[andjayik]

I have a 2009 escape 3.0L and want to install a hitch. Where does the hitch bolt on to? Also i noticed a secured wire harness with a female plug on the inside of my bumper. Would the be the trailer harness?

 

[Squishy]

I don't know specifics for the 2009, but it should bolt to pre-drilled holes somewhere on the subframe or a reinforced area of the unibody. The hitch should come with instructions unless you bought it used.

That electrical connector does sound like the trailer wiring harness. You can check for 12 V when you have your tail lights on.

Make sure the bolts are "nice and tight". If the mounting points are sheet metal against sheet metal, you can look up maximum torque values for the size and grade of bolt being used. If it mounts to someting "crushable", the instructions might give you torque values. The idea is that the clamping force generates enough friction to keep the hitch in place, as bolts are weaker in shear than in tension. However, clamping force will be reduced if bolts are over-tightened into the plastic deformation range (and the bolts will likely break soon after).

 

[Scooter Scott]

I just installed a hitch myself. I have a 2007 so I am not sure how different it will install. I had I believe 6 total bolts (3 on each side) and it bolted directly to the frame. If you need me to I can try and take pictures of it for you tonight. To get the bolts into position is very tedious and you may want a friend to help. You have to wrap each bolt with this long piece of metal that is coiled into a spring at the end (which is what you wrap the bolt with) and then pull it through the frame to the appropriate hole. It was probably one of my toughest installs. My exhaust took brute strength which I have a little of...this took patience which I do not have

 

[jonas1022]

I have installed a few hitches on pickups, and they weren't any fun. But money being the key ingredient at the time, and me without much of it, I did those installs myself. My last hitch was busted by some makeup swatching gal that rearended me at a red light. I was stopped, and for some inexpicable reason she decided to go. :doh: :wacko: So, no frame hitch now on the pickup. I do have a newer bumper...

 

[andjayik]

if u can post pics that would be great!

 

[Scooter Scott]

Remind me tomorrow around 3EST and I'll see if I can remember to take pics...

I'm horrible at remembering things!! lay:

 

[zippyworld]

Watch this.

 

[Scooter Scott]

Well that just saved me some time... opcorn:

 

[Surfscape]

gadzooks!!!
The power of the internets reveiled!!

 

[jonas1022]

Good find!

 

[abide01]

very nice, god bless the internet... opcorn:

 

[Squishy]

Hmm...he's not using that torque wrench right. You need to stop right when the wrench clicks; what he's doing is pushing beyond the click, and that overtorques the fastener. The click doesn't mean the wrench stops supplying force.

 

[Dasha]

Squishy knows how to use his tools!! :yes:

 

[Surfscape]

Squishy knows how to use his tools!! :yes:

... in a purely evilish strick way

 

[Scooter Scott]

I didn't use a torque wrench...I just tightened the damn bolts lol

 

[Gibby936]

Hmm...he's not using that torque wrench right. You need to stop right when the wrench clicks; what he's doing is pushing beyond the click, and that overtorques the fastener. The click doesn't mean the wrench stops supplying force.

I didn't use a torque wrench...I just tightened the damn bolts lol

Lmao I was thinking both at the same time........... opcorn:

 

[Escape-Artist]

I installed mine on my 08. On the 08 it is installed the exact way Scooter described it on his. It was not bad to install. Once I got the bolt through each hole, I wrapped a little duct tape on the threads and made a tail off the bolts to keep them from going back into the frame.

 

[Scooter Scott]

I installed mine on my 08. On the 08 it is installed the exact way Scooter described it on his. It was not bad to install. Once I got the bolt through each hole, I wrapped a little duct tape on the threads and made a tail off the bolts to keep them from going back into the frame.

That was a damn good idea...wish I would have thought of that

:bill:

 

[andjayik]

What about the wiring? I noticed a harness on the inside of the bumber? Do i still need to buy a t-line adapter harness or something?

 

[Scooter Scott]

You will need a plug that plugs into the one that is behind the bumper and then brings out the 4-pin adapted that most trailers hook to.

Clicky