I installed my front hitch today. It was a hitch off a minivan that I had a welder cut down in size, and weld some brackets to the ends as per my measurements. It was designed to mount between the front frame rails, and allow the reciever to go through the opening in the valance.

Anyways...I got to the drilling of 1/2" holes through the brackets and through the front frame rails (top and bottom). As we know, that area of the frame is boxed in. So I got 4X 4" long grade 8, 1/2" bolts. I know from my tech manuals that a grade 8, 1/2" bolt should be torqued to 105 ft/lbs. I can't even get it past 40 ft/lbs without starting to squeeze the top and bottom os the frame rails together. I stopped because I didn't want to deform the frame further.

I was inspecting the frame there. Man is it ever crappy. It is two c-sections overlapped and welded together with a tiny little bead. Seems very flimsy.

Should I keep torquing until I get to 105 ft/lbs or leave it as is? It is tight and secure, but not torqued correctly. In my moment of need when I want this to hold, I want it to hold up without a doubt.

Ohh, pictures come soon..

 

Drill the hole through the frame and then put a piece of tubing in the hole to sleeve the hole. Then put the bolt through that sleeve and it should keep it from squeezing the frame in.

 

^^YEP! drill the hole bigger than the bolts, put a sleeve in there(sleeve must fit snugly around the bolts you are using, add washers, torque 'em down.