Installation of Draw-Tite 24883 on 2015 Kia Rio Hatchback

Question:

Do you have a vid showing how to use the bolt leader wire to pullinch bolts thru the 2 bottom frame holes to secure each end of 24883. I cant get head around concept of this. Am presuming that each end of hitch is secured loosely first then the 1/2inch bolt is installed to hold mid point of hitch to trunk bottom before all nuts are tightened. What happens with the 2 blocks 7/8inch x 3inch do they align inside frame in special position to match up with the 2 notches in each one? Or are notches generic for use on other models of hitches? What function do the notches serve? The middle block spacer 1 1/2inch x 3inch doesnt have any notches in it and sides are completely smooth. Sorry to bother but dont see anything in install sheets. Oh yes... tks for include of install sheets. Tks in advance

asked by: Robert

Expert Reply:

The procedure is actually simpler than you think.

Take one of the pull wires and thread it onto the carriage bolt. then, feed the end of the wire through the spacer. You'll then push the bolt, then the block up into the hole in the underside of the frame member. Once both the bolt and block are up into the frame member, gently (Gently!) pull the wire so that the bolt threads into the block and the threaded end of the bolt comes back out the frame hole. With your fingers, give the end of the bolt a small twist in both directions to ensure the square shoulder on the carriage bolt seats into the square hole of the block.

The purpose of the block or block washer as some refer to it is twofold:
1) The block holds the head of the bolt up into the frame member, which is important because the diameter of the hole is larger than that of the bolt head.

2) When you go to tighten the bolt, the block will rotate slightly and lodge either end up against the insides of the frame member, allowing you to tighten the bolts without having the whole bolt turn. The grooves or notches you mention serve no purpose whatsoever.

I don't have any video footage of the Draw-Tite # 24883 being installed but I'll link to a video and a help article that explain this further.

If you'll be using the hitch for light duty towing, you'll also need a trailer wiring harness like # HM11143964, a
# 3593 ball mount and for a trailer ball, use # 19256 for a 1-7/8 inch or # 19258 for a 2 inch ball.