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Today on our 2013 Ford Escape, we'll be installing the Draw-Tite Hitch, Part number 36524. This is what our hitch to look like once it's installed. Next, we'll go ahead and give you a couple of measurements to assist you in selecting accessories for your new hitch. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost edge of the bumper is 3-1/2 inches. From the top of the inside of the receiver tube opening to the ground is 12-1/2 inches, which will assist you in selecting accessories such as a bike rack or a cargo carrier. Now, let's go ahead with the installation.
First, we'll go ahead and point out the attachment points. There are total of four attachment points, two on each side. The attachment points are pre-drilled holes in the frame; however, we need to install the hardware to secure it. The hardware we'll be using with our installation kit, it would be the 716 carriage bolt and block, along with a conical tooth washer and nut. Each attachment point will also get its own hole wire or bolt leader to assist in getting the hardware fit through the frame and into position.
Note: It's especially a good idea to check and make sure the block and bolt will go through the access hole before attempting to install the bolt leader. In cases where the carriage bolt will not fit into the access hole, it's recommended to take a small file or round bit file and simply shave down around the edge of the access hole to make it large enough for the carriage bolt. Let's go ahead and install our hardware first. We'll take the large or thread it in, one of our bolt leader via through the attachment point and out the access hole. Then we'll go ahead and slide on our block and thread on our carriage bolt.
Then we'll feed our block up into the frame followed by the carriage bolt. Once we get them into the frame, we'll go ahead and pull them into position. Now, we've got our attachment point ready. We're going to actually go ahead and push it back into the frame just exposing the pole wire that we'll leave on to the carriage bolt. This will make it easier to install our hitch once we have all our fasteners in place.
Now, we'll go ahead and repeat the same process for our rear attachment point here on the driver's side and bolt attachment points on the passenger side. Now, with all our hardware in place, we're ready to go ahead and install the hitch. It's a good idea again, you'll need an extra set of hands to help you install the hitch while you secure the fasteners. We're putting the hitch up into position, we'll feed the bolt leader through the hitch and out. Then once in position, we can pull the bolt leader through then we can remove the pole wire sliding on our conical tooth washer and then tightening down, finger tight with a nut. Note: In cases where the hardware once it fall back into the frame, to make it easier to hold the carriage bolt and block into position by sliding the conical tooth washer over your pole wire into position before removing it. Now with all our hardware in place, we're ready to go ahead and tighten them down. Next, we'll torque the specifications as indicated in the instructions. And there you have it, just a few simple steps, we've gone ahead and install our hitch. This complete the install of our Draw-Tite Hitch, Part number 36524 on our 2013 Ford Escape.
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