Trailer Hitch Installation - 2007 Cadillac SRX - Hidden Hitch

How to Install a Trailer Hitch on a 2007 Cadillac SRX

Today on this 2007 Cadillac SRX, we're going to install Part Number 87661 from Hidden Hitch. All right. Now, this is what the hitch looks like once installed on the vehicle. Next, we'll give you some measurements that will help you out in selecting some accessories such as a ball mount, a bicycle rack or a cargo carrier. From the center of the hitch pin opening to the edge of the bumper is going to be 1-3/4 inches and from the top of receiver opening down to the ground will be 15-3/4 inches. Now, we'll go ahead and show you how the hitch is installed.

Our first step is that you need to go ahead and lower the spare tire and get it out of our way. We'll also use the strap to help support the exhaust while we're doing our work. Then we'll go ahead and disconnect the exhaust from the rubber hangers, we'll spray them down with some lubricant and then go ahead and remove them. All right. Now, we'll go ahead and remove the rearmost hanger exhaust brackets from the end of the frame.

To remove the brackets, there will be three nuts that secure the hanger brackets to the frame. Remove those three, so with the hardware gone, we'll go ahead and remove the exhaust hanger brackets. Now, on the lowest stud closest to the ground, we'll have to use a grinder to remove it to cut it off. (Repeat exhaust removal steps on the opposite side). Okay.

Next, we'll go ahead and modify the heat shields. Starting from the rounded edge from the bumper working our way back, we'll follow it down until it goes to where it curves down. And then just before the next plastic rivet, we'll go ahead and draw a line straight down. We'll cut up that straight line and then fold the heat shields out of our way. We're done with the passenger's side, we'll repeat the same process over on the driver's side.

Now, we'll go ahead and re-install the exhaust hanger brackets using the two out of three nuts removed and we must make sure that the hanger bracket must be oriented so that this hole in the bracket aligns with the retaining clip on the vehicle. Now before we can install our hitch, you'll notice there are three threaded holes on each side of the frame. We'll take a moment to clean them out with some lubricant then we'll use the tube brush to help clean up the threads and that will be Part Number 814092. Now the older the vehicle is, the more work this will take. Eventually, you may have to use a thread tap to clean out the threads. We'll clean up the threads as best as we can and then run a bolt in there to test it out. Once we can install the bolt, we can go ahead and start installing the hitch. It's a good idea to have an extra set of hands to help lift up the hitch in position and when we install the hardware, we'll use a bolt and a conical tooth washers. Now, we'll install the conical tooth washers, we'll make sure the teeth are pointing towards the hitch. With all the hardware loosely installed, we can go ahead and tighten down the bolts then torque them down as specified in instructions, and then we can go ahead and re-attach the exhaust and raise the spare tire. With that, that will finish it for install Part Number 87661 from Hidden Hitch on our 2007 Cadillac SRX.