Curt Hitch Holes misaligned. Fix?

[Astro14]

Bend it a hair more.

Dremel out a bit of material in the one hole that’s still off, if needed.

Use a thick washer on all 4 bolts to ensure good clamping of hitch to frame.

 

[Kurtatron]

Bend it a hair more.

Dremel out a bit of material in the one hole that’s still off, if needed.

Use a thick washer on all 4 bolts to ensure good clamping of hitch to frame.

I like the dremel idea. I don’t own one yet, but this might be the good excuse I need to finally get one.

 

[QwikKota]

That will be a lot of work with a Dremel. That is more of a job for an air tool such as a die grinder. They make electric ones as well.

 

[4wd]

That will be a lot of work with a Dremel. That is more of a job for an air tool such as a die grinder. They make electric ones as well.

I have used end mills in large corded drills - they are made to cut sideways …

 

[AZjeff]

Old school is a rat tail file and some time. Angle the file so it's cutting small amounts of metal not the full thickness.

Can't believe someone is still driving a Previa. How is parts availability?

 

[D60]

Electric die grinder w carbide bur.

Bonus points for M12, but way more expensive. Air is fine if you have a big compressor

Serious eye and ear protection

 

[D60]

I have used end mills in large corded drills - they are made to cut sideways …

You're just gonna chip it and trash tooling. End mills need rigidity in the workholding, which is why Bridgeports weigh over a ton

Carbide bur is designed for this and way more durable. Astro has a decent set

 

[4wd]

You're just gonna chip it and trash tooling. End mills need rigidity in the workholding, which is why Bridgeports weigh over a ton

Carbide bur is designed for this and way more durable. Astro has a decent set

I have done it - and yes also run BP and sundstrand milling machines many times that feed hard doing real milling … this is baby work …
Maybe I’ll invent a rat tail for reciprocating saws

 

[D60]

I have done it - and yes also run BP and sundstrand milling machines many times that feed hard doing real milling … this is baby work …
Maybe I’ll invent a rat tail for reciprocating saws

HF used to sell an air file. I rarely use it.

Looks NLA at HF but I see 'em on ebay right now

 

[4wd]

HF used to sell an air file. I rarely use it.
View attachment 336488
Looks NLA at HF but I see 'em on ebay right now

Yeah, probably wore too quickly …

 

[D60]

Yeah, probably wore too quickly …

A set screw retains different files. They're replaceable and it comes with several options

 

[Kurtatron]

Old school is a rat tail file and some time. Angle the file so it's cutting small amounts of metal not the full thickness.

Can't believe someone is still driving a Previa. How is parts availability?

Parts availability is bad. I’m used to getting junkyard parts for my vehicles. Previas rarely show up in junkyards.

There’s still OEM parts available from Japan, like engine mounts, but it takes a month to get them.

How long would files take? I have never attempted filing metal this thick.

 

[Kurtatron]

I do not have compressed air and want to do this as cheaply as possible. So rat tail file it is?

 

[D60]

Parts availability is bad. I’m used to getting junkyard parts for my vehicles. Previas rarely show up in junkyards.

There’s still OEM parts available from Japan, like engine mounts, but it takes a month to get them.

How long would films take? I have never attempted filing metal this thick.

Depends on quality of your file, but basically it would suck. An electric die grinder ain't expensive and except for being HUGE they're arguably superior to pneumatic (quieter, more powerful within the budget of the common man, won't freeze your fingers off)

 

[D60]

I do not have compressed air and want to do this as cheaply as possible. So rat tail file it is?

Sure, go for it!

 

[Kurtatron]

I got the hitch on.

It required substantial grinding. I bought a used Makita die grinder off facebook marketplace for $50. I had to die grind two holes for probably 10 minutes each.

I was considering a file, but glad I didn’t. I wanted to be cheap, but in this case, cheapness would have backfired. It took a lot of grinding.

The hitch is probably compromised or whatever, but I only plan to carry a 160# minibike or camping supplies, so should be fine.

When there’s a will, there’s a way.

 

[D60]

I got the hitch on.

It required substantial grinding. I bought a used Makita die grinder off facebook marketplace for $50. I had to die grind two holes for probably 10 minutes each.

I was considering a file, but glad I didn’t. I wanted to be cheap, but in this case, cheapness would have backfired. It took a lot of grinding.

The hitch is probably compromised or whatever, but I only plan to carry a 160# minibike or camping supplies, so should be fine.

When there’s a will, there’s a way.

View attachment 336827

View attachment 336828

Nice work. And +100 Man Card points for new tool acquisition.

I wouldn't worry much about structural compromise, at least for the vehicle in question. If this were a 3/4 ton diesel pulling big loads, maybe. The attachment interface points are almost surely still stronger than the unibody to which it attaches.