Trailer Hitch Installation - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup

Installation of a Trailer Hitch on a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup

Today on this 2008 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup we are going to be installing Curt hitch part number 13322. We are underneath the vehicle and we are taking a look at the passenger side frame rail. We are going to point out the mounting location for our trailer hitch. Here at the very end of the frame rail we have got an existing bolt. We are going to be removing that bolt and we are going to be using the weld nut in the frame there as our rear most attaching point for the trailer hitch. Then just forward of the spring mount we have got an existing hole in the frame and we are going to be using that as our forward most attaching point. At that location we are going to be using a carriage bolt and block assembly. We just want to merge those two together and lay them inside the frame. 00:38

We have also got two center attaching points that are mounting directly to the bumper. Here at the bottom side there are two existing weld nuts in the bumper. The first thing we want to do is remove the bolts from the end of the frame rail on both the driver and passenger sides. Next we want to go to the center weld nuts on the bottom of the bumper. Since these weld nuts do not have any existing bolts in them there is a good chance that you have got some road grime and corrosion built up in them so it is a good idea to thoroughly clean those out before we attempt to put the hitch up into position. To do that we just want to take a spray lubricant and spray those down and then we just want to take a wire brush and run that into the weld nuts a few times, loosen up that road grime and corrosion that is in there. 01:17

Run the new bolt in and out a time or two just to make sure that we do not have much resistance in there. It may be a good idea to do that for the frame mounted weld nuts as well. Once you have got them all thoroughly cleaned out we can put the hitch up into position. First we are going to hang it by the carriage bolts at the forward most attaching points. We will do that loosely and then we will swing it up into position and attach it to the weld nuts in the bumper. For those weld nuts as well as the ones in the frame we are going to be using new hardware. We are going to be using the new 14 millimeter bolts along with the conical tooth washers. Once we have all of the bolts tightened into position we want to go back through and torque them down. You want to verify the specific torque rating for each of the bolts. Now that we have got our hitch installed we want to give you a couple of dimensions that is going to help make choosing your hitch accessories a little easier. From the top of the receiver tube opening to the ground is going to measure 18-7/ 8 inches and from the center of the pin hole to clear the rear edge of your bumper is going to be approximately 2-1/ 2 inches. This will conclude the installation of Curt hitch part number 13322 on a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup.