Should Undercoat on Frame Be Scraped Away Before Installing Hitch

Updated 06/12/2021 | Published 06/11/2021

Question:

When I bought my car I bought the undercarriage protectant treatment. Do I need to scrape the protective film of the hitch mount or can I just pop the bolt caps and mount like normal?

asked by: Mike S

Expert Reply:

When installing the etrailer # e98844 on your 2020 Toyota Highlander, you'll need to scrape the undercoat so that the mounting flange of the hitch and the vehicle's frame member are in direct metal-to-metal contact. If this isn't done, the bolts won't torque properly and will not stay tight. The hitch can move slightly, eventually causing the undercoat material that's become sandwiched between the hitch and the frame to deteriorate and abrade away over time which will cause the hardware to loosen.

I've linked to an install video for the # e98844 Class III hitch for you.

expert reply by: Mike L