Trailer Hitch Installation - 2012 Honda Odyssey - Curt

Installation of a Trailer Hitch on a 2012 Honda Odyssey

Today on our 2012 Honda Odyssey, were going to install the Curt Hitch, part number C12031. This is what the hitch will look like once its installed. Heres a couple of measurements that will assist you in selecting accessories for your new hitch such as a draw bar, a bike rack, or cargo carrier. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost point of the bumper is 4 inches. From the top of the receiver tube to the ground is 12 3/4 inches. Now, lets go ahead with the installation.

Our first step is actually to remove the underbody trim panel here on the driver side. This will get removed and will not be reinstalled. To remove the underbody trim panel, we'll simply get inside the plastic push pin and pry out the center piece. Once we get the center piece pried out, we can take a flat bladed screwdriver or if you have available, a trim panel tool to remove the fastener. Now, with our three plastic fasteners removed, weve got one bolt that also needs to be removed.

With the trim panel removed and set aside, we now move over to the passenger side so that we can go ahead and lower the exhaust. To lower the exhaust, we need to remove the two rear tail pipe hangers. Easiest way to remove these hangers is take a little spray lubricant, and spray down the metal portion of the hanger, and then well remove the rubber isolator that hangs in-between. As you can see, this will give us additional working room so that we can get to the weld nuts above the exhaust. The attachment points again will be the weld nuts in the frame.

The forward fastener here on the driver side will be a block and bolt that well fish wire into the position. Each one of our weld nuts in the frame will need to be cleaned out before we install our hardware. To do this, we use a little spray lubricant and a 1/2 inch nylon tube brush, part number 814092, clean out the threads of the weld nuts. Theres the rear attachment point on the driver side, were going to go ahead and repeat the same process for the rest of the attachment points. Now, before we go ahead and put our hitch in position, were going to install the forward fastener.

Well be using the supplied block and carriage bolt, along with the supplied pole wire. Well take our pole wire, feed it through the forward attachment out the access hole. Now with our fish wire in position, well then slide the block on and then thread on the bolt. Then well feed our block up into the frame through the access hole and then our bolt. Once we have both into the frame, well go ahead and pull them into position. Im going to leave my pole wire on at this time as it will make it easier for you to feed it through the hitch as we install it and not push our hardware back up into the frame. Now is a good opportunity to get a second set of hands to help you hold the hitch in place while you install your fasteners. To secure our fasteners well be using the 12mm bolt and conical tooth washer that are supplied in our install kit. Now with the side fasteners installed, we'll go ahead and remove the pole wire and then install our 7/16 plunge nut. Now with all our fasteners in place, we'll go ahead and tighten them down. Now with all our fasteners tightened down, we'll go ahead and torque to specifications as indicated in the instructions. All right, with all our fasteners torque to specifications, well go ahead and reinstall the exhaust. All right, with the exhaust reinstalled, that will complete the install of our Curt Hitch part number C12031 on our 2012 Honda Odyssey.