This is my first post with ??'s...My X did not come with the tow package. I just wanted to know what you guys think about me letting U-Haul do that for me? Or should I take it to someone else or possibly turn it into a DIY job??? Is this difficult to do on an X??

What year X?

My guess is that it would have to be 2003 ;)

What year X?

Yes, it is an 03.

its easy as pie, 6 bolts, thats pretty much it

its easy as pie, 6 bolts, thats pretty much it

Thanks, I have never really done anything like that before. I am willing to try anything once. I was just not sure how to come around the spare tire, I haven't been under to look at it that close.

Spare doesn't get in the way. The hitch connects by 3 bolts per side on the frame rails..

btw, I knew you had to have an 03 ;)

btw, I knew you had to have an 03 ;)

How did you know that?

I bought a hitch and plan to install it myself. I got it online for about $130.00 (brand new).

How did you know that?

(brand new).

Probably bc its orange, or his screen name would suggest it was orange, i believe that color was only available in 03

it was a good guess from the screen name. :D

You can install a hitch yourself, but if you don't want to, Uhaul is a fine place, just don't let them wire the harness as they will just tap into your tail lights with a universal 4 pin plug. Nissan sells the right harness that you plug right in.

well it says to use 6 bolts but on my 00 se me and ricer could only fit 4 the others wouldnt line up right but i works......

Thanks for the info. I will try to do anything myself. That's the fun part!!

Ok, one more question about this one...what website did you order your hitch from for only $130?? That sounds like a good price!

i got mine for etrailer.com with the hitch and the wiring harness it was 159.99 shipped, then it was .99 shipping for anything over 150 so i dont know but i will look real quick for you.

Ok, one more question about this one...what website did you order your hitch from for only $130?? That sounds like a good price!


http://www.hidden-hitches.com/


or for my X

http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-2076&bool=AND&category=hh_combo_makemodel&maxhits=10&keywords=2000&keywords_2=NISSAN+XTERRA&GO=GO%21

here is the link http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=Xterra&category=hitch&year=2003&make=Nissan&t1=&h=e and they still have .99 ship for orders over 150, the link is for 03 xterra already, good luck......

If you plan to tow, I would make sure to follow the directions on the install to a T (leaving out 2 bold can really have an ill effect if you are towing a trailer). Also be sure to follow the torque specs for the bolts. If you can't find them let me know and I'll look it up in the Service Manual.

Also, with the 00-04's they required frame stiffeners. I don't know if they were supplied with your hitch, but that might be why you can't get the other bolts in.

What is the deal with the frame stiffeners? I don't think my hitch came with them. I am only going to tow to sport bike on a small utility trailer. Do I really need them?

Thanks again, I have been on both sites and am trying to compare between them. Found that for another $20 I can get an extra 1500# tow capacity, so I figured what the hell it's only $20 and you never know when you might need that little extra. I couldn't pass up the .99 shipping either! I am not sure about the stiffeners either. I will have to look under her this weekend and read through my manual a bit for the torque settings. I cannot see anywhere on the site about frame stiffeners??

mine didnt come with frame stiff. and i asked the guys at etrailer if i needed them and they told me no, you dont need the stiff. on a 00 xterra

I bought the hitch from etrailer without the frame stiffnersfor my '03 X. The first time I used it I pulled an 18' Featherlite trailer set up for racing go-carts and it bent so that the ball dropped about 3". I thought that it might have had too much nose weight, but only had 480 lbs. on the tounge. Which is within the rated weight for the hitch. I ended up buying the hitch from Nissan with the stiffners and have not had any problems hauling the race trailer or my camper.

Silly question, since I don't know exactly what the frame stiffeners are or look like...can you buy the hitch one place and get the stiffener from another?? Or is it a part of the actual hitch??

Go to this link

http://www.xterraparts.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Tow_Instr_pg1.html

It has pics of the frame stiffeners and instructions on install. You amy also be able to go to xterraparts.com and order just the stiffeners

i also plan on getting one installed in my 06 X, is it about the same procedure?

its been a while since i posted here. whats up guys

i also plan on getting one installed in my 06 X, is it about the same procedure?

its been a while since i posted here. whats up guys

The 05+ X doesn't have the frame stiffener (doesn't need it).

It has pics of the frame stiffeners and instructions on install. You amy also be able to go to xterraparts.com and order just the stiffeners[/quote]

That definitely cleared it up, thanks! Now just to find out if I can buy them separate from the hitch...I will give the good ol' dealer a call, hopefully talk to someone that has a clue what's going on!!

Since I got a contact (net friend) at the Nissan plant for the Xterra, I had asked if he could obtain these parts and they are not a offical Nissan part and only aftermarket. So they are not available as a seperate part from Courtesy Nissan. They were available from Skid Row (approx $100) back in late 2004 when I was searching but I am unable to find them in a quick search of their site as of today. Basically they are about 1 foot of angle iron with 3 nuts of same thread for the bolts.

Thanks for looking...So I may be basically stuck having to get them from a dealer...I would hate to buy the hitch and have it bend on me or worse yet damage whatever I would be pulling! I have searched myself a few different sites and could not come up with anything.