How to install Reese Hitches

Reese hitches are custom crafted to fit your particular car, truck, SUV, or van. In most cases, we're talking about an easy, no-drill installation done in 30-45 minutes. But most of us like to take it slow, so it may take a little more than that.

If you're a truck owner, your towing vehicle is probably designed to accommodate Reese hitches. Sometimes, though, drilling will be required to fit a Reese hitch to your truck's frame.

  • Because of the large lineup of Reese hitches and their enormous list of supported vehicles, installing your new hitch is a hassle-free and intuitive activity

In most cases, you simply bolt your hitch right onto the frame, following the step-by-step instructions provided with your purchase. Following your installation instructions will help you tremendously.

how to install reese hitches

Reese Hitches can be installed in two ways:

  • Putting the bolts through the mounting brackets already present on your vehicle
  • Drilling small holes through the hitch and bumper and bolting the hitch up

So, you can either bolt the hitch right into place using the socket wrenches, or drill 4-6 small holes as displayed in your manufacturer's instructions. Then you screw the mounting bolts, making sure to secure your Reese hitch tightly to your vehicle's frame.

If you need to drill into the body to mount your new Reese hitch, be sure to avoid damaging the undercarriage of your ride by drilling too far into its chassis.

How to prep before installing Reese hitch:

  • Read the installation instructions that came with your Reese hitch.
  • Make sure you are attaching the hitch to a corrosion-free area that has not been damaged.
  • Hoist your vehicle or use a ramp, making sure that your vehicle is 100% secured and will not fall or move during the installation. The less convenient alternative is to park your vehicle on a flat surface and crawl underneath to locate the metal cross members that are part of your ride's frame and uni-body.
  • Prepare the required tools listed in the installation instructions (See an example of Reese hitch installation sheet below).
installing reese hitches

When drilling holes, make sure you're wearing safety glasses. Before bolting the hitch in, you can practice assembling it, attaching the pin, clip, and drawbar, then holding it against the bolt-in locations. This way you can see whether there are any obstructions preventing the bolt in installation.

For some applications, you may need to adjust the bumper of your vehicle's bumper or the Reese hitch brackets that mount to the bumper.

If the pre-drilled holes on your Reese hitch do not match the holes on the frame, then you'll have to drill them in. Simply use the holes in the Reese hitch as a template to where to drill.

Be careful not to drill the holes too large for the bolts, or your hitch won't hold tight. All bolts should be tightened to the torque levels as specified in the installation sheet.

You can use a scissors jack or floor jack to hold the hitch up. And you can also make a good use of any C-clamps available to properly clamp the hitch to the frame during the installation.

Check out these video tutorials:

Install Reese Elite 5th Wheel and Gooseneck Hitch

How to Set Up a Weight Distribution Hitch

How to install a Reese Revolution Wedge System

Things to avoid when installing your Reese hitch:

  • Do not drill holes onto your Reese hitch. Do not weld your Reese hitch to the frame or modify it in any other way attempting to accommodate accessories. Any structural modifications by drilling or torching will most likely compromise the metal and weaken the frame.
  • Try not to make any unnecessary holes onto the frame. Only drill holes when the holes on the frame do not match your hitch's holes (which shouldn't be the case as your Reese hitch is made for your specific vehicle).
  • When drilling into the frame avoid drilling way too deep, or you'll risk contact with vehicle components located behind the frame.

What tools do you need to install a hitch?

To install your Reese hitch, all you need is the included hardware and the step-by-step instructions provided with your custom made hitch.

Just make sure the installation instructions are always within reach so that you track you progress. Use the carriage bolts, canonical washers, spacers, nuts, hex bolts, etc. as displayed in the installation sheet.

Reese Hitch manufactures a legendary product line of heavy-duty towing hitches designed for a large number of vehicles, including small cars, large trucks and ATVs. Reese hitches are engineered with both weekend warriors and seasoned campers in mind. Some of the most popular Reese products are the Titan Fifth Wheel Hitch, the Goosebox, and the Sidewinder – award-winning hitches designed for safe towing and durability.

Check out our extensive collection Reese hitch products and find the right hitch for your vehicle.