How To Video: Installing a Trailer Hitch on Your 7th Gen Corvette
03-19-2019, 03:05 PM
#61
Le Mans Master
So as I surmised, there is a good bit of modding/fabricating involved (but just not the 'frame mods' I mentioned):
1) Sourcing an off-the-shelf semi-generic hitch of unknown origin and application,
2) Sourcing and modding a lower "L" bracket of unknown origin and dimensions,
3) Sourcing the needed spacers of critical wall thickness and OD, and cutting them to an unpublished (but critical) length,
4) Figuring out how to insert spacers to the center of the beam and lining them up to the proper position, and finally,
5) Drilling the 4 holes in the frame.
All the above steps are certainly possible, but far from an even semi-commercialized solution. Not even close to a "drill 4 holes and mount hitch PN#123456, trim facia for clearance" operation as is common for real hitches.
Also not mentioned: how to avoid dissimilar metal galvanic corrosion between the steel hitch hardware and the aluminum beam of the frame. True, it could be many years before that corrosion becomes a real issue, but it is an issue none-the-less.
I'm guessing that low demand wouldn't support anyone productizing the hitch described above, so I guess anyone wanting a C7 hitch is still stuck with fabbing one up.
Last edited by Kent1999; 03-19-2019 at 03:07 PM.
03-19-2019, 03:43 PM
#62
Safety Car
Yeah, I watched the linked vids in the 1st post. Unfortunately, the guy totally skips over the entire critical and hardest portion of the install (sourcing all the parts and mounting the hitch) and spends 99% of his time talking about what is by far the easiest task (wiring). I guess it is just a "here - look at the finished product of these unknown modded parts that I installed" video and not a true "how-to".
So as I surmised, there is a good bit of modding/fabricating involved (but just not the 'frame mods' I mentioned):
1) Sourcing an off-the-shelf semi-generic hitch of unknown origin and application,
2) Sourcing and modding a lower "L" bracket of unknown origin and dimensions,
3) Sourcing the needed spacers of critical wall thickness and OD, and cutting them to an unpublished (but critical) length,
4) Figuring out how to insert spacers to the center of the beam and lining them up to the proper position, and finally,
5) Drilling the 4 holes in the frame.
All the above steps are certainly possible, but far from an even semi-commercialized solution. Not even close to a "drill 4 holes and mount hitch PN#123456, trim facia for clearance" operation as is common for real hitches.
Also not mentioned: how to avoid dissimilar metal galvanic corrosion between the steel hitch hardware and the aluminum beam of the frame. True, it could be many years before that corrosion becomes a real issue, but it is an issue none-the-less.
I'm guessing that low demand wouldn't support anyone productizing the hitch described above, so I guess anyone wanting a C7 hitch is still stuck with fabbing one up.
So as I surmised, there is a good bit of modding/fabricating involved (but just not the 'frame mods' I mentioned):
1) Sourcing an off-the-shelf semi-generic hitch of unknown origin and application,
2) Sourcing and modding a lower "L" bracket of unknown origin and dimensions,
3) Sourcing the needed spacers of critical wall thickness and OD, and cutting them to an unpublished (but critical) length,
4) Figuring out how to insert spacers to the center of the beam and lining them up to the proper position, and finally,
5) Drilling the 4 holes in the frame.
All the above steps are certainly possible, but far from an even semi-commercialized solution. Not even close to a "drill 4 holes and mount hitch PN#123456, trim facia for clearance" operation as is common for real hitches.
Also not mentioned: how to avoid dissimilar metal galvanic corrosion between the steel hitch hardware and the aluminum beam of the frame. True, it could be many years before that corrosion becomes a real issue, but it is an issue none-the-less.
I'm guessing that low demand wouldn't support anyone productizing the hitch described above, so I guess anyone wanting a C7 hitch is still stuck with fabbing one up.
Last edited by ErnieN85; 03-19-2019 at 03:43 PM.
