hitch in place. Its a good time to get an extra set of hands to help you hold the hitch while you install your hardware. For our forward two attachment points on both sides, well be using a conical tooth washer with the teeth of the washer facing the hitch. On the passenger side well be using the 2-inch bolts and on the driver side well be using the -inch nut. For our rear attachment point on the passenger side, well use a 2-inch bolt with a -inch washer and -inch split lock washer. Then on the driver side, well again use the -inch washer and split lock washer with a -inch nut. Well just install our fasteners finger tight until we get them all in place. Once we get all our fasteners in place, well go ahead tighten them down. Now we have all our fasteners tightened down, well go ahead and torque to specifications as indicated in the instructions. With all our fasteners torqued to specifications, thatll complete the install of our Draw-Tite Hitch part number 63260 on our 2000 Jeep Cherokee.