Today we are going to install part number 118336 from Tow Ready, and we are going to install this on a 1999 Honda CRV. To begin our install we actually have to get behind the speaker area. That is where the plug is actually attached at. We will just go ahead and pry this off, and then there are three screws that we have to undo to get behind the speaker. Be careful that you do not poke a hole in the speaker. And there is the plug right there, taped to the speaker wires. We will leave that sit there for now. And actually, if you want, you can actually take the speaker off - it might be a little easier to work with. What we do next is go ahead and pull back our carpeting, pull out this hatch, and then we are going to take this little plastic screw out to get back underneath here. All right, next we are going to route our cable from inside here down here. And it is all sheet metal behind here. So really we are going to take this panel loose and pull it away from it and run the cable between the metal and the plastic. And that means taking off this, this threshold, and pulling this back out so we can get some working room. First, we will take off this tie-down bracket - give us some working room there. And you can see we have got to take this thing off to get some more working room. So that means we have got to clean off this area here to get underneath here to take out our threshold. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/7/2008 4:47:54 PM
This is part number TH918 from Thule. This is the T2 Bike Add-on Bike Carrier. It is an add-on for a T2 Bicycle Rack which allows you to convert it from a two-bicycle rack up to a four-bike rack. It requires minimal assembly, just like the original rack does, the T2. Just tighten down the clamps that hold the crossbar and install the wheel mounts, and that is all it takes. The carrier does bolt onto the end of your existing T2 Bicycle Rack, and we will go ahead and do that and show you how it looks. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/7/2008 3:48:24 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 63120. This is the two-bike, hitch-mounted, folding rack with frame-mount cradles for 1-1/4 inch hitch. This is from Tow-Ready. This rack carries up to two bikes and works with many alternative and larger tube-frame bikes. However, womens bikes may require an adapter. It has heavy-duty, Velcro, straps which secure the bikes to the carrier, and a powder coated finish to resist corrosion and rust. It has rubberized pads to protect the finish on the bikes as you load them on. And the bike rack tilts forward to allow access to the rear of the vehicle. And also, the shank rises for better ground clearance. It fits 1-1/4 inch hitches only, and the maximum weight on the rack cannot exceed 66 pounds. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/7/2008 3:42:59 PM
This is part number S80715 from Swagman. This is their Bare Bones multi-tool. This is a great little multi-tool to keep in your seat bag, great for any little emergencies or for when you need to make a little adjustment on your bike. It comes complete with chain tool, various Allen keys. We have got numbers 2-, 2.5-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 8-mm hex keys. It also comes with a number-2 Phillips and and flat screwdrivers. And it also comes with an 8-, 9- and 10-mm open wrench. It even comes with a tire lever, a spoke wrench, and also - which you really do not see often - it even comes with eyeglass screwdrivers, Phillips and slotted. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/7/2008 3:38:37 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S80976. This is the Swagman Optimist Seat Bag. We will go ahead and open it up, and then we will go ahead and install it on a bike and show you how it looks. First we will show you how it mounts up. Again, this one part here snaps around your seat post, and it has a little rubber strap to tighten it down. And then it has this clip right here. This goes on the rails on the bottom of your seat. Just kind of push the one side and then snap it up into position, too. It comes with two zippers, one for each side, so you can split it open. And you have got all kinds of room. You can put in a small multi-tool in there I have room for an inner tube, maybe a cell phone. And all your stuff is secure and ready to go. You do not have to worry about keeping that stuff on your person as you go riding. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/7/2008 3:34:52 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S64925 from Swagman. This is their three-bike XP rack. We have it shown here on a 1-1/4 inch receiver hitch and it is a Class I. On Class I receiver hitches, this bike rack is rated for only two bicycles, but if you have a Class II receiver hitch, you can put three bicycles on it. Also, if you need more capacity, this bicycle rack is also available in a two-inch variety, too, and that part number is S64950. We will start from the bottom and work our way up. As you can see here, we have installed a Class I receiver and use a conventional hitch pin and clip assembly. And also what is nice about it is that the shank here actually comes up about another 1-1/4 inches so that gives you a little bit of additional clearance from the bottom to the ground. Every little bit helps in a low-riding vehicle. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/6/2008 3:17:12 AM
