trailer hitch

[lamstone]

99 Pathfinder SE- with chassis-mount spare tire, doesn't appear to be any place to attach/weld hardware for a trailer hitch ball. Any suggestions?

[ltsnotme]

trailer hitch should attach to the frame, where the tow hooks are, going around the spare tire.

[01silvapathy]

Im selling my OEM nissan load distributing hitch that attaches with 12 bolts....pm me if you are interested.

[Ronmarr1]

Tried a PM - Wouldn't work for some reason -
please PM me w/ cost and your location - thanks

[Chuck Tribolet]

Any number of vendors make hitches for your truck. DrawTite and HiddenHitch are good names.

[lamstone]

What is meant by PM, referring to contacting someone thru this forum? Not really familiar with computer terms.

[Towncivilian]

What is meant by PM, referring to contacting someone thru this forum? Not really familiar with computer terms.

Private messaging. You can hit the "PM" image underneath user's names to send them a message.

[lamstone]

Thanx, Towncivilian.

[01silvapathy]

Its true that many make hitches for the r50 but they all attach with 6-8 bolts which is not really a strong mount. This is a load distributing hitch also twas designed by nissan engineers specifically for the r50. You can buy a weaker hitch for 150 bucks or my stronger slightly used hitch for 85 plus shipping

[NickD85]

Its true that many make hitches for the r50 but they all attach with 6-8 bolts which is not really a strong mount. This is a load distributing hitch also twas designed by nissan engineers specifically for the r50. You can buy a weaker hitch for 150 bucks or my stronger slightly used hitch for 85 plus shipping

relatively speaking, you're right; 6 bolts is not as strong a mount as your hitch, which undoubtedly distributes loads in a more effective manner. Still though, I have one of the aforementioned 6 bolt drawtite hitches, and if you are breaking that connection, you surely have bigger problems on your hands. At the very least I'd think a weld or two would go long before you shear the six bolts holding it to your frame. If you need that kind of hitch, you probably shouldn't be pulling whatever it is you're pulling with a 240 hp SUV anyway. Just saying... (I agree that your hitch is a good deal though- I'd probably buy it if I didn't have one)

[Ronmarr1]

Its true that many make hitches for the r50 but they all attach with 6-8 bolts which is not really a strong mount. This is a load distributing hitch also twas designed by nissan engineers specifically for the r50. You can buy a weaker hitch for 150 bucks or my stronger slightly used hitch for 85 plus shipping

I am interested but you do not have a "PM" logo by your signature - sooooo - please "PM" me

Thanks

[Ronmarr1]

01silvapathy -

You do not have your "PM" logo enable so I cannot contact you privately.

[donald]

Im selling my OEM nissan load distributing hitch that attaches with 12 bolts....pm me if you are interested.

you mention you have 12 total bolts holding your hitch? did you add those extra bolts? or did it come stock with 12bolts? Where do they mount?
When I took my tie-down plates off, I only saw 4 holes per side (total 8 allowable bolts).
The 8 available place I can put bolts are exactly as ItsNotMe shows in his post.
ok... nvm - found the answer below...

Any number of vendors make hitches for your truck. DrawTite and HiddenHitch are good names.

Please tell me "Curt" is a good manufacturer too? I just bought a Curt hitch Class III ...
nonetheless, as NickD85 mentioned, I don't plan to tow too much... however I'd like to put my 400lb motorcycle on a motorcycle carrier (not a trailer)... hopefully that'll be ok.

**edit**
Okay... went to do some research myself, since I really want to know more about the additional bolts.
Nonetheless, I found this "Installation Guide" from courtesyparts.com: http://www.courtesyparts.com/html/inst_ ... 002_4.html



and I note that the primary mounting point is the 4-per-side
and then there are 2 addtional bolts which attach way in the back, 1 bolts from the side (horizontally) and the other bolts from bottom up into the frame.

I'm no mechanical engineer or anything, so I'm wondering "how much" added support this provides -
One fault I see in Factory OEM hitch is that it comes in 3 major pieces: the center hitch reciever, and the 2 side mounting brackets.

So in the Factory OEM design the trailing load is again transferred to 8 independent bolts; the bolts which attach the 2 side brackets to the center hitch receiver.
Comparing this to a aftermarket hitch, you get about the same loading scneario which is depending on the shear strength of 8 M12 bolts. Aftermarket hitches are welded together (ie. the 2 mounting brackets are welded to the center receiver), so the load is now on the welds, however almost all welders will say welds are theoretically just as strong as the material that has been welded.

So, IMO, with the Factory OEM hitch, you're merely extending your frame out and under your bumper. And then you attach the hitch receiver with 4-bolts each side....

[esy]

donald, there's an extended piece of each side of the hitch that has two extra bolts that would bolt further forward than just where the factory tow plates go.

i also agree, that if you break an 8-bolt, Curt, Hidden Hitch, etc. hitch, you're doing something wrong and probably shouldn't be doing what you're doing. those non-OEM hitches already have 2 extra bolts than the factory tow plates, so i highly doubt they'd be doing anything damaging to your vehicle unless you're doing something wrong in the first place.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Sorry, never heard of Curt. Some hitch brands may be regional. Do make sure you get a 5000 pound hitch if you are going
to carry a 400 pound motorcycle on the back. Typical tongue weight is 10% of hitch capacity.

That installation diagram for the Nissan hitch says "eighteen bolts" but I only see twelve (six per side) in the picture.