OEM Tow Hitch Ball Mount Doesn’t Fit

[alexdrums]

My new Telluride came with a ball mount for the tow hitch—and it looks like it should fit—but it doesn’t want to slide in the receiver. The ball mount appears to be manufactured by Curt.

Help!

 

[Nac]

From the light scratches on the top of the ball mount it appears there is an interference in the receiver at 12:00 and possibly at the top left corner.

Looking at the picture the receiver appears to be dented or fouled at the top at 12:00 in the middle.

You could attempt to LIGHTLY file the interference on the receiver to a nice 45 degree angle and then touch up with black paint or let the dealer do it and hope they get it right...

 

[alexdrums]

From the light scratches on the top of the ball mount it appears there is an interference in the receiver at 12:00 and possibly at the top left corner.

Looking at the picture the receiver appears to be dented or fouled at the top at 12:00 in the middle.

You could attempt to LIGHTLY file the interference on the receiver to a nice 45 degree angle and then touch up with black paint or let the dealer do it and hope they get it right...

Thank you for your reply. Hmm...well I have a two-inch trailer hitch bike rack and that slid in there fine. I am thinking I would rather modify the hitch ball if I needed rather than the hitch. Also I had put some pool lube on there so maybe that is what you are seeing?

 

[Nac]

Yes maybe that is what I am seeing, a little hard to tell even thought he pictures are pretty good.

Good thinking, I agree with your thought of modifying the least cost easiest to replace part.

You could inspect the receiver for interferences by running your GLOVED finger around the interior to determine if there are any interferences in there that may be easily removed.
Wear a glove for the initial inspection to ensure you don't get cut if there is a metal chip in there!!

Next inspect the hitch, I would be looking for high or thick spots of coating (paint or powder coat) if its too thick it can cause an interference.

If your bike rack fits fine, its probably the hitch that has the tolerance issue.

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[alexdrums]

Yes maybe that is what I am seeing, a little hard to tell even thought he pictures are pretty good.

Good thinking, I agree with your thought of modifying the least cost easiest to replace part.

You could inspect the receiver for interferences by running your GLOVED finger around the interior to determine if there are any interferences in there that may be easily removed.
Wear a glove for the initial inspection to ensure you don't get cut if there is a metal chip in there!!

Next inspect the hitch, I would be looking for high or thick spots of coating (paint or powder coat) if its too thick it can cause an interference.

If your bike rack fits fine, its probably the hitch that has the tolerance issue.

Okay, thanks. I was just trying to see if I was missing something obvious. I will do a careful inspection later and see what I can find.

 

[NDBlackEX]

In what way does it not fit? Will it not go in at all, only part way? Is it obviously hitting somewhere because the ball mount is too wide?

 

[alexdrums]

In what way does it not fit? Will it not go in at all, only part way? Is it obviously hitting somewhere because the ball mount is too wide?

It won’t slide in either way (up or down). It gets stuck right at the opening and I can’t get it in at all. Kind of weird, cause it looks ok. I didn’t see any imperfections. I guess if I can’t file it down or something I’ll go to a dealer and have them look at it.

 

[NDBlackEX]

It won’t slide in either way (up or down). It gets stuck right at the opening and I can’t get it in at all. Kind of weird, cause it looks ok. I didn’t see any imperfections. I guess if I can’t file it down or something I’ll go to a dealer and have them look at it.

That's weird. I've never seen anything like that before. I wonder if the ball mount doesn't have excess powder coating since your bike rack fits okay. I'd run it by the dealer before I started filing things down. Of course, I'd probably try another ball mount to see if the issue is with the hitch or the ball mount.

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[zamboni]

Hi Alex,

I tried my ball mount that came with the car from the factory (Tow option), and it fit with no issues. It looks just like the one in your pictures. There are, however, no white spots or marks.

Good luck,
Z.

 

[alexdrums]

Thanks!

 

[alexdrums]

Does anybody know what those thin metal plates are for in the hitch ball box?

 

[NDBlackEX]

Does anybody know what those thin metal plates are for in the hitch ball box?

I was curious about what those were. I didn't get those.

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[zamboni]

Does anybody know what those thin metal plates are for in the hitch ball box?

Hi Alex,

I found the attached instructions posted by a forum member. Look on page 2 for item 7, and agin on page 7. The description is for outer bracket for a 4-flat connector.

Regards,
Z.

 

[alexdrums]

Hi Alex,

I found the attached instructions posted by a forum member. Look on page 2 for item 7, and agin on page 7. The description is for outer bracket for a 4-flat connector.

Regards,
Z.

Ahh...that is what I was thinking, thanks!

 

[alexdrums]

Okay, I got it in there. There were two lumpy parts inside the bottom of the receiver that I thought might be the problem, so I smoothed them out with my Dremel tool.



But then it still wouldn’t go in!
So I lubed up the post and then just shoved it in there as hard as I could (in typical male fashion) and lo and behold, that sucker went in! I think there might have been some other uneven paint spots in the receiver that could have also been the problem. Anyway, problem solved and I don’t have to go to the dealer. YAY

 

[Mattbcnv]

Okay, I got it in there. There were two lumpy parts inside the bottom of the receiver that I thought might be the problem, so I smoothed them out with my Dremel tool.

View attachment 11336

But then it still wouldn’t go in!
So I lubed up the post and then just shoved it in there as hard as I could (in typical male fashion) and lo and behold, that sucker went in! I think there might have been some other uneven paint spots in the receiver that could have also been the problem. Anyway, problem solved and I don’t have to go to the dealer. YAY

when I saw your post I went out and tried mine ... wouldn’t fit, but being the type of guy I am, and being I was dealing with sturdy metal parts, I have it the ol Mattie “thrust” and it went right in.... seems to be burrs and overspray ....

problem solved!!!!

thanks for posting!!

mattbcnv

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[alexdrums]

when I saw your post I went out and tried mine ... wouldn’t fit, but being the type of guy I am, and being I was dealing with sturdy metal parts, I have it the ol Mattie “thrust” and it went right in.... seems to be burrs and overspray ....

problem solved!!!!

thanks for posting!!

mattbcnv

Great! Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking, I am dealing with two heavy-duty pieces of iron here, how much damage could I possibly do?

 

[Sportshot2]

Mine won’t fit either so I just grabbed a different one I had and it slid right in. I’ll have to see if there is some obstruction in the receiver

 

[Sportshot2]

Wow, the other one I tried towing with just vibrated terribly so I’ll have to figure out what keeps the OEM one from going in

 

[alexdrums]

Wow, the other one I tried towing with just vibrated terribly so I’ll have to figure out what keeps the OEM one from going in

See my pictures above. I also keep a rubber mallet in my storage area just in case I need to pound it in.