Will Draw-Tite Trailer hitch 41001 Fit a 1986 Chevrolet C-20 Silverado With a Spare Tire

Expert Reply:

Draw-Tite hitch # 41001 should work well on your 1986 Chevrolet Silverado, but you would need to either modify the spare tire hanger or relocate the spare tire in order for the hitch to fit.

We do offer a hitch specifically for the 2-wheel drive models, part # 40050, but modification or relocation of the spare tire would also be required to install this hitch.

In addition to the trailer hitch, you would also need a ball mount, hitch ball, hitch pin, and wiring to complete your towing setup. The recommended ball mount for your application would be part # 2753, but to determine whether this would work for your particular trailer, you will need to take some measurements. Measure from the ground to a point just below your bumper, where the hitch would sit. Then, measure from the ground to the flat bottom of the trailer coupler. The difference between these two measurements would be your required rise or drop.

You could use a hitch lock like part # e98882 to secure the ballmount. This lock is stainless steel, so it stands up well to the elements. The most common hitch ball would have a 2 inch diameter, like part # 19247.

To wire your truck for towing, you could use custom fit wiring harness # HM41115, which plugs into factory connectors near the inner end of your driver side frame rail. This would equip the vehicle with a standard 4-Way flat plug.

I am including links to the installation instructions for both models and the wiring, so you can compare, as well as to some additional information on towing and hitch installation in general.