Trailer hitch install 2015 Rogue SV

[burrpenick]

Thought I'd report on this DO IT YOURSELF job- I'd like to encourage members to read up and try some of these tasks before paying someone else to do them! Purchased the 1 1/4" (our vehicles are not rated anywhere near the max for this hitch at 3500 lbs, so the 2" receiver is just extra weight. This hitch weighs around 35 lbs as is!) receiver Hidden Hitch brand piece from ETRAILER for $162 total w/shipping: including the hitch, draw bar,plug and play- no splicing WIRING KIT, but not a ball since I had that- seems like they were very good w/support. This hitch has only 5 bolts, and the GREAT thing about our NISSANS is that the factory welds in the nuts in the frame holes so that makes the job MUCH EASIER! My last install on our FOCUS did NOT have the nuts welded in place.
The instructions say to remove the TOW HOOK from the passenger side frame rail- those are the two bolt holes for that side of the hitch. I never figured out why its called a tow hook- no holes or hooks on it! The drivers side is a bit more difficult- it uses 3 bolts. The muffler is in the mix there and I lowered it some, but after I got the hitch up in position, not sure it was necessary or even a good idea? The plastic mud guards on both sides need to come off first- pretty easy, just pry the plastic studs down from their sockets. The passenger side goes back on w/no adjustments. The drivers side needs some cutting around the side of the hitch. Not a big deal, just hold it up and mark where it hits, then use some diagonal cutters to trim out the obstruction.
Wiring is pretty basic- removed the interior panels, unplug the turn signals, plug in the adapter, and plug the signals back into the sockets. The hardest part is getting power. They highly recommend and supply a heavy wire to run directly to the battery- w/fuse. You can run the wire under the vehicle or thur the interior and then the firewall. I will use the underside, but beware- you need to really be careful so that the wire does not catch any weeds/grass/mudd that could pull it loose.