What To Do If The Holes In The Hitch Don't Quite Line Up With The Holes In The Vehicle Frame?  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The Curt # C11276 is designed to fit all trim levels and or options for the Toyota Prius in the 2011 model year. From what you are describing, I believe the hitch is just flexed out of alignment a little bit.

Hitch manufacturers design the frame attachment arms with mild steel so that they can flex. They do this to prevent stress fractures from occurring over time due to changes in temperature, impact from potholes, and anything that can cause the vehicle frame to twist. Because they are made to flex, they can sometimes get knocked out of alignment causing the holes not to line up properly.

To fix this, I usually hold the arm firmly in a table vise and use the cross tube like a lever. You can think of the connection between the tube and the arm as the pivot point, and you would basically be opening up the angle. If a table vise is not available, an open step can also be used for leverage on the arm. If the hitch is only off by a small margin and you can get the bolts in on one side, you can also attach the one side and use a pry bar or board to push the other arm into place. Once the holes line up, get a bolt in place to keep the arm from moving back.

You should be able to tell which side has been flexed if you lay the hitch flat on the floor and look down on top of it. If it looks like both arms were knocked toward each other, you can use a jack and a board to spread them apart. I included an article showing this in better detail as well.

expert reply by: Lazer S

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