This Tow Ready 4 way flat trailer connector is hardwired to the vehicle to provide a trailer connector powering the running lights, turn signals and brake lights on a trailer. This demonstration will show exactly what you will need to do to install the flat four pole trailer connector on a 2000 Dodge Neon. Even if you do not have a Neon the video will provide you with a better idea what will be required for vehicles where the 18002 flat four pole is recommended. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/6/2008 4:26:08 PM
Today were going to talk about the two main kinds of brake controllers, the proportional and the time delay. The two we have here are the Journey HD and the Draw-Tite Activator II. These are what you call the time delay brake controllers. Basically what happens is that when you hit the brakes, they come on at a certain speed that you set on the brake controller. Like on this one here, we have a sync switch here that controls how fast it comes on and then this knob here controls how much power it takes to stop the trailer. Basically you hit your foot brake and it comes on at the rate you determine and at how much power youve set aside for it, and then it stays there until you completely let off the brake. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/6/2008 3:40:51 PM
Today we are going to cover part number TL29BK from Optronics. What we have here is the standard trailer light kit, and it comes complete with a 25-foot harness. We will go ahead and cover the components of this kit and show you where the parts go. First we will cover some of the major components. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/3/2008 5:29:26 PM
Today we are going to show you part number TH950 from Thule. This is Thules Parkway Zip Stick. This is an anti-sway device for Thule Parkway bicycle racks only. As you can see here we have a part that attaches to your Parkway bicycle rack. It comes with all necessary mounting hardware and it comes with the straps needed to tie down your bikes so they do not sway on your bicycle rack. It is constructed of ABS plastic and stainless steel tubing. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/3/2008 5:17:21 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S80970-71 this is from Swagman. This is a front cargo, retro bike basket, and it comes complete with a deluxe, quick-release bracket. The bike basket will mount on virtually any bike and is a perfect complement to like a cruiser bike or any type of urban bike. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/3/2008 4:59:50 PM
Today we are going to install part number 75374 from Draw-Tite on our Ford Econoline van, the E250. And this also applies to part number 70755 from Hidden Hitch. To show you where the hitch installs out on the frame, it uses these two holes toward the end of the frame, here. And then this hole right here on this part of the frame. It is identical on both sides. And for clarity, we did take down the spare tire. It is not a necessity, but it tends to make things a little easier to work around in. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/3/2008 4:55:16 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S65150 from Swagman. This is their Aero Gripper. What this part does is it adds to your existing roof rack. The roof rack has to have the rails that go from front to rear, and this provides a crossbar for them. There is minimal install time on this. Basically, you set the Aero Gripper on top of your roof rack, adjust the feet to match your rack, and then adjust the bar that goes across so it is even on both sides. And then install some simple, plastic stops to keep them from moving after that. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/3/2008 4:50:18 PM
Today we are going to show you part number A32022 from SportRack. This is a SportRack hitch and cable lock. Both of these locks are keyed alike. This hitch and cable lock combination will work on a variety of different bicycle racks from SportRack, and we will list them here. The first one is the A30901. This one is the first one we will show off the demonstration with. Another bicycle rack will be the A30403, A30404 and also part number A30404-TW200. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/2/2008 5:39:57 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S64905. This is a three-bike rack for 1-1/4 inch trailer hitches from Swagman. This is the XP. The superior solid steel construction provides lasting toughness and carries up to three bikes. The cushioned cradles on the arm rotate to keep the wheels level to the ground, providing improved ground clearance. Additionally, the cradles help provide a scratch-free ride for bikes by using thick, Kraton vinyl cushioning with large grooves, which prevent bike cables from rubbing up against the frame. They also work to prevent the bikes from rocking back and forth during the transit. The cradles accommodate bikes with up to a 2-inch-diameter frame, and the locking knob allows for secure and quick unload. