Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver with Standard Drawbar - Custom Fit - Class II - 1-1/4"

Video Transcript for Trailer Hitch Installation - 2014 Lincoln MKZ - Curt

Today on our 2014 Lincoln MKZ we're going to review and install the CURT class two 1-1/4" receiver tube hitch, part number C12091. Here's with our hitch is going to look like once it's installed. It's got a square or rectangular crosstube and a fully welded construction. What's really nice is that our crosstube is mainly hidden behind the rear fascia. Here out towards the end of our fascia, though, is our 1-1/4" by 1-1/4" class two receiver tube, 1/2" pre-drilled holes on each side of our receiver tube, along with our chain hold downs. This hitch is capable of up to 350 pounds of tongue weight and 3,500 pound tow capacity. Next I'll give you a couple measurements to assist you with selecting accessories for your new hitch such as a ball mount, bike rack, or cargo carrier.

From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost edge of the bumper is 5-3/4". From the top of the receiver tube opening down to the ground is 10-3/4". We'll now go ahead with the installation. Here we've gone and laid out the basic tools necessary for installing your hitch. We've got a flat-bladed screwdriver, a quarter drive ratchet with a 7mm and 10mm socket, a 3/4" socket, extension, and ratchet, along with our torque wrench. Now to begin our install we first need to remove the underbody panel or lower fascia. We need to remove the screw and push pin fasteners across the back.

Then we've got a couple more attachments at each frame rail. I'm going to go ahead and start with the push pin fasteners. Using a flat-bladed screwdriver we can pry out on the center of the fastener and then remove it completely. Then we'll remove the screw fasteners here across the back using a 7mm socket. Now here on the front edge of our fascia there's a total of four fasteners that will need to be removed with a 10mm socket.

Now once we have all the fasteners removed, we can go ahead and pull the fascia down and set it aside as it will not be reinstalled. Now with our fascia out of the way, we'll go ahead and point out our attachment points. We're going to have a total of four attachment points, two on each side. These attachment points are pre-drilled holes in the frame by the manufacturer. The round hole here in the frame will be our forward attachment point and the oval hole will be our rear attachment point. To get our hardware into the frame we're going to utilize the larger oval hole here just behind the rear wheel well. Now attachment point is going to get a 1/2" carriage bolt and block fed into the frame and down through our attachment point.

Then once we have our hitch in place we'll use a 1/2" flange nut to secure it. To get our hardware into the frame we'll use the 1/2" bolt leader that's supplied with our install kit. Now keep in mind that each process we do here on the driver side is going to get repeated identically on the passenger side as our attachment points and hardware are identical. Let's go ahead and start installing our hardware. We're going to take our bolt leader, feed it through our attachment point, and out the access hole. Then once we have access to the end of our bolt leader, we'll install the block and thread on the carriage bolt. We'll feed the block and bolt into the frame separately, first my block and then the bolt. Now using my pull wire we can pull them down through our attachment point. Now once in place I'll go ahead and leave the bolt leader attached as it will assist with getting our hitch up into place without pushing the hardware back up into the frame. Now I'll go ahead and repeat the same process with our forward attachment point. Once we have the hardware in the frame we'll go ahead and pull it down through our attachment point and leave our pull wire in place. Now with the driver side done I'll move over to the passenger side and repeat the same process. We're now ready to go ahead and put our hitch in place. It's a good idea to get an extra set of hands to help you hold the hitch while you install the fasteners. We'll bring the hitch up close to our exhaust and feed the pull wire through the attachment points. Then we'll go ahead and bring the hitch up to the frame. Once we have the hitch tight tied to the frame we'll go ahead and remove the pull wire and install our flange nut. Now it helps to put a little side pressure on your carriage bolt as you install the flange nut because it will help hold it in place. Once we get the flange nut started, we'll just put it on finger tight until we have all our hardware in place. With our first fastener on we'll go ahead and repeat the same process with our second fastener. Once we have the driver side hardware in place, we'll go ahead and repeat the same process on the passenger side. Now once our hitch is installed, we can go ahead and tighten down the fasteners. Now with all our fasteners tightened down, we'll go ahead and torque to specifications as indicated in the instructions. Now with everything installed and secured, we're ready to hit the road. That will do it for the review and install of our CURT class two 1-1/4" receiver tube hitch, part number C12091, on our 2014 Lincoln MKZ. .