I recently got a 2nd-hand factory trailer hitch off a '96(4dr4x4) that was being scrapped to put on my '02(4dr4x4).

I crawled under the truck last night to look things over had a couple of questions. If anyone's ever installed a factory trailer hitch on a 2nd generation(or maybe they could just look), can you tell me:

1.) Does the hitch brackets go on the outside of therear frame/bumper brackets or does it go in between the frameand bumper brackets.
2.) I don't where there's enough room toslidein the bumper brackets in place. Do I have to take the bumper off?
3.) Any other advice you can think of.

Thanks in advance!

 

David,

The first thing about your name that struck me is the fact that David Shaw was my g-uncle's name. But the other thing is this:

The trailer hitches for '97-below and '98-ups are different. Sorry to break the news to you. I know this because my wife's Jimmy's hitch won't fit on my Blazer. Of course, you can always fab it or weld it, but I personally would be against that, since you don't want anything to go wrong when you're towing a trailer. Last year a trailer came undone on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and it wasn't pretty. Someone died in that accident.my sis-in-lawworks for the local fire department and knows all the gory details.[]

 

Thanks! What, exactly doesn't match up with the early bumpers and later trucks? The bolt & hole pattern seem to match up, and the distance between brackets is approximately the same as the frame bolts. Actually, I'm not sure this is a factory hitch either, It's a roundtube hitch that is hidden beneath the bumper. Eh?

 

Alright,here are some photos of the, supposedly, factory trailer hitch from the '96 Blazer Iam going to try and put on my 2002(see attached).

The only reason I still ask is that:
1.) Everything appears to line up, but I haven't actually started taking off my bumper yet...
2.) Some websites, where I tried to see about ordering a 'factory' hitch from my Blazer only had one model for '06 thru '05.
3.) Maybe this wasn't a factory hitch, it didn't have any manufacturers markings and looks like OEM but maybe that's not the case....

Anyway, if someone can look at these photos and tell me if these look like a factory '96 hitch or a hitch that will fit on my '02, I'd be forever gratefull. I really don't want to take the bumper off just to find out what I have doesn't fit. I'm sure I could hawk it on Craigslist for what I paid for it($10). Thanks!

[IMG]local://upfiles/8194/48AC13A559D344A8AF5CE0A10EA929A4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/8194/2215C782942744888D4631C342BBE195.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/8194/D471B1423EBC4C43AD0016B607C0CB73.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/8194/00B267F0BE374A84956CB4CF55DCBF24.jpg[/IMG]

 

Looks just like the drawtite hitch I have on my '99. I took it off my '01 and put it on my '99 in about an hour. With air tools it would be a lot less. As far as I can tell, you should have no problem putting this on a '02. They are supposed to fit from '95 right thru '05.

I didn't remove either my bumper or my spare tire but I think it would have been easier without the tire. You must remove four bolts which have locknuts on the frame. This is where the air tools would help. Took most of the time getting the bolts off. The hitch is a very tight fit between the frame and may require a liitle persuasion to get into position.