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/2/2008 5:27:30 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S64970 from Swagman, the folding five-bike rack for 2-inch trailer hitches. This is a really nice bicycle rack that has all padded cradles. What is really good about that is it grips the bike securely and also without any risk of rubbing the cables against the frame. This is a really nice setup. It only has one arm so it can grab relatively narrow frames. This bicycle rack also tilts back to allow easy access to the back of your SUV or pickup. It features solid steel construction with a powder coated finish, and this bicycle rack is intended for 2-inch receiver hitches only. And the shank on this bicycle rack also is adjustable with two different points, depending on the bumper and hitch combination. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/2/2008 5:27:55 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 40107, a trailer hitch receiver lock. This trailer hitch receiver lock is constructed of all stainless steel and a brass cylinder on the inside. And we will go ahead and demonstrate how it works. It is pretty easy to use. more
Watch Video
Posted: 10/2/2008 4:45:47 PM
This is a hitch on a 2004-05 Pontiac Vibe. This one has preexisting fasteners in the frame right here, which in this case are a little bit corroded out. So, we will have to clean them out first with a bolt and some WD-40 to run through so we can fasten the hitch on. We already sprayed down the bolt. Then we are just going to run the bolt a little bit and then back them up. Put a little bit more in and go at it again. Just keep going at it until the bolt starts to spin freely, like it is doing now. You probably will not have to worry about much like that. One down, three to go. Work on the other two. Sometimes they do not go in right off the bat. And once you get the bolt half way in, it backs out pretty easy. Chances are you are pretty much down with that part. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/30/2008 5:48:00 PM
Today we are going to do a hitch install on a Ford Escape Hybrid, built 05-07. And we are going to use hitch number 75281 and it is a class III receiver hitch and we will get to installing it. The first step that we are going to do is to make things easier on ourselves. We are going to go ahead and disconnect the rubber exhaust hangers on the exhaust. We will lower it down just to give us a little bit more finger room. Now we have a lot more working room. What we will do next is pull our bolts through the frame. We will start by running our leader through the bolt hole itself and then out the access hole. Then we will pull our bolts back in through. OK, lets do the other side, the same process. OK, notice how the bolt got caught. What you need to do is just roll it back and forth until it twists around and falls into place. Do not pull too hard. And you see how the plate came through first, which is good. Then you can pull the rest through. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/30/2008 5:48:42 PM
Today we are going to install part number 118316 from Tow Ready, and this is a T-1 connector we are going to install on a 1994 Ford pickup. This is the point in the harness that we need to split apart and attach our T connector. It is right behind the bumper on the drivers side. There is a little button you push down. It is kind of hard to see on the end. You push it down and it comes apart. And you just reinstall the T connector in the middle of it and then make sure you clip it back together. And it might be a good idea to go ahead and use a zip tie to tie it off somewhere, and that is pretty much all there is to it. Just route your 4-pole wire where you want it along the frame and out by the hitch. Just zip tie it to secure it to the frame and keep it from bouncing around. Then we can route our wire out to the hitch. We will just put it by the chain loop here. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/29/2008 4:29:44 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 75099 from Draw-Tite. We are going to install this on a 1996 Chevrolet pickup 1500 with an 8-foot bed. All right, the first thing we need to do on our install here is, we need to remove this bolt here, and the hitch will reinstall at this attachment here and also this hole right here, and the one back here, also. This one we will run a 1/2 inch bit through just to clean it out and dig out some of the rust and stuff, but basically it is really a no-drill application. We will go ahead and run the drill bit right through here just to clean it out. And maybe you will have to do this on yours or not, but it is always a good idea. And we will go ahead and remove this bolt and the same thing for the other side. OK, we will go ahead and install the hardware. The plate and the bolt go right here and another one goes through this hole right here. And go ahead and repeat it for the other side. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/29/2008 4:26:18 PM
