Adding my experience to the OEM trailer hitch install on a 2022 Equinox. Part # 85111903.
The most difficult piece is removing and installing the bumper.
1. Pictures on Chevy dealer web sites all show the trailer hitch upside down from the way it gets installed.
2. No install instructions come with the trailer hitch.
3. I did find the video mentioned previously in this thread which helped immensely in figuring out the install.
4. The trailer hitch doesn't install like 3rd party trailer hitches which go underneath the frame. Those videos IMHO are misleading and useless.
5. The trailer hitch slides into the frame by removing the existing aluminum bumper.
6. BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING THE BUMPER. THE BODY SHEET METAL IS VERY THIN!
Install procedure.
1. I did not have to jack up the rear of the vehicle to install the hitch.
2. Use T15 Torx bit to remove the screws along the bottom/outside edge of the bumper. Ten screws in all. Two hold the blank trim where the hitch will be exposed.
3. Use a 7mm socket to remove screw (down facing) where top of bumper meets the wheel well. One each side.
4. The top side of the bumper attaches to the sheet metal via tabs that slide into the bumper. The sheet metal tabs are about 1 1/2" wide and are also very thin.
5. Given the thinness of the sheet metal, I did not use the method described in the video.
6. Working around from one wheel well to the other, push up on the diamond shaped release on the inside of the bumper while simultaneously pushing in on the corresponding spot on the outside of the bumper. The bumper will slide in about 1" or so which is far enough, then move on to the next tab. Didn't count them, maybe 16 in all.
7. When all the tabs are released the bumper can be easily pulled out off. My bumper had no sensors to deal with. The rear view camera is higher up on the tailgate.
8. Remove the aluminum bumper. I was expecting the bolts to be super tight. They were not and came off with out much effort.
9. The bolts/nuts are 15 mm. I used a universal joint on the end of a 9" extension to get to the top two nuts on each side of the bumper.
10. Remove the bolts off the muffler hangers on each side and swivel the hanger out of the way.
11. Pull hanger off the metal hook on each hanger.
12. The muffler hanger on the pipe feeding the muffler will hold the muffler up so no need to strap the muffler up.
13. Remove the bumper.
14. Brush out or vacuum the inside of the frame. (Not needed, just me).
15. Slide in the new trailer hitch. The bolts welded on the hitch frame should be on top. The round trailer light mount should be on the right of the 2" draw.
16. Swivel the muffler clamps back in place.
17. Use the same nuts/bolts to secure the trailer hitch to the frame. Use same amount of force to tighten these as used to get them off. Don't over tighten. Metal felt soft when I tightened them.
18. The six included bolts are 17mm. There are two plates also included in the kit.
19. The metal plates go one on each side, on the two end bolt holes of the hitch. Bolt holes are offset. Plates will be parallel with the frame. On mine, the side with the stamped number faced down away from the frame.
20. Insert and tighten the bolts. I applied a bit of torque to get these tight.
Trailer light cable (before replacing bumper).
1. There should be a connector for the trailer lights. There is a weather cap on the end.
2. Slide the red tab to the rear and remove the weather cap.
3. Slide on the new cable extender on to the connector and push the red tab in to lock it in place.
4. Feed the cable along the top of the hitch and pull through the mounting plate to the right of the 2" receiver.
5. Attach the L-bracket to the hitch using the two 10mm nuts/bolts. The nuts are self locking. Bottom short piece of the L-bracket is down and facing out.
6. Pull the connector through the L-bracket and then place the black adapter around the trailer light connector. There is a groove on the adapter which should match up with the strap of the weather cap.
7. The open side of the adapter goes down. Use the 7mm nuts/bolts to secure the adapter to the L-bracket, one washer on screw head, one on nut side. Screws have lock-tite like on ends to secure the nuts.
8. Use cables ties to secure the cable to the hitch frame. Put a cable tie on each side of the connector to eliminate chance of a rattle.
Replace bumper.
1. Start in the middle, lining up tabs on body with slots on the bumper. They won't pop in, just get them close.
2. Work from middle to either side. Push in on bumper from inside, while simultaneously pressing on sheet metal on the outside. When tab locks in, move on to the next.
3. Verify bumper and body panel are lined up.
4. Install Torx screws. Four per side.
5. Install 7mm screws. One each inside top where bumper meets body at wheel well.
Install hitch trim.
1. insert hitch trim which came with the kit.
2. Use two remaining Torx screws to secure the trim.
Done.!
