What to Do If My Hitch Bolt Holes Dont Line Up

Updated 06/25/2020 | Published 06/24/2020

Question:

I installed on Toyota Highlander 2017. Only 5 bolts were installed. The 6th hole was misaligned. Is it safe? My primary purpose is to hold a bike rack. I do not plan on any towing. My guts says yes due to the relatively light weight

asked by: Jerry C

Expert Reply:

In all likelihood your hitch like the Curt # C13394 is just slightly bent, which would cause the holes to be misaligned. Some people will use open steps for leverage, vices and even car jacks to apply controlled force to bend the hitch back.

You will need to check for flaking paint and physical stress marks on the hitch before and after you attempt to bend the hitch back and in order to ensure that it was not physically damaged. If you anything abnormal on the hitch you should not use the hitch on your vehicle as it has been damaged to the point of not being safe to use.

expert reply by: Erik B