Well, the installation of my Draw-Tite class III trailer hitch went without a, well, hitch. Thanks to some preparation and this thread, everything went smoothly, and the job was completed in about an hour. Previous threads have covered the topic well for installation on a 2004 Saturn VUE, but I ran into a couple of small issues that I thought would be helpful to mention here.

Fishing the two bolts through the center of the bumper beam are the biggest chore of the installation. This can be done in minutes, or bring the job to a screeching halt, depending on how your luck runs. Draw-Tite provides a nifty tool with a coiled end that fits on the end threads of the carriage bolts. The length of this wire is just long enough to reach from the end of the beam to the pre-existing center bolt hole. I found it easiest to thread some picture hanger wire through first to attach to the bolt-threader tool and pull it through. Going from the center hole to the end of the beam seems to be easiest. Then twist the hanger wire and the bolt theader tool together and pull the bolt through.



The bolt is first inserted into a square backing plate, then fished through the bumper. The nifty threading tool is very soft wire and stretches easily, so pull very gently. There are a number of obstructions within the bumper beam -- mostly plastic friction plugs that attach the plastic bumper fascia. These internal obstructions can snag the bolt as you pull it through. If you pull too hard, the threading tool will come off, and you will have lost your bolt inside the bumper beam. In fact, after the fishing the second bolt through the bumper, my bolt tool was pretty stretched out, and I had to re-form it for the side bolts.


The vertical bolt and backing plate are inserted through the larger oval holes in the side frame beams. Thread the bolt fish tool through the backing plate and then onto the bolt. Then push the bolt through the frame hole, followed by the backing plate. Once inside the frame, the bolt is then pulled through the backing plate, and down through the frame hole. There are also two horizontal bolts that fit into each side of the hitch and into nuts that are factory welded into the VUE frame.



When doing the job single-handedly, I found a milk crate or similar sized box will hold the hitch in place just high enough to align all the bolts before lifting it into final position. I found just by using care, I was able to do the final bolting without pushing any of the fished bolts through their holes. Others have mentioned tape or thread to hold them down to prevent this. From the crate, I got a nut on one of the side vertical bolts first. This one, hanging through the larger oval frame hole, gives the most leeway in position, and allows some movement while getting the other bolts aligned. Then came the two center bolts and the other end vertical bolt. Finally I screwed in the four end horizontal bolts. Once they were all in place loosely, everything was aligned. Then I snugged everything up, and torqued according to the instructions.



Final product looks great. I would say that Draw-Tite made a fine product.
Everything fit perfectly. I bought mine from etrailer.com - product number 75195 and cost $126.94 USD. Etrailer.com's estimate of 30 minute install time was a little optimistic: It took me about an hour.