Hello all, Do I have to drop out the spare tire to install this hitch?? I cannot seem to find the right size socket to fit the bumper bolts, any idea what size they are? Looks to be 3/4 inch socket. There is no way I can fit my large rachet and socket up into there. Should I remove the bumper support bar the is in the way? Just take off the bolt at the bottom only and slide it over so I can get my rachet in there with the socket on it. I sprayed some WD-40 on the 4 bolts. Just gotta make sure they are 3/4 inch bolts. Anyone done this before? Any problems with the installation? Thanks and any help will do.

 

I thought those bolts holding the bumper were 18mm,Just pop off the plastic pad on top as well(careful not to break the tabs) and I would probably remove the spare. With extensions there is no reason not to get a tool in there from my experience.The bolt up should be strait forward as well as reassembly!

 

I had to remove the bumper then take the 4 nuts off of the bumper brackets I do believe they were 18mm, not very easy to get at but doable. I don't have a spare tire mounted underneath, so I can't say if you should or not but an extra set of hands would be a good help.

 

Ok, Thanks, Don't have any 18mm sockets, will have to get some today. Would you recommend 6 sides on the socket? Do the new bolts that come with the hitch slide into the holes easily? Or do I have to clean out the holes?? Are those 4 holes threaded or not? What tool would you use to clean out the holes?? I did have my blazer sprayed with a rustoroof undercoating in 2005. The blazer is a 2000. The undercoated was the first thing I had done to it when I bought it used.

 

I would recommend a 6 point socket, and mine never came with new bolts had to use the ones that were already holding the bumper brackets on and the holes on mine were not threaded they had a peice of metal holding with the bolts welded on sort of idea, hard to explain without the proper wording.

 

My hitch will be here tomorrow via Fedex. Will do Install when it arrives. I bought some MM socket sets, both deep and regulars for $30 at Home Depot. Should have no problems. I will leave the spare in place and work around it. Dont think it will be a problem as of now. Will see when I try to put hitch in place. I dont think I ever removed the spare since I bought the blazer 7 years ago used. The spare is still in nice usable condition. Will have to read up on how to drop the spare just in case.

 

I am not aware of your spare retaining mechanism,but if it is like mostne should really operate this unit at least annuallly! These are a design ready to fail! (just search this site for the nitemares) When you you need this to work it usually doesn't! I haven't carried a spare under the rear of my 97 since 2008! Cause when a rear tire failure happens off-road:the rear is on the GROUND! Good luck dropping that tire then without a HI-LO!

 

I got the hitch installed last night. Had to drop the spare just about 3 inches or so. Those 4 stock bolts were a pain to get out. Even with WD-40 they would not come off easily. Hitch looks nice and all bolts were torqued to specs. Put the bike rack on it, nice and sturdy. Now, all I need is a small Jon Boat or rowboat for fishing. Thanks for all the help in this one. All is good and hitch looks mean!! Did not need an extra set of hands, a plastic crate or milk crate was the perfect height for this job. Just make sure you put a rag on top of crate or else hitch will slip off. Thanks again!!

 

The Curt hitch that I installed on my 2001 came with bolts that were too large to fit the holes in the frame. I read a lot of complaints about Curt being a poor fit on the Xterra forum.

I installed a Reese hitch on the 2000 that I had and it was a perfect fit.