Today on our 2009 Kia Sportage, well be installing Curt Hitch, part number 13526. Before beginning our installation, here are a few measurements to help you with selecting accessories. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost part of the bumper is 6 inches. And from the top of the receiver to the ground is 12 inches. Now, to begin our installation, well need to remove the exhaust hangers and lower the exhaust to make it easier to install our hitch. Well also need to remove they tow hook from the passenger side here.
Well undo the four bolts on the bottom and the one up here on the outside of the frame. After removing the tow hook, well need to remove the one bolt here towards the rear of the vehicle. Weve now exposed our three mounting points on the passenger side. Well move over to the driver side where well remove the two bolts here, exposing the two mounting points. This well nut here will be our third mounting point.
Now because it's been exposed to the elements, well need to clean it out. Well use a half-inch nylon tool brush, part number, 814092 and a rust penetrate to clean the threads. We can then take one of the bolts and run it into the threads to make sure that the bolt will start when we're installing our hitch. Now, we're ready to raise our hitch into position. Itll be a good idea to get an extra set of hands to hold the hitch while we install our hardware.
Well be using the M-10 by 125 by 35 hex bolt. And the 3/8ths inch inaudible tooth washer. With the teeth of the washer facing the hitch. Now, when we place our hitch into position well need to go up from the driver side over the exhaust tailpipe. On the passenger side, well move over the exhaust tailpipe and around the bumper fascia.
We can then begin installing our hardware. Now, with all our hardware loosely installed, we can go ahead and tighten it down and tort it to specification as indicated in the instructions. With all our hardware torte to specification, we can reinstall our exhaust hangers, which will complete our install of the part number, 13526 from Curt on our 2009 Kia Sportage.
