Problem with Hitch Install

[timothy_raborn]

2006 Ridgeline RTL

I recently purchased a hitch from Curt Manufacturing (via an Ebay Reseller). I didn't realize it until my son and I were holding it in place to bolt it in, but the left side was bent in about 1/4" (at the forward-most hole, less so on the rear-most) - not sure if it was a manufacturing defect or shipping damage. I contacted Curt and they sent me the specs and assured me that I could bend it up to 1" before compromising the integrity of the hitch. I used a hydraulic jack to spread it out to what their spec sheet states, which is 51.44" (center to center for the three holes on each side) - It still didn't fit -- it needed to be spread a little more. When I finally got the sides of it right and got it bolted into place, the two bolts on the back of the frame didn't line up (but was *so* damn close!)

I e-mailed them back and asked them to ship me another one, which they were nice enough to do. I measured it before attempting the install and it was exactly 51.44", just as their spec sheet states. Of course, it didn't fit - it's not wide enough.

Does anyone have a spec sheet from another manufacturer for comparison's sake? I bought the vehicle in January from CarMax -- the CarFax report was clean (yeah... I know... CarFax isn't 100% accurate depending on how repairs are handled by the owner). Looking around underneath, I see no evidence that it was wrecked.

Thoughts, suggestions???

-Tim

[ocb_dave_ocb]

Mine from etrailer.com didnt "line" up either.. I have 3 bolts in on the drivers side and only 2 on the passenger side... Im going to eventually put it where it goes and bolt the last one... Good Luck

[dsbhunter]

Timothy,
I also bought a curt hitch, the first one was very bent, twisted actually, and they were kind enough to send me another one. The second one was much better but I still had to use a pry bar to get the driver side lined up. I first installed the bumper bolts then the muffler side, and then the driver side. I spent over 4 hours trying to get the first hitch to work, I really was frustrasted, the thing was so bent. Only took about 45 minutes for the second hitch, it makes a difference if they are not bent or twisted.

I am happy with the hitch, not pleased I had to go through some work to get it installed. If I had to do it all over again, I would just eat the extra hundred or so that I saved and buy an OEM hitch.

I don't think your troubles are the truck, I really think it is the hitch. Good luck.

DB

[timothy_raborn]

Thanks so much for the replies guys. This is only my second ever used car to buy (and the first was from a close friend who took *really* excellent care of his Camry, so I knew it was safe). I consider myself upper-middle class, but the price of a new car has outpaced what I'm want to pay for one, so I went with a 2 yr old Ridgeline. Probably saved me over 1/3rd of the cost of a new one, but I always worry about some sort of hidden problem coming back to sting me.

Sounds like this might be a more common problem, so I'll breathe a little easier for now. :-)

Thanks again!

-Tim

PS. I still drive my 1994 Honda Accord EX I bought new - has over 335,000 miles and still running strong! That car has made me a walking advertisement for Honda.

[Beaullieu]

I have the factory hitch on my RTX but I bought a Curt for my 06 CRV. It required "pursuading" to fit correctly and after several adjustments with a large ball peen hammer while attached to a bench vice, I got it to fit. I thought it was damaged in shipment as the container was really beat up. Maybe Curt has some quality control issues as well as poor packaging.....

BTW, I was very happy with the hitch once I got it installed....

[BigDaddyStone]

I bought a Putnam and it went on with no problems. Good Luck.

[weatherman]

I bought my hitch online through U-Haul and aside from a minor alignment issue on one of the two bumber bolts, the rest fit with no problem. It did however come with only two bolt holes on either side versus three, which according to a couple of engineers on the forums, reduces the shear strength of the hitch. I don't ever plan to pull a maxed out load with my RL, but just in case the need ever arises, one of these days when I get the time, I am going to to take it to a machine shop and have the two extra holes drilled out and pick up a couple of bolts from Lowes or Home Depot.

[ajponu]

I got my hitch done at a U-hual. I have a friend that works there so I only got charged for the hitch itself.