Drawtite Hitch on 98 Explorer, HELP with install please

[blackhawk51]

i just got a drawtite hitch for my explorer and when i went to lift it up to test fit it underneath my explorer, i noticed that i cant get the brackets to touch both sets of holes without hitting the spare tire, how do i mount the hitch??

 

[trj360]

Your spare tire might have shifted a little. Just a thought.

 

[celly]

Are you certain you have the right hitch? I remember some confusion way back when before I got a hitch installed about what hitch actually worked with my 2nd gen Explorer. The first one the shop tried to install didn't fit in a similar fashion you mention. I can't remember the brand, but it may have been Draw Tite. I was trying to get one with the round tubular bars but had to settle on the square ones with this particular shop.

 

[Mark98]

If it is similiar to the hidden hitch model, you have to loosen your spare tire and push it out of the way until you put it on(or you might have to take it off completely)

 

[Spdrcer34]

Check the air in your spare tire also. There have been stories of the spare being over inflated, making the tire larger in diameter.

Drop the tire, check the air. Install the Hitch. Reinstall tire.

I have the OEM Ford Hitch on my wifes `93 and when I installed it I had to drop the tire to get a wrench in there to bolt it up.

Ryan

 

[gijoecam]

At one time, Draw-Tite made two different hitches that would fit on your truck. One of them would not clear the 16" spare tire... Sounds like you got that one.

Get the right part and it'll work just fine. I had one on mine for several years.