I just took my HHR to the local Pep Boys who boasted a $75.00 flat-fee installation price for the Hidden Hitch I just received from etrailer.com.

I was very surprised to discover that the technician refused to install it. At first, I sensed a profound aura of laziness; but what he claimed seemed to make just enough of a modicum of sense that I felt obligated to bounce the question off others who have already had theirs successfully installed (or installed it themselves).

The front two frame holes (the large ovals where there mounting plates and lag bolts are inserted) are punched, not milled. As a result, there is a de facto "flange" of about 1/32" that rings the perimeter of the hole. And because one of the mounting plates covers this hole, it doesn't rest completely flat against the interior wall of the square frame tube; it rests atop the ridge/flange instead.

The technician claimed that such an installation would be "unsafe" and prone to loosening as the metal eventuallty compressed flat, even though the hitch happens to be a Class I hitch with such a nominal maximum tongue weight. Though I'd wager a great deal of money the notion of fishing the plates and bolts through the frame played no small part in his reluctance, it rings just true enough for me to ask if anyone else has encountered such a response before just moving on and looking for another installation facility.

My gut reaction was to suggest that even the cheapest of bushings should all but solve any concerns he might have, but adding anything to the installation process might risk safety and any manufacturer's warranty.

I'd appreciate any insight from others who have noticed or experienced the same thing, and whether or not it ultimately played a relevant role in their hitches' installation.

Thanks in advance.

 

Remford - I saw this on YouTube several months ago. Not sure if it is the same hitch you are having installed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L87m5dpWmCQ

Jeff

 

I installed mine myself. Once you tighten it down, it's flat.

Even with no help and it sitting flat on the ground, I did mine in about 30 minutes.

 

I bought a Uhaul Hitch on E-bay for our HHR and it clearly states in the instructions to check the bolts a second time a couple of days after installation to make sure the bolts are still tight. Seems to me that's all they would have had to say. Or they could have put the instuction on the receipt.

When my dad had his trailer hitch installed on his GMC the installer told him the samething. They also mentioned to recheck the bolts when my bother bought his travel trailer and had the dealer install a hitch for him.

Sounds to me like he just didn't want to do it.

 

Well, with special thanks to Jeff for pointing me to the YouTube etrailer clip, I went back and esentially embarassed the lazy putz into doing it. He essentially stood there while it was up on the lift, as I showed him, step after step, how what he whined on about being SO time consuming took a few seconds to finish.

In the end, I pretty much wound up borrowing their lift and tools and did the damn thing myself, something I actually feel much better about given his attitude toward the whole thing. So, though it took 2 trips, it's now installed "properly". I could even feel the flange give and flatten as I tightened the bolts with the torque wrench.

Thanks again to all who offered such useful suggestions.

 

That was just too easy. Nicely done video.

 

That video is a great how too!

Kudos!

 

And HOW, too, also. :)

 

So did you end up paying them or did they pay you for the training?

I installed mine last summer, and while it was not the most enjoyable install that I've done (somehow fishing those bolts through while lying on my back and swatting mosquitos took a bit of patience), it was not so difficult. On a lift?... piece of cake...

Yves

 

Any sense of propriety on their part would have resulted in a discount, but none was forthcoming. Not to worry though, as I both was just glad to have the damn thing in without having to invest any more time and, while at the service desk, I was certain to ask for the address of their corporate accounts payable department and the name of the individual who receives invoices for store associate training loud enough for anyone within 20 feet to hear while also telling the service manager not to feel bad because MANY business seem to advertise services before taking the time to become fully trained. :) It was worth the write-off just to be done with it.

Fishing the plates and bolts was the easiest part of the process by far, given the wire they included that's coiled to mate with the bolt threads. When I saw the video, I was astounded that each took no more than 30 seconds from the time it came out of the hardware bag. It's actually deceptively easy (which made for a nice dramatic effect in front of the tech who had complained so much about the time he'd have to spend on them). He's a real piece of work, that one. :)