Troubleshooting Trailer Hitch on 2017 Nissan Frontier Not Lining Up with Vehicle Frame Holes

Question:

The slots on the receiver miss the connections on my 2017 Nissan Frontier by about 1/4, ie it needs to be spread about 1/4inch on each side. What do I do?

asked by: Patric J

Expert Reply:

According to our installers, this can happen occasionally when the auto manufacturer moves the frame holes a bit or if the hitch itself bent slightly during shipping (which is normal and does not compromise the hitch in any way). There are a couple of methods for installing the hitch on your 2017 Nissan Frontier.

If the Draw-Tite # 75282 was bent during shipping, this can be fixed by simply bending the unit back into place. You can use some open steps for leverage, vices or sometimes car jacks to apply controlled force to bend the hitch back. Before doing this, you will want to take note of the hitch's appearance and look for any flaking paint or physical stress. If you see any of this, the hitch should not be used as it has been fatigued to the point of not being safe.

If the hitch does not look bent, our installers stated they will typically use a tool that they call an alignment tool. This is just a steel rod about a foot long that is tapered on one end. You can insert it through one of the holes on the hitch and then in one of the holes on the frame to line the holes up. You can have somebody assist to then insert the bolt through the open hole. Once the bolt is tightened up, the hitch will flex enough to make a solid and secure fit.

expert reply by: Chris R