Hitch receiver modification 2004 Corolla

[zorobabel]

I recently bought a Valley hitch receiver for the Corolla. Unfortunately it's not a perfect fit, the mounting holes are about 10-15 mm too close (left to right). This is a bolt on hitch receiver.
I have emailed the manufacturer and my receiver is out of spec; I've asked if it's safe to bend one of the mounting arms (which seems a bit crooked) and they said it's safe as long as I don't use heat; they also said they do get bent in shipping sometimes.
I purchased this from Amazon, I'm pretty sure I could get a replacement or just return it. A friend of mine bought the same hitch receiver and he had the same problem, but banged it on cement to get it to fit (the moron said it fitted right when I asked him about it, I only found out about the banging after getting mine). Considering his experience, I'm not convinced I'd be getting one that would fit as a replacement from Amazon.
I have no prior experience with hitches and I'm doing this to mount 2 bikes with a hitch rack. I have no plans regarding trailers, but I would tow a small trailer if needed.
This one costs $83, the next cheapest one is Reese at $111, and Curt at $136. They all seem expensive for what they are to be honest...
So what would you do? Advice is welcome.
1. modify the current copy?
2. return for replacement?
3. return and buy a more expensive one?

FYI I am cheap. Packing and shipping would be more of a hassle than just banging the hitch receiver on cement (I am worried about the welds, so I would try to do it another way).

Thanks.

 

[Rand]

send it back make them pay shipping

order a different brand.

 

[yonyon]

Could you cut a piece of scrap pipe to protect the welds and bend it with a come along or ratchet strap? If you don't have a piece of pipe, a length of used pipe can be purchased at low cost from a scrapyard, you just don't know it's history and therefore can't use it as an actual pipe in most applications. Used gas line is especially useless.

 

[oiltard]

bang it on cement

 

[IndyIan]

IF its welded well, the welds will be stronger than the substrate. I ground/pounded/tore off some quick attach hardware off a quality manure bucket and it was incredible how 1 inch of half ground off weld would bend 1.5" x 1.5" angle iron instead of snapping off...
I have a little 3lb sledge thats good for persuading metal to move in a controllable manner, put the hitch on your lawn and hit the area that you want a bend in towards you.

 

[yonyon]

I was under the impression that that sort of thing would be arc welded without too much concern for the area adjacent to the welds becoming brittle from the head.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
I was under the impression that that sort of thing would be arc welded without too much concern for the area adjacent to the welds becoming brittle from the head.

It's an old horst welding manure bucket. I think its their motto to do everything the best way possible. I'm not a welder at all but now that I've bought a few impIements I can see the differences in the joints they use and weld quality. The horst guys made every weld I ground off have full contact all the way through...
You would think a car hitch would be made well too, but who knows these days...

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Rand
send it back make them pay shipping

order a different brand.


+1.

 

[lexus114]

Not to be smart here, but what are you planning on towing with a Corolla?

 

[zorobabel]

Thanks for the replies guys!
So the score is: 3 for modifying vs 2 for return; I was hoping for an easy decision here

.
About the welding - it goes all the way around the contact area, it could be quality welding

@yonyon - Unfortunately a pipe would not help. I'll post some photos this evening.

@lexus114 - It's in the original post, the reason I'm doing this is to carry 2 bikes on a hitch bike rack.

 

[tig1]

In SAE what is 10-15 MM?

 

[zorobabel]

Originally Posted By: tig1
In SAE what is 10-15 MM?

About 1/2".

 

[zorobabel]

Here's how the hitch receiver looks like:

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: zorobabel
Thanks for the replies guys!
So the score is: 3 for modifying vs 2 for return; I was hoping for an easy decision here

.
About the welding - it goes all the way around the contact area, it could be quality welding

@yonyon - Unfortunately a pipe would not help. I'll post some photos this evening.

@lexus114 - It's in the original post, the reason I'm doing this is to carry 2 bikes on a hitch bike rack.

 

[zorobabel]

I used a hammer, a piece of hardwood and supported the receiver hitch on concrete -> I was able to straighten it out. Nothing bad seems to have happened. It's mounted on the Corolla now, but it hasn't seen a load yet. I'll post back if it fails.
Thanks for the help!