Longer bolts for factory hitch?

[daveg]

Just went though another frustrating afternoon trying to put my hitch back on. Took it off over a year ago to get all rust off and repaint, in the process snapped nut in frame off at foward most point. Never got around to repainting.

Moving in two weeks and may need to tow, so on goes the hitch with 5 of 6 bolts. (Just a light duty trailer or gear rack) While putting it on snapped the head off one bolt and snapped another nut in framerail. Hitch now held on with two rear bolts on driver side and one rear bolt on passenger side.(BTW my last rust belt cruiser)

I was thinking of maybe drilling out remaining bolts then drilling through the top of the frame. That way I coud use new longer bolts with the nut on the topside of the frame. Seems to be the easiest option. So any thoughts on this pro or con?

Thanks, Dave

[Cruiser804]

Same thing happened to me. I never did put it back on but I had a couple ideas. Did you think about removing the rear bumper? I think you could access the inside of the frame if you did that.

Also, living a semi-rust belt area I have become a huge fan of PB Blaster and my Craftsman Tap and Die kit.

[sseaman]

shouldnt be a problem using longer bolts, i would try to drill out first. Mine only have 5 of 6.


Wait wait, time for a new bumper with hitch built in.

[latinoguy]

Remove the corner plastic piece and you will have easy access to the nut welded to the frame. You may be able to torch it off and weld another one? Or the tap and die process may work too...Heliocoil it?

Let us know what you end up doing...