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Hitch installation not going as planned
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Caravanqueen
New User
Apr 9, 2013, 5:18 PM
Post #1 of 7
(2403 views)
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Hitch installation not going as planned
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Greetings everybody,
Got. Dodge grand caravan 2012 crew to haul my 3 sons around, purchased a hitch, watched the online install video, easy easy, all you have to do is loosen the muffler bolt, it drops right doen and you slip the hitch on to pre drilled holes. Only.....loosened the muffler bolts and it didn't move. Loosened some more, nuthin. Anyone know the trick here?
Thnx
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 10, 2013, 2:29 AM
Post #2 of 7
(2354 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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General on exhaust: Not just a muffler but the pipes are suspended by hangers along the way as needed. Being a 2012 things should still cooperate to lower whole back end of exhaust for what you are doing. Many OE systems will have welded pipe so you don't just take it apart so easy on those. If a gasketed muffler like a thermostat gasket that should come apart and may need a new gasket if you need just that apart for this.
Are there really factory pre-drilled threaded holes for this?
Was this van purchased with a "towing" ready package? If not there are going to be hurdles to jump. If you have amber rear directionals that and anti-lock brakes come into play and takes some wiring kits to be proper with lighting. First thing is that better be engineered to hold on to strong body parts or send it back now.
Are you up for this whole thing?
T
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 10, 2013, 5:08 AM
Post #3 of 7
(2346 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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Haul your three sons around? Wouldn't your sons much rather be in the van? 
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 10, 2013, 5:12 AM)
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 12, 2013, 9:47 PM
Post #4 of 7
(2313 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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I'm not sure what kind of framework your van has but I put a hitch on Venture. The directions stated to just attach with the included bolts. I rarely used it but pulled a small trailer on occasion. After the first couple of times that hitch started pulling away from the frame. It was due to weak framework. I ended up having to weld it on. Yours might be beefier than what the Venture was but just thought I'd mention so you can keep an eye on it.
DS....If I had 3 kids I'd probably make them ride in a trailer too. If I would've thought about it sooner I would've made my two kids ride on it!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 13, 2013, 2:02 PM
Post #5 of 7
(2300 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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LMAO all over. Even I have defaulted to pre-engineered hitches sold thru U-Haul by name and all were pre made, just right. Never a failure. Did haul way2much on a chassis car or two and have extra braces puts on - again a real car not some uni-body POS. Worked well, HD 7.000lb trailers had inertia brakes so no wiring. Just the stupid four wire thing for lights. Was legal.
Truth is, if it wrecked the vehicle so what but it dang near couldn't fall off. Vehicles were full frame/chassis stuff with monster power engines. Both fried transmissions in that era of heavy towing. Not that much either - just a HUGE boat loaded and was easy on the situation as needed.
Even a "brush" trailer" it still needs to be right.
As everyone said put the kids in the van not the trailer no matter how much they act up they are kids. I love kids. Ya know, we all were once - duh!
Tom
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badbob85037
Novice
Aug 13, 2013, 5:26 PM
Post #6 of 7
(2099 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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Thanks for the warning. Just put one on my wife's Venture to haul around a little camping trailer.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 13, 2013, 5:49 PM
Post #7 of 7
(2098 views)
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Re: Hitch installation not going as planned
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Please read the FORUM RULES before posting again. This thread is 5 months old.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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