I've seen some women in Ford Escorts that weigh more than my wheeler........

 

I used LittleBill's web site and ordered the hitch. I got it up and got the sideways mount screws in then found out there isn't any holes for the U-bolts in the frame, So I drilled holes for the U-Bolts and tryed to fish hook them around, but I cant even get the first part of the bolt thru because there is a down ward diagnal piece of steel inside the frame that is blocking one hole just enough not to let the U-Bolt curve around.
With the sideways bolts, The down force on the hitch would be supported, but it needs the U-bolts for any upward force on the hitch. do you think welding it on would be safe for a class 1 trailer, or should I still try to figure out a way to get those damn U-Bolts in?

 

Welding would be ok ... but the frame may not support the weld, it would really be your call if the weld didn't burn though ... i would stay with the u-bolts. IMO they support the braking weight better than a weld on a u-body frame.

 

ok, I took the reciever back off to see if it would make it possible to fishhook those U-bolts through the frame, and they just won't go no matter what angle or which hole I try first. The bolt always ends up hiting the internal reinforcement before it can be pushed in enough to get it to curve around. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Maybe I should take it to get professionally welded seeing as there's no way those U-Bolts are going to go into the frame.
Any suggestions?

 

sure there are no rubber plugs in the frame? i had to drill my frame too, and almost didn't find the plugs under the undercoating, if not call them, they are helpful, or whoever the hitch was made by, always helpful

 

Not sure about the Escort, I had mine installed by a local hitch company. They had done quite a few, I would have been less than 100% comfortable drilling up through the floor of the trunk and cutting away the exhaust shields to install the hitch. Having seen it done though, I'd probably do it myself the second time if the price was right. Installation only cost me about $50 over the price of the hitch alone, so I called it money well spent.

 

no rubber plugs, I think I should take it to a place that installs them and say good luck. I don't mind paying $100 if they can attach it well enough to tow a trailer. and they probably have a better idea of a solution because they've probably run into this problem before.