Tow Hitch Bolt Holes

[slider35]

So my 2002 LX470 didn't come with tow hitch installed and I needed to move my trailer around so I crawled underneath to prepare to install one I had removed from my 2000 LC and look what I find.

I've never seen this before on any of my other rigs and never had an issue with bolting things up. I didn't have my dremel tool handy and as a result couldn't get this hitch installed.

Anyone else ever see this on one of their 100s?

 

[yeti in ga]

Yes , the captive nuts inside the frame twist or break off completely when removing a hitch. I had mine drilled and redone , not that many solutions for the issue. You might be able to put a bar in both holes and bend it back into alignment.

 

[slider35]

That's actually a weld bead on the side of the first picture - no way that's ever going to be moved back into alignment with a pry bar.

This LX has never had tow hitch installed back there. The threads are still intact, but the picture doesn't show them well enough. It had to have come this way right off the factory floor.

 

[hoser]

Common problem…

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/518253-recovery-bolt-hole-captive-nut-off-center.html

 

[slider35]

Thanks guys. Looks like I might have to break out the welder.

 

[Supra88]

I fabbed up a nut strip and tack welded it in place. Of course this is after removing all 4 of the original captive nuts that were badly corroded and misaligned with the frame clearance holes.

 

[slider35]

I fabbed up a nut strip and tack welded it in place. Of course this is after removing all 4 of the original captive nuts that were badly corroded and misaligned with the frame clearance holes.

I'm going for your solution. How did you bust the captive nuts loose? I hit them with an air chisel and they didn't budge.

 

[Supra88]

Are you having an issue removing the front two or back two captive nuts?

 

[slider35]

Back two are giving me problems.

 

[Supra88]

I wedged a crow bar under the sheet steel that holds the two inner most captive nuts and pounded the crap out of them. The piece of sheet steel is tack welded to the frame and will break loose. Go after the piece of sheet steel not the nuts themselves.

 

[slider35]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I did break the driver's side free, but after all was said and done, I let this LX go and have started my build on a 2004 LC. I'll post up some pictures soon.

 

[kbfj621989]

I broke both captive nuts on the inner most part when removing my hitch. I had to cut them off.

I don’t have a welder so I was thinking about this hardware (use one bolt on each side) but I’m not certain about the bolt grade markings. Does anyone know how to interpret these markings?

 

[kbfj621989]

I ended up using the curt kit and it worked out great. The plate fit nicely in the frame. Got the fish wire off Amazon to assist with the installation.