Trailer Hitch Installation - 2005 Cadillac SRX

Products Featured in this Video

Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

19 reviews

Code: 75174

Price:  $291.68

• Trailer Hitch
• Custom Fit Hitch
• Class III
• 350 lbs TW
• 3500 lbs GTW

• 5000 lbs WD GTW
• 2 Inch Hitch
• 500 lbs WD TW
• Visible Cross Tube
• Draw-Tite

Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.

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How to Install a Trailer Hitch on a 2005 Cadillac SRX

Today on this 2005 Cadillac SRX we are going to be installing Hidden Hitch part number 87661. This installation will also apply for Draw-Tite hitch part number 75174. We are underneath the vehicle and we need to do a couple of things in preparation to getting our hitch installed. We need to first lower the spare tire down and get it out of our way and we also need to remove the exhaust off of both sides of the vehicle. There are three exhaust brackets per side that we need to remove the exhaust off of. Two at the rear, one at the forward side of the exhaust just to the outboard side of the heat shield. To lower the exhaust off of the rubber hangers we want to take a spray lubricant and spray down the studs. Then you can take a pry bar if necessary and pull those right off of there. 00:50

I do want to note that before you finish off with all six of the rubber hangers you do want to put some type of support strap across the forward side of the exhaust tubes because once you have removed the exhaust off of all of its hangers the exhaust could fall and damage the system. With the exhaust lowered off of its hangers we want to go back to the rear most exhaust bracket that is attached nearest to the bumper. There is one on each side. We need to remove the exhaust bracket from the vehicle. To do this there are three bolts holding it on. There is one here, one at the lower side, and then one on the outboard side. 01:21

With the nuts removed we can remove the exhaust bracket. We do need to remove that from both sides of the vehicle. With that removed what we need to do is the bottom stud that was holding the bracket on, this is going to need to be cut and we are not going to reuse it to put the exhaust bracket back up. The reason is it is going to interfere with us using this weld nut right here at the bottom of the frame. You want to try to cut it as close to the bolt head as you can. The lower stud is cut off of each side. We can point out the mounting location for the trailer hitch. Here at the bottom of the frame rail we have got three existing weld nuts. These are going to provide our three attaching points for our trailer hitch on both the driver and passenger sides. We are going to be using new 12 millimeter bolts along with conical tooth washers to fasten the hitch to the vehicle. These weld nuts are likely going to have some corrosion and road grime built up in them so it is a good idea to thoroughly clean them out before we attempt to put the hitch up in position. To do this you want to use a spray lubricant and spray the weld nuts down thoroughly and then you want to take a wire brush and run that inside the weld nuts a few times and what that is going to do is loosen up that road grime and rust that is built up in there. You may need to do this a couple of times to insure that the bolt will go in properly and you want to do this at all six of the weld nut locations. 02:41

We have a heat shield on both sides of the frame rail and we are going to need to modify the heat shield a little bit. What we are going to need to cut is basically this area here and straight down on both of the heat shields on the driver and passenger sides. Kind of cut this section and fold it out of the way or you can completely cut it off. If you do decide to fold it make sure that it is not going to interfere with your spare tire when you put it back up in position. With the heat shield modified one more thing we need to do is put the exhaust brackets back up into position. Again we are attaching to the two upper bolts. The lower one we cut off previously. You want to make sure you fully tighten it down. We will put the hitch up in to position now. Now that we have got the hitch up in position and all of the fasteners in place we can go through and torque the bolts down. You want to verify with the directions the specific torque rating for each of the bolts. With our bolts torqued down we just want to put our exhaust back up on its hangers and put our spare tire back up into place and our installation will be complete. Now that we have got our hitch installed we want to give you a couple of final dimensions that will help make choosing your hitch accessories a little bit easier. From the top of the receiver tube opening to the ground is going to measure 15-3/ 8 inches and from the center of the pin hole to clear the rear edge of the bumper is going to measure approximately 1-1/ 2 inches. This will conclude the installation of Hidden Hitch part number 87661 on a 2005 Cadillac SRX.