Just to change things up a little bit, what we are going to do is use something different. In case you have messed up the bolt leader, like pull it through and it will not thread anymore, what you can do is get a type of wire like this. This is 20 gage, dark annealed wire. Basically, common names are stove wire. Or, you can use, something you probably have heard more of, safety wire. Basically, it is a flexible wire, not too stiff, that will hold its shape once you shape it and it is pretty strong you can bend it back. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 6:30:59 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 5780 from Towing Products. What we have here is a trailer tongue weight scale. Alright, to cover a couple features on it, first off, it has 2 readings on here. It has it in metric and in standard. Basically, in standard, you have 0 to 2000 pounds tongue weight that it will handle. And also here, on top, this part is removable. And what this is for, if you put it on a scale with blocks, if you put this inside the tongue of a coupler, you can get your weight off of that. Or, without it, you can put this under the jack and pretty close get the same accuracy. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/25/2008 9:53:40 PM
OK, we are going to show you a Boone Docking Station from Boone Outdoor Hardware, it is their part number 92422. What this unit allows you to do is your hitch rack and gear storage center. Basically you can hang anything that you tow behind your vehicle, with it. It could be a ball mount, a cargo carrier, or bicycle rack or anything between. You can go ahead and store it on your rack right here, out of the way but yet easy to reach. What the unit comes standard with is two what is called dock blocks. Basically, these pins hold this bar into place and it actually holds your hitch gear where you want it. You can mount it here, here or here, and there are 3 slots on the bottom too. We will go ahead and show you how the assembly works to hold your gear. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 5:25:00 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 20188 from Tekonsha. This is the Tekonsha Primus electronic brake controller. What this is, it is a proportional brake controller, which means basically it senses how hard you are hitting the brakes on your truck via a little sensor inside of here. Basically, the farther sensor moves forward the more current goes out to your trailer, matching how hard you are pushing on the brakes on your vehicle. What you get in the box is, obviously, the brake controller itself, two different styles of brackets this one is a quick release, so if you want you can actually trade this brake controller between two different vehicles. This also has a permanent mount bracket here, so if you are going leave it one vehicle it will stay there, so this will be perfect plus it takes up a little bit less room underneath the dash. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 11:30:43 AM
Today we are going to show you part number A30704FB from Sportrack and this is their Hitch and Drive Deluxe model. This is a bicycle rack that can work for 1-1/4 and 2-inch hitch receivers and it carries four bikes. First we are going to show you a couple of features of this bicycle rack. First off you can see it is in stored position. What you can do is pull this pin out and then flip it over and it is ready for service. If you want to use this 1-1/4 inch receiver hitch, all you have to do is just take off this bushing. This just presses on, so you just need a simple screwdriver and you just pry it right off. And then you can go ahead and use a 1-1/4 inch receiver from there. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 4:16:25 PM
Today we will be showing you S64651 from Swagman. This is their 2 bike wheel mount carrier with an extended bar for an additional 2 bikes. We wills tart from the bottom with the wheel wells. Which are adjustable by turning these 2 knobs. Moving on it also has these adjustable padded hooks which can be moved up and down by pushing the red buttons on the side. These hooks can also be removed if necessary. Next are these locking pins that control the motion of the 3 main bars. You simply pull them out and adjust the bar accordingly. When finished put the pins back in so that they stay where you want them. Now install our bike rack into a 2 inch receiver hitch. The pin and clip should hold it into place. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 6:03:22 AM
Today we are going to be installing part number 24748 on a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The first thing we want to do is to go ahead and remove the spare tire out of the spare tire well because there are going to be two holes that we are going to drill in there. OK, looking under the vehicle now, we are going to locate the area where we actually are going to be installing the hitch. There is an existing hole here on the back side of the tow loop that is going to be one of the mounting points. We actually are going to hold the hitch up into position using the bolt and the nut into this hole location and then kind of straighten the hitch out and mark all the other holes, because all the other holes are going to have to be drilled out. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 3:20:30 PM
