Today on this 2012 Ford Flex were going to install part number 87571 from Hidden Hitch. This is what the hitch looks like when its installed on the vehicle. Next well 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 top of the receiver opening down to the ground will be about 14 inches. From the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of the bumper will be about three inches. Now well go ahead and show you how the hitch is installed.
The first thing were going to do is go ahead and lower the exhaust. Well also use a strap to help control the exhaust when we lower it. Were going to spray down the rubber hanger on the exhaust closest to the back axle and then pry it off. Then well go ahead and remove the hanger from the frame up behind the bumper on the drivers side. Well unbolt two bolts and allow the exhaust to hand down.
Now well go over to the passengers side of the vehicle and well clean out the weld nut in the frame. There will be two weld nuts in the frame that the hitch will use. Well spray it down with some lubricant and then clean it out with a tube brush. The tube brush is part number 814092. Once we have them cleaned out well go ahead and try it out with one of the hitch bolts to make sure everything threads in okay.
This is a newer vehicle. As the vehicle gets older over time there will be more dirt and debris that get caught up in the threads, and eventually you may have to use a thread cap to clean out the threads. Lets go ahead and put the hitch into position. When we set the hitch up in position well go ahead and run the drivers side over the exhaust first, and let the exhaust hold that side of the hitch. Well start the bolts into the threads on the passengers side.
Well make sure that the teeth of the washer will always point toward the hitch. Weve got our passengers side started, lets go over to the drivers side and repeat the same process. Well be using new hardware to attach the hitch to the frame. You also want to make sure that the exhaust bracket will sit on top of the hitch, so the hitch will be sandwiched between the frame and the exhaust bracket. Once all four bolts are started well go ahead and tighten them down. Once theyre all tight we can go ahead and torque the bolts down as specified in the instructions. Then well go back to the front and reinstall the rubber hanger up front by the axle and well go ahead and remove our strap. That will finish it for our install of part number 87571 from Hidden Hitch on our 2012 Ford Flex. .