Trailer Hitch Installation - 2008 Ford Ranger
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How to Install a Trailer Hitch on a 2008 Ford Ranger
Today on this 2008 Ford Ranger, we are going to install part number 87161 from Hidden Hitch. This will also apply to part number 75082 from Draw-Tite. OK, we will show you how the hitch mounts up to the frame of the vehicle. You are going to use the existing hole right here and you are going to use this existing spot right here, with the bolt in here. This bolt will be removed and replaced with new hardware. The J-nut behind it will be replaced also. We will start off by removing the hardware right here. And one little thing that you might want to do is go ahead and loosen this bolt up a little bit. That way, it makes it a little easier to move this J-nut here. We are done with the driver side. Let us go ahead and do the same thing again on at the passenger side. 0:44
Now, we loosened both sides up. Now you can see that we can move the bumper pretty easily. And that gives us more working room now to remove this J-nut. Sometimes you can just pull down on the back side of it, on the other side of the frame. Pull down the tab. Maybe it will just slide out. If not, pry it out with a screw driver. Go ahead and repeat that same process back over on the passenger side. OK, let us go ahead and install some hardware now. We are going to install a block and a bolt. And it is just going to right on through, just like that. At this point we can go ahead and tighten up the bumper bolts back here. OK, at this point we can go ahead and install the hitch on the vehicle with the two bolts we installed. Now we are going to have to take the hitch and push it a little bit passed the bolt and then back over the horizontal bolts that are in the bumper bracket. Then we can the bolts in. We will just go ahead and run our lock washer and a nut onto it. We are just going to leave it loose and repeat the same thing on both sides. 1:44
Alright, now we will work on the attachment going towards the front of the vehicle. Now there is going to be a space between the frame and the hitch. The kit comes with a block to fill that up. It is the same as before. We will our hardware in. We have our hardware installed but before we can tighten down the hitch, you want to make sure that this cutout on the hitch goes around this bolt right here. You may have to tap it with a rubber mallet to put it in position so everything sits flat on the frame. OK, with our bolts tightened down, you can go ahead and torque them down as specified in the instructions. We have our vehicle off of the lift. Now we will give you a couple of measurements that will help you in ing the ball mount, bicycle rack or cargo carrier. From the top of the receiver opening down to the ground is going to be 15 inches. And from the center of the hitch pin hole to the outer edge of the bumper we are looking at 5 inches. Alright, in a few easy steps our hitch is already installed. And there you have it for part number 87161 from Hidden Hitch.
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Video Edited:
Zack K
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