Today we are going to show you the Easyline Galvanized Utility Trailer Kit from Thule. The body on these trailers are all galvanized, plated steel, along with the tongue and the coupler. And the axle itself is really nice. There are no springs involved it is an actual torsion axle. And these kits are really easy to put together, consisting of a half-dozen big pieces at most. You have got the axle, you have got the tongue itself, and you have got the sides and the body itself. There are five panels for the body plus two fenders. The only thing else that you have to assemble is the wiring, and that in itself is pretty easy to do. It is a good afternoon project. This particular model we are showing is part number TP150. It is also available in other part numbers: the dimensions are going to be a little bit longer, with part numbers TP170 and TP205. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/26/2008 3:13:21 PM
Today we are going to show you part number TH699, the Round Trip Bike Travel Case from Thule. What we have here is a nice, heavy-duty travel case for your bike when you want to travel long distances and do not want to have it sitting on top of the car or you have to ship it somewhere. This bike travel case comes fully equipped with all the pieces and parts needed to properly ship your bike, with the padding, tie-downs, even tool bag for your parts and even smaller parts. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/23/2008 6:36:59 PM
Today we are going to be installing hitch part number 11018 from Curt for a 2008 Smart Fortwo. Looking up under the vehicle, we are going go ahead and point out where the hitch is going to mount. The rear-most attaching point will be through this bolt here, so we are going to need to remove that on both sides. This hole here, we are going to a block and bolt down through. And we are going to use this access hole to get the bolt and block up through the frame. On the passengers side, this hole will need to be drilled. Taking a look over here at the passengers side rail, you can see that this area here where the hole was on the drivers side is not here, so that is one we are going to have to drill. And the access hole that we are going to use to run the bolt and block through the frame up into that hole actually has a plug in it, so we are going to need to remove that, as well. And there is one a little bit forward on the frame, as well, that needs to be removed. So that way this piece will completely come down. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/23/2008 12:06:51 PM
Today we are installing hitch part number 87108 on a 2008 Ford Taurus X. The first thing we want to do is to go ahead and lower the exhaust. We just need to remove the exhaust from the rubber hanger here. Now that we have got the exhaust off of the rubber hanger, we want to go ahead and remove the hanger assembly itself. And we can do so by removing these two bolts here. OK, now with the exhaust hanger removed from the frame, we want to go ahead and fish the carriage bolts into the frame here on the drivers side. We just want to go ahead and run the fish wire that is provided in the kit. We want to run it through this hole and out through the access hole here at the top. Pull it down into position, like so. We want to now remove the fish wire from the thread you can just unwind it. And then we want to go ahead and put the other carriage bolts into the horizontal frame position here, as well. We will fish through the same access hole, and up out through the hole. This location gets the 1 x 2 inch block along with the 1/2 inch carriage bolt. Now I am going to run the fish wire down through the hole, like so. This position gets the 1 x 2 inch block along with the 1/2 inch carriage bolt. Pull that through like so. You want to go ahead and leave the fish wire on the carriage bolt in this position so that, when we put the hitch back up, if for some reason the hitch forces the carriage bolt back into the frame, you can just pull it back through. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/23/2008 4:55:08 PM
OK, today we are going to be installing hitch part number 75526 on a 2007 Ford Edge. OK, before we install the hitch, we need to lower the exhaust unit down. And, on the Ford Edge, there are 3 separate exhaust hangers that we are going to have to lower down. There is one here on the passenger side and there is one in the same location over here on the driver side and there is one directly in the middle, between the 2 exhausts. Before we move the third hanger here, we want to go ahead and put some kind of support under the exhaust because, once this hanger has been removed, the exhaust will fall all the way to the ground. So I am going to just use a regular strap here. Pull it tight underneath so it still allows the exhaust to lower but not lower too much. OK, the next step, we are going to need to remove both, the driver and passenger side, heat shields, which are held on by 3 screws. And we are going to need to trim the heat shields to allow access to this hole here and this hole as well. That is going to be the 2 attaching points for the hitch. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/23/2008 4:13:51 PM
