Troubleshooting Bolts for Used Curt Trailer Hitch Not Fitting Weldnuts on 2004 Toyota Sienna

Question:

I just bought a used trailer hitch but the bolts wont fit on my 2004 Toyota Sienna that seems to be to big already try on all the holes but none of them fit

asked by: Juan M

Expert Reply:

If the bolts seem to be too big to install the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C13105 on your 2004 Toyota Sienna, then there's a good chance that the existing weldnuts on the frame are simply caked with debris or corrosion. This actually isn't terribly uncommon, especially on older vehicles that have spent a long time on the road.

What you can do is use a wire brush like # 814092 and some lubricant like WD-40 to clean these out as best you can. Spray the lubricant into all the weldnuts, let it sit for a while, then rigorously scrub the weldnuts with the brush. You may need to repeat this process a few times.

If the hardware still doesn't seem right then it might be worth verifying that the bolts are the correct size, especially since the hitch was purchased used. This Curt hitch uses M12 - 1.25 x 40 hex bolts with 1/2" washers. For replacement hardware you can use part # RHK (simply type in the hitch part number C13105 and select "Curt" from the drop-down menu on the product page).

If the actual hardware is used as well, I highly recommend obtaining a replacement hardware kit anyway, as these bolts are really only designed to be torqued down once.

expert reply by: Chris R