Underbody Trim Panel Removal on 2012 Toyota Highlander for Installing Draw-Tite Hitch 75726

Question:

The instructions point out that the underbody trim must be removed and given to the owner. The instructions also say that the passenger side trim panel can be reinstalled after the hidden hitch is installed. It also says that the manufacturer supplies diagrams on how to trim the driver side trim in order to reinstall it after the hidden hitch is bolted in place. I would like to obtain the diagrams or instructions on trimming the driver side trim as I believe that Toyota probably put them in to prevent junk from going up into the frame and anything I can do to keep that sort of integrity in place seems like a good idea. Can you e-mail or send my the diagrams in question? I would really appreciate your help.

asked by: William E

Expert Reply:

The written installation instructions for the Draw-Tite hitch # 75726 are linked for your reference. These note in item 1 that the passenger-side panel can be reinstalled after hitch installation but not the driver-side panel, as you state. However, I see no reference made to panel trimming diagrams.

I did check with my technical contact at Hidden Hitch and he confirmed that there is no panel trimming diagram or guide available. You may have referred to the instructions for the Curt hitch # 13534. If you wish to re-install the removed appearance panels after the hitch is in place you can check those other instructions (linked) for how to trim the the panels to allow re-installation.

The linked installation video (for this hitch on your same year Highlander) may be helpful to you.

expert reply by: Adam R