Today we are going to be installing part number 87451 on a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. We are over here on the drivers side frame rail, and there are three attaching points: one there, one there, one there. So we are going to need to remove all three of these bolts. All the hardware for the hitch is actually already in the frame of the vehicle so there is going to be no bolt kit that comes with the hitch. Again, it is this one, this one, and this one that need to be removed. And if we go over here to the passengers side, we are going to have to go ahead and take the exhaust off the hanger to access the passengers side bolts. You can kind of see there is one toward the rear here near the bumper, and then one a little bit more forward, as well. We need to remove those bolts. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/22/2008 12:49:01 PM
Today we are going to do an install of part number 90148 on our 2005 Montana. The first thing I am going to show you is where the hitch goes. It will mount up here. These two bolts will come out temporarily, and this exhaust bracket will come off temporarily. The hitch will mount up with these bolts here, and the hitch will serve as a template to drill out two holes. There will be one up here in this general vicinity and back here. On some models, these holes are pre-existing. It just depends on what you have. And on the drivers side it will mount on these two holes here and plus an additional hole up in this general area here will have to be drilled out also. Now these bolts will be replaced by the bolts that come with the hitch. All right, on some models you might actually have an air compressor that is a load-leveling device. That comes equipped on some models. If you have that you should only need one bolt on there and then the other bolt hole will actually be covered up. What you do is put the hitch upon there like normal go ahead and drill out the second hole - just through the bracket, and try not to hit the nut. And then take the hitch back down. Then put the hitch up flat to the frame. And then the bracket for the compressor goes on top of the hitch. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/22/2008 5:05:12 PM
All right, today we are going to install part number 75038 on a 1994 Ford F-150 pickup truck. All right, the hitch gets mounted to the frame right here. There is actually a dent in the hitch where it mounts against this rivet right here. And it mounts onto the frame about this far back. And you do have to drill all the holes out in the frame. So the best way to do it is to clamp it up to the frame and then use the hitch as a template and drill out all the holes. All right, one other thing you want to do before you install is lower the spare tire as far as possible to give you some working room to get up in there. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/22/2008 3:26:49 PM
Today we are gong to show you part number 5100 from Draw-Tite. This is their Activator electronic brake controller. The 5100 is a solid state brake controller, which means it has no moving parts in it whatsoever. So you can actually mount this controller in any orientation that you would like: upside down, rightside up, sideways - it does not matter, because it has a time delay device, which makes it really easy to use, also. There are only three simple controls on this unit. Again, that makes it easy to use. First off, you have got the manual override right here, and that controls the trailer brakes just by themselves. And then you have got the output here. This output button - a slide switch, actually - it basically goes from no power up to full power. Depending on the trailer load you have, it can be anywhere in between these two settings right here. And then lastly there is a synch switch on the side here, farther away. The faster the brake controller reacts and closer to you, the slower the brake controller will react. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/22/2008 10:22:23 AM
Today we are going to be showing you part number 59400. This is the folding, 2-bike bike carrier for 2-inch trailer hitches, the Rola TX-102. This bike rack carries up to two bikes. The rack tilts down to access the back of the vehicle, and the arms fold down when not in use to allow for compact storage. Cradles include the anti-sway device to prevent bikes from rocking back and forth during transit. And the cradles also accept bikes with frames up to 2-1/2 inches in diameter. This fits 2-inch trailer hitches only and has a maximum weight capacity of 66 lbs. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/20/2008 11:01:54 AM
