Is It Normal To Have A Small Gap Between The Flange And The Frame On The e45ZR?

Updated 07/11/2023 | Published 07/10/2023

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etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2"

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Question:

I installed the E45ZR hitch on my 2023 Telluride and ended up with a 1/8inch gap between the hitch and the frame of my car at one bolt-through mounting location. Is this safe to use as long as the bolt and nut are tightened to the specified torque?

asked by: Dan

Expert Reply:

While ideally, the flange would be flush against the frame, this does not look like anything out of the ordinary. These hitches are made of a mild flex steel and are designed to bend. Looking at the structure of this hitch, it is likely that we do have a very slight bend somewhere. If you were able to get the bolts torqued to spec, this will be fine to use. If you do want to remove the hitch and correct the bend, it is very easy to do. I have included a link below to our guide on correcting a "flexed' hitch.

That said, this may not be necessary in this case. The bend is so minor I do not see this effecting functionality in any way.

expert reply by: Jesse M