Hitch install, rear suspension, bike rack

[ARKQX33V6]

Just went through the hitch install, bike rack and checked the rear end suspension for possible replacements.

Hitch
A used but never installed before hitch
A class IV 550 lb/5500 lb towing capability, Draw-Tight. The installation was easy but no where near the 15-20 minutes claimed by Draw-Tight. All 8 bolts go into the same holes used by the tie downs. Torque the bolts to 70 ft/lbs, an easy job but a lot easier with an extra pair of hands when it comes to aligning the hitch to the holes pre-existing in the frame. This hitch was installed to carry the bike rack, to carry a couple of bikes.

Bike Rack
A used installed 2x on a Ford and Range Rover.
It is a hitch mounted 4 bike, rotating bike rack made by/for Range Rover and sold as a Range Rover brand. This rack is the only bike rack I have ever owned. It is a very easy install to the QX4 and fits like a glove. It is very robust and swings to the right to give clear access to the complete back door. When loaded with 2 or 4 bikes they do not come anywhere near the truck, whether in the driving position or swung out to get into the rear door.

It is amazingly well built and well designed with built in hinges to make the rack take up less space when parking.The 2 bikes rack is fixed and holds my 2 bikes in a spoon position taking up a very small foot print. The extension that adds 2 more bikes is dead simple to add and no tools needed. The hitch part is a 2" x 2" square draw bar that is integral to the rack, no parts to lose.

The carrier comes with a hitch lock and bike locks built in. The revolving rack opens 180 degrees and can be locked in position. There is also a rear facing reflector. It came with nylon tie downs (2) and soft shock absorbers and a tie rod that I have not figured out yet.

It is dead easy for me to load up bikes on this rack, no more straining to put a couple of bikes into the rear of a QX4.

Rear Suspension, 1997 QX4, 250,000 km
I did crawl under the Q while the rear was raised and with a tuning fork and a 3' pry bar and a set of channel locks I banged, torqued and poked and prodded all the rubber joints, tried twisting and knocking the rods, steel work, tried moving the spaced joints...the only thing I did was knock the rust off the truck. All joints were snug, no play at all, there was flex as it is rubberized within the joints, but no apparent looseness.

All in all a very productive couple of days...even installed a LED rear trunk to my 1980 Goldwing...now it looks a bit newer!