To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
This fully welded, corrosion-resistant vehicle trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.
Features:
Specs:
Draw-Tite's Tested Tough program provides testing standards far superior to those outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the go-to source for engineering professionals.
Each Draw-Tite trailer hitch receiver undergoes extensive fatigue testing and static testing with the ball mount that is either supplied or recommended for use with that particular hitch, thus ensuring results that are applicable to real life use. Fatigue testing is also conducted on hitches rated for use with weight-distribution systems.
In addition, Draw-Tite performs static testing on a simulated automobile, as opposed to the rigid fixture used for SAE testing, resulting in a more true-to-life scenario.
At etrailer.com we're committed to the products we sell, and to our customers. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff are available via both phone and email to address your questions and concerns for the lifetime of your hitch. The technicians at etrailer perform hitch installations on a daily basis, making them a valuable resource for do-it-yourselfers. The one-on-one, personal service you'll receive comes straight from an expert in the towing and automotive field. We've installed it, we've wired it and we've towed with it, so whatever your question, we can answer it.
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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on our 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, we're going to be installing the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver. Part number 36543. Now here's what our hitch looks like installed on our vehicle. Now we'll go ahead and give you a couple measurements in helping you choose some accessories for your hitch, such as a ball mount, bicycle rack, or a cargo carrier. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost edge of the bumper is approximately 5 inches. From the top of the opening in the receiver to the ground is approximately 11 inches. Now let's go ahead and install our hitch. We're going to begin over here on the driver's side of the vehicle. We're going to need to remove this bolt right here, which is the inner bolt of the exhaust hanger.
Now, we will not be re-using the bolt that we removed. Now a quick tech tip: If your vehicle has dual exhaust, you'll need to repeat the same process over on the passenger side. Now let's go ahead and point out our mounting locations. There's one here on the driver's side, this is the passenger side, and right here is the center and forward mounting location. Now let's go ahead and point out the hardware that we'll be using at the 2 rear mounting locations. We'll be using an 8-millimeter hex bolt. It will thread in to the existing lug nut here.
On the inside, we'll be using 2 flat washers so they'll go on like that. Then the hitch will go on. We'll be using a 3/8ths conical tooth washer, making sure that the teeth face towards the hitch. And finally, we'll be using a hex nut. This will be the same procedure for both the driver and the passenger side. Now, for the forward mounting location, we'll be using a 1/2-inch carriage bolt, square hole spacer block.
To install these 2 pieces of hardware, we'll be using a fish wire or a pull wire. Then in between the vehicle's frame and the hitch, we'll be installing a round hole spacer block. Then on the underside of the hitch, we'll put a 1/2-inch conical tooth washer, again making sure that the teeth face towards the hitch. And finally we'll put a 1/2-inch hex nut. We'll go ahead and take our carriage bolt. We'll thread it on to our bolt leader or fish wire.
Then take our square hole spacer block, feed it on to the fish wire. We'll then push our carriage bolt up into the frame, followed by the square hole spacer block. We'll then pull the carriage bolt back down. And then go ahead and remove the pull wire. Next, we'll go ahead and install our 8 millimeter bolts here at each of the rear locations. We'll go ahead and tighten down the 8 millimeter bolts and then we'll torque them to the manufacturer's specifications. Next, we'll go ahead and install 2 of the flat washers on the 8 millimeter bolts. We'll put 2 on each side. Next, we'll go ahead and raise the hitch up into position. Now with our hitch up into position, we'll go ahead and loosely install the hardware on the 2 rear mounting locations. We'll go ahead and push the carriage bolt up a little. We'll slide our round hole spacer block into position, letting the carriage bolt come back through. We'll then install the conical tooth washer and finally the hex nut. Once all of our hardware is installed, we'll go ahead and tighten it down and then torque it to the manufacturer's specifications. Now, a quick tech tip: Before you tighten down the rear mounting locations, you want to make sure that the 2 flat washers that we installed earlier are centered over the existing weld nut. This will allow the hitch to sit properly against the frame. Next, we'll go ahead and tighten down the forward-most locations. Next, we'll go ahead and torque down all of our hardware to the manufacturer's specifications. And that will do it for our installation of the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver Part number 36543 on our 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. .
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (3 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded, corrosion-resistant vehicle trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.Thank you. The hitch installed perfectly....it is great! Thank you! - 548567
Video installation was excellent and made installation as easy as possible. For my 2015 model chevy malibu, the most forward solitary bolt above the exhaust pipe (non Turbo model), I had to hack saw off the extra. The exhaust pipe was bouncing up and hitting it whenever I ran over expansion joints in the highway. This easy fix took care of the problem. I use this hitch primarily for a thule bike rack, and I have noticed with two pikes and two passengers in the car, the rack will bottom out when driving into and out of drive ways or any inclined parking lot. The cross bar should be mounted on top of the hitch bar, not bellow it. Still, I am happy with the hitch. 153430
Great service from etrailer.com. They answered all of my questions before I purchased the draw tie hitch for my 2014 Impala. The installation instructions were little sketchy. But the installation video on etrailer's website was excellent and made the installation straight forward. I did have to lower the exhaust to install the hitch. No big deal just took a little more time. All the required hardware including the pull wire was included. I used the hitch yesterday with my bicycle rack and everything worked great. I would buy again from etrailer.com. 146994
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