https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Hitch-Install-2009-Ford-Escape-1.aspx
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installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on this 2009 Ford Escape we will be installing Hidden Hitch part number 87585 This installation will also apply for Draw-Tite part number 75693. We are underneath the vehicle. For clarity purposes I went ahead and lowered the spare tire and got it out of the way. Starting over here on the passenger side of the vehicle, we want to go ahead and point out the mounting holes that we are going to be using to install our trailer hitch. :22
If you look here at the rear of the frame on the inboard side, you can see we have two existing holes here. Those are going to provide our two inboard attaching points for our trailer hitch. If you follow forward at the bottom of the frame there is an existing hole there that we are going to be using as out third attaching point, and that is going to be the same on both the driver and passenger side of the vehicle. :41
In each one of those holes we are going to be fishing the 7/16ths carriage block and with the 7/16ths carriage bolts. We are going to start with the forward most holes and I am going to start over here on the passenger side. You can see the exhaust, which does not have to be lowered. It can be lowered if it is in your way. To lower it down we have two hangers, one at the rear, and one at the forward side that we are going to lower the exhaust off of. To do that, we are going to use a spray lubricant, like a WD-40 and spray the studs down. Then we can take a pair of pliers or a pry bar and separate the two pieces. With the exhaust lowered down we are going to start with the forward attaching point. What we are going to do is take the 7/16ths bolt leader that is provided with the installation kit and feed the thread end through the attaching hole and out our access point. Some vehicles will have the opening at the end of the frame here that we can use as an access point, if for some reason that it is not open, we can use this oblong hole here at the bottom of the frame. You may have to enlarge it a little bit to get the hardware in. Since this vehicle has the opening at the end of the frame we are going to take and feed the fish wire through there. We will next take our block and slide that onto the bolt leader, followed by the 5/16ths bolt which we are going to take and thread the bolt leader around the threads of the carriage bolt. Take the other end and pull the two into the frame and slide them down into position. We want to repeat this for the driver side as well and then we will hang the hitch by those two bolts. 2:20
Into the carriage bolt we are going to be adding the conical tooth washer and nut combination. With the hitch up in position hanging from the bottom bolts, we can take our bolt leader and start doing ones in the inside of the frame. Start with the forward one here, and again we are going to be using the same 7/16ths block and carriage bolt combination. You need to repeat the same procedure here for the rear attaching point. We want to repeat that set up for the drivers side as well. Then we can start torquing our bolts down. When you are torquing the bolts down you want to verify the specific torque rating for the bolts with the directions. With the bolts torqued down, we want to make sure we put our exhaust back up on its hangers and our installation will be complete. 3:26
Now that we have our hitch installed, we are going to give you a couple of final installed dimensions that will help make choosing your hitch accessories a little bit easier. From the top of the receiver tube opening to the ground is going to measure 16-1/8 inches. From the center of the pin hole to clear the rear edge of the bumper is approximately 2 inches. That will conclude the installation of Hidden Hitch part number 87585 on a 2009 Ford Escape.
Post time: Jun-13-2017