It takes only the right hitch to connect a personal snow plow to your vehicle.
There was a time when you had to wait for a snow plow to show up at your home to clear your driveway. Otherwise, you could not get your mired vehicle out of the snow to get to work or the grocery store. Today, snow plows have become available to the public for installation on their vehicles. For a rear mounted snow plow that installs in seconds, you only have to back you vehicle out of the driveway to clear a path. This works well for vehicles that have hitch receivers already installed. The do-it-yourself repair person can install his own receiver on the back or front of his vehicle and attach a personal snow plow.
Instructions
1. Refer to your owner's manual to find out if you have trailer hitch mounting holes in the rear of your vehicle. Most vehicles have been manufactured for an optional trailer hitch receiver. You can also visit a trailer supply and indicate your vehicle year, make and model for the determination of a compatible aftermarket hitch receiver. You will require a bolt-on hitch receiver that has a two-inch flat block for the rear of your car. Purchase a front-mount two-inch receiver if you wish to mount the hitch to the front of an SUV or truck.
2. Place the vehicle in park or neutral with the emergency brake set. Use a floor jack to lift up the rear of the vehicle high enough to place two jack stands under the frame in front of the rear wheels. The jack stands should be stable and in the locked position. Slide under the vehicle and locate the mounting holes for your receiver hitch. There should be three or four on each side of the frame. Clean the holes out with a conical wire brush and WD-40.
3. Make certain no obstructions sit in the way of the hitch receiver, like a muffler hanger or a wiring harness. Pull the receiver hitch under the vehicle and have an assistant help you lift it up to align the bolt holes. Start on one end, running one kit bolt into the threads by hand.
4. Go to the other side and insert another bolt in by hand. Push and tilt the receiver hitch frame until you have all the bolts started. Tighten bolts until you have them moderately snug. Use a torque wrench to tighten the receiver hitch bolts, according to the directions supplied with the hitch. Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle and remove the jack stands. Use your assistant to lift the snow up into position and shove it forward into the receiver hitch slot. Insert the lock in the receiver hitch frame to lock the plow into place.
5. Use your assistant and a floor jack to lift the receiver hitch up against the rear frame of the vehicle for the custom mount hitch. Make sure to align it squarely and evenly. Use a felt pen to mark the drill holes in the frame through the receiver hitch mounting holes. Lower the hitch. Use a drift punch and hammer to make a tap mark on the hole locations. Use a drill motor and bit to drill each of the holes, making sure you have the correct diameter bit for the bolt size.
6. Have your assistant help you lift the receiver hitch up into position. Place a bolt with a spacer down through the top of the frame and place a lock washer and nut on the end of the bolt. Move to the other side and do the same for another hole. Place all the bolts through the frame and twist the lock washers and nuts by hand.
7. Tighten the nuts with a socket and wrench, just snug enough to hold the hitch firmly. Finish tightening the nuts with a torque wrench, according to the hitch directions. Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle and remove the jack stands. Have your assistant help you lift the snow plow into position. Push the snow plow into the receiver block and push the locking pin into place.
Tips Warnings
It is recommended that you hook a receiver hitch up to the rear of a car, since snow plows fit to this location easier than the front end.
Tags: attach, snow, plows, receiver hitch, snow plow, floor jack, floor jack lift, hitch receiver, jack lift, jack stands, your assistant
