Curt hitch installation problem

[Happydady]

I installed the Curt hitch today and facing a problem.

1. Installed 2 bolts in the midle, 3 one side, and only 2 another side. No matter what I did, couldn't fit the bolt into the last hole. Missed by little bit. You can see there was room but I couln't move a darn thing. So frustrated.

pic 1



Or

2. Installed 6 bolts on both sides but 2 bolts in the middle were not line up.

pic 2



The package delivered to me was very beat up. There was a big hole in the box and the hitch sticked out cratching the paint badly. It is probally the hitch bent during delivery?

Tried to post the pics but didn't know how.

[jestmaty]

I know you probably have done this already, but, did you try to put all bolts in, each only in a few threads deep?

I had a hitch for my wife's Vibe that needed all the "wiggle" room I could find. Sometimes you'll find that you can get them to thread if all of them are less than halfway threaded in.

Is this new? Maybe you have some recourse with the shipper possibly causing damage?

Keep us informed.

[N_Jay]

Contact CURT, they are a good company.

It might have been bent, or it might have been built wrong.

Best to get it fixed right.

[Happydady]

Jestmaty,

I did try all that and yes it is new. I received it on Monday.

Yesterday, finally gave up and installed it without the last side bolt. I have a full zise spare tire and it is very tight fit. The tire and the curt touching each other

I remember reading one member on this site was having the same problem (with the picture) and for got how he fixed it. Going through the search now.

I will give it one last try tomorrow. If still can't, I will contact Curt.

[ED27]

Did you get the Class 3 hitch (part# 13328)?

[ED27]

Just looked at the installation instructions for the OEM hitch......the diagram shows 4 bolt holes for each side but I know the Curt hitches only require 3. Maybe you have the wrong 3 bolt holes causing the misalignment?

[Happydady]

Yes, it was 13328.

I know what you mean. I am sure it was right installation because if I move the hitch backward to the rear to match the first hole (from the rear), the 2 middle bolts couldn't move. They were resting on the bumper, no more room. Members here reported there was a gap between the middle 2 bolts and the bumper and they put the washers in between. Mine was not. May be Curt re-design it?

[dbvolfan]

Wierd. Mine was a little difficult to line up as well but like the previous poster said after putting all of them in just a little I was able to get them in.

Only issue I had was in the two that attach to the bumper. There was a pretty big gap there. The instructions say something about 'bending' the hitch to fit, yeah right!
I just tightend the heck out of it but didnt think about putting some washers in between the hitch and the bumper. Might have to go back and look at that.

I have had maybe 5 Curt hitches and all have been good. Several got banged up but it'd be awful hard to bend one of these in shipping. My guess is that it's just a poor weld angle.

[ED27]

Originally posted by Happydady
Yes, it was 13328.

I know what you mean. I am sure it was right installation because if I move the hitch backward to the rear to match the first hole (from the rear), the 2 middle bolts couldn't move. They were resting on the bumper, no more room. Members here reported there was a gap between the middle 2 bolts and the bumper and they put the washers in between. Mine was not. May be Curt re-design it?

I watched an install video from eTrailer.com ('05 and '07) and they used the 3 bolt holes closest to the rear. A Curt hitch was used in the '05 and a Hidden Hitch for the '07. There could be some slight differences in model years but I would expect Honda to have different part numbers for the OEM hitch as well which they don't. I would give eTrailer a call to see if they've seen the same problem you're having. For reference here's the link to the video.

[Happydady]

Contacted the tech at etrailer, showed him the two pictures as same here. He recommended me take a wood block and a hammer give it a few bangs on the left hand (mis-alignment). This morning I took the hitch off from the PL and examined it. The left hand corner was off few degrees compared to the right side. It was so obvious. I think because of delivery. That was the part sticking out the box. Bang it a few times (firm but not hard). Everything is perfect now. The bolts are supposed where they should be.

ED27,

I had thought about I might installed on the wrong hole. However, I checked and I am sure I wasn't. The picture above showed I was using 3 bolts close to the rear. The picture didn't show the fourth bolt which further to the left. The small bolt one you see futherest to the right is not for the hitch. It's smaller and it bolts something else to the frame.

Thanks for pointing out

Here is more clearer pic.

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally posted by Happydady
Contacted the tech at etrailer, showed him the two pictures as same here. He recommended me take a wood block and a hammer give it a few bangs on the left hand (mis-alignment). This morning I took the hitch off from the PL and examined it. The left hand corner was off few degrees compared to the right side. It was so obvious. I think because of delivery. That was the part sticking out the box. Bang it a few times (firm but not hard). Everything is perfect now. The bolts are supposed where they should be.

IIRC, the "BFH tweak" and the washer shims were mentioned in earlier posts about Curt hitches on this and other forums. Glad you were able to get it properly installed. The pictures definitely helped visuallize your allignment problem.