How to Adjust Trailer Hitch Whose Mounting Brackets are Misaligned

Updated 10/23/2017 | Published 10/21/2017

Question:

does not fit, the holes in the hitch do not line up with the holes in the frame. I need about a 1/4 more length for it to bolt on. Would a shop be able to press the ends apart?

asked by: Mark B

Expert Reply:

Sometimes a trailer hitch receiver will suffer some deformation during shipment. A good drop from the delivery truck can cause some minor bending of the hitch mounting brackets.

The hitch can still be installed safely provided that it was not bent enough to cause cracking of the baked-on powder coat finish. If the powder coat is cracked then the hitch should not be installed since it may have been stressed to the point that it cannot meet its specs. When a slight adjustment is required it is often easiest to use a vice or an open staircase to bend the hitch mounting brackets back to their correct positions.

Please refer to the linked article for specifics about how to make this adjustment.

expert reply by: Adam R