Hi all,

So installing a hitch today I stripped the m12 bolt which attaches it to the frame. There is another bolt a few inches away of the same dimensions. What exactly is this bolt doing? Its not holding anything to the frame. Is it doing something inside the frame? Would I be able to use it?

 

I would say you could. Just be care when removing it.

 

how ya strip it? hopefully ya did not use the tools to install it. hand turn any screw in first then tighten down with a torque screw. i hope ya did not screw it up that now its going to affect the hitches weight capacity. screw bust or the treads? if screw replace it asap. if threads mmm thats probably going to be a tough one cause i dont know of a solution other than maybe re tapping it and using a different size bolt in it.

 

The bolt is stripped, not the weld nut in the frame. I tried the bolt from the opposite side of the frame and it seated fine (indicating to me the nut is OK). Im going to contact some auto parts stores, and my local dodge dealer to try and get a replacement bolt, worse comes to worse I'll just hit up a wrecker and pull one off another van.

 

Heres a pic to show which bolts I mean. The blue is the one I stripped, the red is the one I want to use to replace it.