https://www.etrailer.com/tv-hitch-install-1998-dodge-dakota.aspx
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installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on this 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup truck we are going to install part number 87554 from Hidden Hitch. This is also going to apply to part number 75073 from Draw-Tite. First we will show you where the hitch mounts up on to the vehicle. It is going to use these two holes on the frame right here and this bolt on the very top on the side here is going to be replaced by the hitch also. At this point we can start disassembly. What we need to do is loosen all three of these nuts right here because they are connected by straps and the bottom two straps sometimes trap the strap from the top bolt. 00:34
Since this is an older vehicle we are going to spray it down with some lubricant. You may have to tap these loose from the back side, that is why you want to leave the nuts on so you do not mess with the threads. They might be rusted in to place so use a chisel and back it out. Just tap it out. Not all the way. What we will do next is tighten up these bolts on the two bottom bolts to pull the bumper brackets back in place. We will let the bolts do the work of keeping everything in alignment. We will take our hex bolt that comes with the hitch and just double check and make sure everything is in alignment. It looks like it works so lets do the same thing on the other side of the vehicle. We just got done with the driver side. 01:22
We can start installing the hardware for the hitch. We are going to start off with our blocks that go inside the frame and there is two different blocks. You can see how this hole is off set to the center one here. This one is going to go right here and the other block is going to sit back here at this other hole. We are going to start off by installing the bolts at the end of the frame. Just one on each end. We will hang the hitch by these two bolts and then we will install the rest of our hardware. To install the fasteners we are going to use the hardened flat washer which is the black washer and then the lock washer and a nut. We will leave everything loose and we will do the back fastener now. The hardware for the side right here is going to use the hex bolt we showed you earlier and the flat washer then we will put the conical tooth washer and a nut on the back side. Do the same thing back over on the driver side and then we will snug down all of the bolts then torque them down as specified in the instructions. We have got our truck off the lift now. We will give you a couple of measurements that will help you a ball mount or a bicycle rack or a cargo carrier. From the top of the receiver opening down to the ground is 17-1/ 4 inches and from the center of the hitch pin hole to the outside edge of the bumper is about six inches. With our bolts torqued down that will finish our install for part number 87554 on this 1998 Dodge Dakota.
Post time: Jun-12-2017