TYZ06
New member
SyTy,
I wanted to show some picture and review the method that I developed for installing a hidden Trailer Hitch on my Typhoon. Now I know I will get some flack from some members about not following the "Do Not Tow" rule with the Ty. But I have a jet ski and a small utility trailer that I use from time to time and the two miles I need to go to drop the jet ski in the water (600lb jet ski and 200lb trailer) should not create a problem for a 400 plus hp AWD Ty. So with that being said I set out to find the best hitch I could find that wasn't ugly. Now this is where the problem begins, since our bumper cover is over the frame rails were most hitches are installed (I actually purchased a few and tried test fitting them - all either hung to low (my Ty is lowered 2 inch) or required to modify and cut the bumper. So in the end this is what I came up with and it worked great!
Process Steps:
1) Remove the stock bumper (there are four bolts that connect the bumper to the frame they are behind the rear wheels).
2) Remove the gas tank cover (nine 10 mm bolts)
3) Remove the rear two bolts that hold the gas tank up (no need to drop the tank, you just need a little room so you can get two bolts behind it)
4) In the middle of the frame cross member line up the Reese Towpower "Step Bumper Deceiver Hitch" Part # 81378 ($35 bucks at Pep Boys)
5) Flip the hitch upside down and place it in the cross member you are going to drill four 1/2 holes (2 in the back of the cross member and 2 in the bottom of the cross member)
6) With the gas tank lose run the bolt supplied with the kit facing the rear of the truck, use a 3/4 box wrench and a 19 mm impact to tighten it up
7) The rear remaining 2 holes you will install 2 I-hooks facing down so you can attach the safety chains.
8) Next install the rear trailer lights by opening the tail gate, remove the plastic door sill, under the carpet there is a plastic channel that has the wires you are looking for, go to the drivers side corner to locate the harness from the front of the truck (this is inside the truck not on the frame rails).
9) You can then run the trailer wires down the channel and behind the license plate
10) Remove the rivets from the bumper cover (there are 12 of them) and separate the support (metal piece) from the plastic cover. Then install the metal piece and line it up over the hitch (it will touch) now mark the metal cover where it is touching the hitch and cut it with an angle grinder, and then paint with some spray paint to prevent rust
11) Now attach the metal bumper and the bumper cover with a rivet gun (I had to use silver rivet which I painted black $3 per pack of five at Pep Boys), mark the rear of the bumper cover and cut to gain access to the hitch.
12) Finally use some door molding protestant around where you cut to($5 Pep Boys) to finish the look.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/cmcintyre1/IMG00423-20130407-12531_zps304d799d.jpg
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/cmcintyre1/IMG00422-20130407-12521_zps1ad3ff74.jpg
I wanted to show some picture and review the method that I developed for installing a hidden Trailer Hitch on my Typhoon. Now I know I will get some flack from some members about not following the "Do Not Tow" rule with the Ty. But I have a jet ski and a small utility trailer that I use from time to time and the two miles I need to go to drop the jet ski in the water (600lb jet ski and 200lb trailer) should not create a problem for a 400 plus hp AWD Ty. So with that being said I set out to find the best hitch I could find that wasn't ugly. Now this is where the problem begins, since our bumper cover is over the frame rails were most hitches are installed (I actually purchased a few and tried test fitting them - all either hung to low (my Ty is lowered 2 inch) or required to modify and cut the bumper. So in the end this is what I came up with and it worked great!
Process Steps:
1) Remove the stock bumper (there are four bolts that connect the bumper to the frame they are behind the rear wheels).
2) Remove the gas tank cover (nine 10 mm bolts)
3) Remove the rear two bolts that hold the gas tank up (no need to drop the tank, you just need a little room so you can get two bolts behind it)
4) In the middle of the frame cross member line up the Reese Towpower "Step Bumper Deceiver Hitch" Part # 81378 ($35 bucks at Pep Boys)
5) Flip the hitch upside down and place it in the cross member you are going to drill four 1/2 holes (2 in the back of the cross member and 2 in the bottom of the cross member)
6) With the gas tank lose run the bolt supplied with the kit facing the rear of the truck, use a 3/4 box wrench and a 19 mm impact to tighten it up
7) The rear remaining 2 holes you will install 2 I-hooks facing down so you can attach the safety chains.
8) Next install the rear trailer lights by opening the tail gate, remove the plastic door sill, under the carpet there is a plastic channel that has the wires you are looking for, go to the drivers side corner to locate the harness from the front of the truck (this is inside the truck not on the frame rails).
9) You can then run the trailer wires down the channel and behind the license plate
10) Remove the rivets from the bumper cover (there are 12 of them) and separate the support (metal piece) from the plastic cover. Then install the metal piece and line it up over the hitch (it will touch) now mark the metal cover where it is touching the hitch and cut it with an angle grinder, and then paint with some spray paint to prevent rust
11) Now attach the metal bumper and the bumper cover with a rivet gun (I had to use silver rivet which I painted black $3 per pack of five at Pep Boys), mark the rear of the bumper cover and cut to gain access to the hitch.
12) Finally use some door molding protestant around where you cut to($5 Pep Boys) to finish the look.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/cmcintyre1/IMG00423-20130407-12531_zps304d799d.jpg
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/cmcintyre1/IMG00422-20130407-12521_zps1ad3ff74.jpg
