Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch Receiver with Drawbar - Custom Fit - Class II - 1-1/4"

Video Transcript for Trailer Hitch Installation - 2011 Jeep Compass

Today on this 2011 Jeep Compass, were gonna install part number 36423 from Draw-Tite. This will also apply to part number 90156 from the Hidden Hitch.This is what the hitch looks like once installed in the vehicle. Next, well give you some measurements that will help you out in selecting some accessories. From the top of the receiver opening down to the ground is going to be 15 inches and from the center of the hitch pinhole to the outside edge of the bumper is going to be 5 inches. Alright, now were going to show you how the hitch is installed.On the 2011 vehicle, we do have to do some trimming on the bumper face shift. So well start doing that.

First thing were gonna do is find our center mark on our bumper face shift. Were gonna measure from the center of the plastic rivet over and thats gonna 6 5/8 inches. Thats whats called out in the instructions. Well double check ourselves from both side. And on each side of the mark were gonna measure out 1 inches.

Now those are our base marks. Now, from this edge going straight up, we need to go back 2 inches. So you need a square to figure it out. From our outside marks, well measure up 2 inches. On the other side well do the same thing again.

Then well make a line going across. Now it gives us a straight line to match our bottom line. And then you square the straight edge where you make the lines to cutout. With our lines in place, we can go ahead and cut it out. And then well score across the top here with a knife then we can bend it and break in half.Now next thing were gonna do is lower the exhaust to make it a little easier to put the hitch up into place.

Lets put a strap around the exhaust to keep it controlled as we lower it down. This is our strap right here.First off, were gonna lower the exhaust and get it out of the way for some working room. Were gonna spray the exhaust hanger with some lubricant and then remove it to just get it out of the way.Alright, at this point its a good idea to get an extra set of hands and then we can test the hitch in place and test a cutout. The mounting points of the forward hitch are right here and here. The holes go through all the way through the frame and our hitch mounts to the inside of the frame. And our bolts will install from the outside like this. We got the two bolts going towards the front, now well go ahead and push our hitch up, and see how much more we need to cut if any. As you can see, were pushing up the bumper fish a little bit. Well cut out a half inch and well check it again. We have cut out another 5/8 of an inch higher to get the clearance that we wanted. Now well go ahead and push the hitch up to place and go ahead, and run the second bolt in. This is gonna be the bolt thats close to the bumper. Now we may be in a little bit of a bind so we have to get a starter first and kinda thread it in to help work it into place. For a forward bolt well get the conical tooth washer and the rear bolt well get the lock washer and then install the nut.At this point, we got our hardware installed. Well go ahead and hand tight them and torque them down as specified in the instructions. At this point, well go ahead and reinstall the exhaust.So with that, were finished with our install. And there you have it for part number 36423 from Draw-Tite.