Tow Hitch Nuts Rusted out - Now What?

[Jeepguy43]

Hello All,

I just purchased and went to install a trailer hitch on my 03 Liberty. The mounting nuts that are welded into the frame from the factory were rusted inside and basically stripped out once any weight was on them. Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm thinking of using longer bolts with a washer then nut on top of the factory nuts to mount the trailer hitch. I'm going to have to remove the rear bumper for access but was wondering if you all thought this would work? It was only the inside threads that rusted out, the rest of the frame/etc is fine.

 

[LibertyTC]

Any frame bolts especially for hitch have to be Grade 8 bolts. Dont get less ever.
Do what u have to to get it attached properly. Best o luck!

 

[Jeepguy43]

Yeah I am definitely planning on Grade 8, although the hitch came with 5's. I'm assuming stacking the washer/nuts will work fine though since that frame area is what supports the weight, not the nuts.

 

[tommudd]

Have you tried chasing the threads out, cleaning them? Maybe just a lot of rust built up on them??? get a 12mmX 1.75 tap and clean them out good
Also how are you going to reach into the frame to install nuts and washers???

 

[Jeepguy43]

Well, I bolted up the driver side loosely so I could bolt up the passenger side. Once I started bolting up the passenger side the entire hitch dropped to the ground. When I try to reinstall the bolts you can now just push them all the way through. Personally I don't trust them now that rust has started. With the frame metal in the way, it'd be hard to tap the nuts.

As for the access, it looks like it I can remove the rear bumper, absorber, and impact bar then the frame rails are completely open at the end. I plan on starting the nut and using a long wrench to hold the nut while I tighted it.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

I agree with Tom - double check that you are using the proper size bolts and then tap the weldnuts and try to use them as your anchors. If that won't work...

Check out this video from etrailer.com on a vehicle that doesn't have weldnuts in the frame - in this case a Mercury Mariner. You'll see that the hitch for that vehicle is installed using a wire to pull carriage bolts and a flat plate into the frame. On the Customer Support section of etrailer's website they've replied to people who've had an issue similar to yours and their suggestion is to use the carriage bolts/carriage plate system. In those cases the weldnuts broke off inside the frame and could be moved out of the way - in your case you would somehow have to get the carriage bolts/plates to work over top of the weldnuts. That seems a bit dicey to me :freak3:

Give etrailer.com a call. Even though you didn't buy your hitch from them they may be able to help you.

Good luck - and let us know what you end up doing.

Bob

 

[Jeepguy43]

Good idea, it did come with some carriage bolts and metal blocks/plates. There are other holes in the frame I could probably use but was hoping to use the factory locations. I'm hoping to tackle it this weekend, I'll post up the outcome.

 

[twack]

mine did that and i just tapped it for a size larger and got different bolts

 

[tjkj2002]

mine did that and i just tapped it for a size larger and got different bolts

The best way.M14x1.50 taps are cheap and the bolts are not really hard to find in the correct 10.9 hardness.