Today we are going to install part number 118130 and we are going to install this on our 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette. Now, this Silhouette actually comes with a load leveling compressor back here. When we have that option you always have a little bit of tow package option which is taped up right here. This port only is available on the vehicles with the compressor. And what we can do is tap off of this. First, we will untape it from the harness. It has a very short lead so it is kind of hard to work with. But, if you take your time, you can actually get a lot out of it. There are two different ways of doing it. One, you can go ahead and tap off the sides of the wires themselves with some scotch lock and tap off of it. Or two, you can simply cut off the port here and just wire it direct. A third option is, you can actually go to the dealer and buy the harness that plugs into this. However, it is just an extension with no converter of anything like that, so you still have to add a converter box and 4 pole on top of it. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/20/2008 10:44:04 AM
Today we are going to be installing Curt hitch, part number 13591, on a 2005 Chevy Equinox. The first thing that we want to do on the Equinox is go ahead and remove this center section here which is going to allow for clearance to get the bolts mounted in the bumper flange at the bottom here. We will pull out these pop rivets, one on each side. OK, with the cover removed, you can see the 2 mounting points at the bottom of the bumper being here. There are 2 weld nuts which we are going to use the existing end 12 fasteners that are going to go in to those points there. OK, then again on the outside of the frame rails here, you can see the 2 attaching points. There is a weld nut here and one above it as well, and that is going to be the same for both sides of the frame. And now, we are going to go ahead and put the hitch up into position, using these attaching points. This hitch will actually be easier to get up into place if you have an extra set of hands because it is a bit awkward. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/20/2008 10:39:15 AM
Today we are going to show you part number 912H2, the Hang2 by Boone Outdoor Hardware. What we have here is a wall mounted trailer hitch accessories storage rack. Basically this is a nice little deal that you can bolt to the inside of your garage wall, or any wall, for that matter. And you can use it to organize your bicycle rack, cargo carriers, the Boone tailgate tables, drawbars or other hitch gear. It maximizes a lot of storage in just a little bit of space. We will go ahead and add a couple of accessories onto it and show you how valuable this part is. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/19/2008 8:32:57 AM
Today we are going to show you part number 40171BLK from Alfred Hitch Cover. What we have here is the Official Tailgater hitch cover. It is a great little device, a perfect addition to any tailgating event. It is a pretty simple design. It installs into a 2-inch receiver clip. Use your standard pin and clip or locking pin and clip, and you can use it as a bottle opener. As you can see here we have the Official Tailgater and we also have this wire form here. And the wire form actually helps it stay in place. And you see it also has a foam gasket and another wire form installed. There are two different styles wire forms - depending on the hitch pin and the distance to the end of the hitch. It varies from manufacturers. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/19/2008 1:17:18 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 94999-53. This is Sports Fan Telescoping Fiberglass Flag Pole with the Drive-Up Base. And also remember, these are sold separately because you may have something that you use for a flag pole already, and the base would be a perfect mount for it. Number 79553, the Flag Pole Base, and on the left-hand side you see part number 94999, the actual fiberglass flag pole that matches the base. Next we will go ahead and assemble the base and show you how it works. And it is pretty simple. And we will also install the flag pole for it, also. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/19/2008 1:04:16 PM
Today we are going to show you Sidewinder pin box couplers from Fifth Gear. And what these pin box couplers do is they are designed to go ahead and basically use a conventional fifth wheel hitch on the back of a short-bed pickup. As seen here, we have three different varieties. On the left-hand side, we have part number SW01, the Sidewinder Fifth Wheel Pin Box Coupler. This unit is rated for 16,000 lbs it is the basic of the three units. And in the middle we have part number 5AS02, the 5th Airborne Fifth Wheel Air-Ride Coupler. And then we have part number SW19K, the Sidewinder Fifth Wheel King Pin, rated for 19K. They all operate on the same principle, where it shoves the pivot point from the hitch on the vehicle farther back toward the trailer. This allows the trailer to track a little bit better behind your vehicle and also eliminates any need of a slider pitch assembly, so you have plenty of room between the truck and camper. And this is made especially for short-bed pickups. And it does require a six-foot bed or better for perfect operation. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/18/2008 4:36:56 PM
