housedad,

THANKS!

I don't have the lights...but I will send your pictures to my bud that does and was concerned about losing them.

I went with the standard mid-bumper hitch...I have a hitch-haul platform bike rack that I think will fit nicely up there...plus the girls bikes are smaller so hopefully won't block view/lights?

On the hitch-haul racks...I have found it necessary to utilize some tie down straps on each end of the rack to the hitch/frame of the vehicle. This GREATLY reduces the "slop" and "play" in the rack since the 2" opening is not a very snug fit...straping both outer ends of the rack keeps everything "less" prone to rocking and swaying...just a little trick I've been using...I am actually using two of the girls old "tether" straps from their car seats...a large "hook" on one end and I keep the other looped around the rack as it also has a "hook" on that side with a tension type PULL...works GREAT!...I had to find some use for those nice nylon web straps! LOL

I downloaded the hidden hitch install instructions below...

http://www.hiddenhitch.com/fitguides/pdf/N65022.pdf

I will need the 5/8" drill bit...maybe a stepped / tappered one?...I will go to the hardware store tomorrow...don't have one that big...

Looks like the nut bars on this one are bent?...who knows...

Between your pics and bc's...I think I will be good to go...feel like I've torn my front end apart already!

I'm just a little nervous now about views/lights/etc...i.e. blocking of such with the bikes up there...but i'm gonna do it regardless...

Thanks again to both of you guys for the GREAT information...I LOVE the internet for this type of stuff!

joe.

 

Just a note of caution: absolutely replace the tow hooks and their bolts back in. they are what holds the front of the spring hanger on. Without it, you are dangerously weakening the front suspension.

The torque spec for the tow hook bolts ( front spring hanger) is 76 ft/lbs.

 

Well I got the hitch installed...I didn't do it myself even though it looked fairly easy...

I called my RV dealer that installs a bunch of hitches and he installed it for $40...since I didn't have a 5/8" drill bit and no one I know had one...I'd have to buy one...so the $40 is actually less if you factor in the tool purchase...

He installed it nicely and did something I wouldn't have thought of...he didn't use the T-nut bars...and in fact he drilled the holes AFTER he had the hitch installed using the two factory bumper bolts...he used some stainless fasteners from behind...don't know how he fished them in there?...but he also finished up by spray painting the bolts black to blend in...a nice finishing touch if I do say so!...

So thank you to everyone that responded...in particular bc and housedad for those EXCELLENT photos...I've got both of them 'marked' for future reference...

Now the only thing I have to do is have my welding shop fab up a "Z" bracket to lower the receiver opening for attachment of my bike rack to keep the bikes below the hoodline and headlights...the receiver mid bumper like mine is WAY UP THERE! LOL

I talked to the welding shop and he can easily fab up a bracket to go into the receiver and provide a 10" drop so my bike rack is lower...only time and money! ...he's got to install my receiver on the rear of the new TT anyway so he'll do everything at once for me...

Just wanted to let everyone know how I made out...I took the easy way out...via my wallet!

thanks again.

joe.

 

Hey joe! how about some pics of the bike rack mounted with bikes when done! I`de like to see the finished product!

 

Kevin,

Will do!

Will be a couple of weeks though...I won't be pulling the TT out of the winter storage barn until May 1...then to the welding shop so sometime around then I'll have her done and snap a couple of pics...I probably need to figure out how to post pics in my gallery...hmmmm...

I may also have him weld up a bracket to hold my blue tote tank...always have a hard time finding a spot for that thing!

joe.

 

Ditto on the pics Joe. Maybe I can talk DW into it if she sees your setup.

Blue tank, ugh, I hate that thing. I bought one of the biggest ones I could find at 32 gallons, and it is a pain in the rear to take with us. BUT, I sure appreciate not dumping as often! We tend to go to full hookup sites, or parks where they don't mind gray water being dumped off in the bushes, so finding a solution is not as high on my list of to-do's.

Doug