Today we are going to show you Part Number B201 from Kuat. What we have here is a folding three-bike lightweight aluminum rack for 2-inch trailer hitches. And we have it shown here in the Pearl color. It is extremely light, made out of aluminum, and it is really neat. It has also a built-in anti-rattle device, so when you install it in your hitch, a twist of the knob and it becomes one with the hitch, and it will not be going anywhere and it will not be rattling. The cradles are adjustable themselves. You can rotate them left to right and you have a little bit of front-to-rear movement on the arms, too. What is really nice is that this unit will fold flat more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/17/2008 6:03:42 PM
Today we are going to show you part number A60085 from Agricover. What we have here is the Access Storage Pocket. The storage pockets actually install within the well itself and go back toward the tailgate and not up on one of the pillars there. As you can see here, we have them laying in their respective positions. Also, what is nice about these storage pockets is they will work in conjunction with the Easy Retriever, and that part number is 50710. And we will show you how they work together. It has two little notches in it to lay your Easy Retriever in. So you can store light-duty materials in there with the tailgate up, and you also have two notches available for that purpose - one here, and one here. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/19/2008 8:09:26 PM
Today we are going to show you part number 5800400 from Lets Go Aero and Highland, the gear cage telescoping cargo rack. One of the features that we will first cover with this cargo carrier is the built-in anti-rattle device. You can see here, we have a bolt that goes into the hitch, and it goes into the anti-rattle device that is inside the cargo carrier shank. Bolt it down and you are ready to go down the road without any rattles. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/17/2008 5:55:38 PM
Today we are going to install part number 36361 on our 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette. This also applies to part number 90148 from Hidden Hitch. First, we will show you where the hitch gets installed. It will use this attachment point here and there is also another threaded hole behind this bracket right here. What will happen is we will put the hitch up on top the bracket, use the hitch as a template to drill out the hole in the correct location, take this bracket down and then put the hitch back up against the frame. And then, this will go on top of the hitch. There is also going to be a drilled hole around in this area, also, here. And on the passenger side, the hitch will install on these two attachment points right here, plus a drilled hole towards the rear of the vehicle, and just forward of this round slot here will be another drilled hole also. First, we will start with this bolt. And we will leave this bracket the compressor stays right there, right now. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/17/2008 5:36:21 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S64095 from Swagman. This is a 2-bicycle carrier for 1-1/4 and 2-inch trailer hitch receivers. How this bicycle carrier works is that it actually mounts into the ball hole of either/or receiver. It requires a ball with a 3/4-inch shank or you can bolt it to your bumper, also, using a 3/4-inch nut-and-bolt assembly. As you can see here, we have this bicycle rack here actually mounted to the bumper using a 3/4-inch bolt-and-nut assembly to hold it in place. Pretty simple. Again, you can do it like this on your bumper, or you can install this on your ball mount on a 2-inch or 1-1/4 inch receiver hitch. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/17/2008 5:20:44 PM
Today we are going to show you part number S64650 from Swagman. This is a bicycle rack wheel- mount carrier. And what you see here also applies to part number 64625, the 1-1/4 inch version of this bicycle rack. All right, I will show you a few quick pointers about this bicycle rack. It is really nice. First off, it comes with a built-in anti-rattle device, as you can see right here. There is a bolt that basically threads into the shank itself and basically bolts the bicycle rack to the hitch of the vehicle and it all becomes exactly one piece. Next we will show you the hoops that actually hold the tire wheels in place. They are fully adjustable. Just undo this knob right here, and you can move them left and right to match the track of the bicycle. You do that on all four. And plus, this arm that it sits on, also it will fold into itself. Pull this pin out, put the pin back in. Also, there is a pin for the center post too. You pull that pin and fold it out of the way, and that makes it easier to install the bikes on the back side of the post. more
Watch Video
Posted: 9/17/2008 5:14:41 PM
|
You guys are the best!
Don, Millersville, MD |
Ball Mounts (10)
Brake Controllers (31)
Hitch Accessories (15)
Tow Bars (7)
Trailer Hitches (124)
Wiring Installations (70)
Bike Racks (88)
Cargo Carriers (44)
Cargo Control (24)
Ladder Racks (15)
Trailer Parts (17)
Backup Cameras (5)
Bug Shield & Air Deflector (3)
Grilles (2)
Locks (54)
Towing Mirrors (7)
Vehicle Accessories (10)
Tonneau Covers (4)
Tools (13)
Vehicle Trim (4)
All images, layout and content copyright etrailer.com
