CURT 31080 2-Inch Front Receiver Hitch, Select Dodge Dakota, Durango

My pickup, a 2000 Dodge Dakota quad cab four-wheel drive, had some frame damage. I use this to gauge where 2 Bend back frame where it connects to the bumper, which I learned from the previous owner. Everything seemed to fall into place after I used a 24 inch screw type Vice clamp and a floor jack. The two boltholes that Bolt 2 frame between front wheels were augured out with unibit. After getting all of the tools out and ready to go, it took me about an hour. Recommend jacking up the front of your truck as high as possible with whatever jack stands you have, then using a floor jack to jack up the center of the receiver hitch and hold it in place, then using Vise clamps to hold one side and bolt the other. After the two ends were bolted, I simply bolted the center bolts to the frame. The wire guide worked perfectly; if you use it correctly, you will have no problems; if you pull too hard, your holes will not line up, and it will not work. Also, removing your fog lights will allow you to move around more freely. It's easier to put your hands through fog light holes if you have fat or large hands. This will become apparent as you begin to install the lights.

Jessie Forbes

| Dec 10, 2021

Except for one slightly misaligned hole (not on my frame), it was a breeze to put together. Except for the fact that the rearmost hole on the center bracket was slightly off from where it should've been, the installation was very simple and should've been very easy. Others have had this problem and have attributed it to their frames, which makes sense in some cases. However, in my case, the only explanation for my frame being the issue is that it was stretched lengthwise, which seems highly unlikely. This was solved by "hogging/egging out" the existing hole in my frame, which worked fine. Aside from that hiccup, which took me a while to notice because I initially mistook it for not being properly aligned, it works great and accomplishes the purpose for which I purchased it.

Frankie Hartman

| Dec 21, 2021

This was purchased for my father's 2001 Dodge Dakota 4wd truck. Everything I needed was included with instructions, which were all securely taped to the receiver itself, and I was pleased with the quality and fit. I found it relatively simple to install on my own, but I also have a lot of mechanical experience and a well-equipped shop, so depending on your situation and experience, you may have some difficulty. The most difficult part was aligning some of the bolt holes, but with the help of a few pry bars, I was able to keep all of the factory shrouds in place while still having access to the oil filter cover and filter. It arrived exactly when it was supposed to. In general, I'm happy with my purchase.

Michael Burke

| Jan 20, 2021

For a front-mounted tow hook, cargo rack, or whatever, I ordered this for my 2000 Durango. Arrived in a massive cardboard box with only minor damage to the cardboard and no visible damage to the steel. Curt had thrown in a couple of pieces of foam to protect the receiver, but they were useless. br>br>The finish is a gloss black powder coat, which looks fantastic. The six bolts, nuts, and backing plates, as well as one threaded fishwire, were also included. br>br>Installation required removing four bumper mount bolts, which were easily removed with an air ratchet and some WD40. Lifting the receiver up into the frame, supporting it, and somehow fishing a bolt into one of the holes is by far the most difficult part of the job (when doing it alone). The rest is a piece of cake once you've nailed down that crucial first bolt that holds one side in place. br>br>I tried a few different approaches with my hydraulic car jack, but the one that worked best for me was to position the jack far to one side of the receiver, secure it with a ratchet strap wrapped around the receiver and jack, and jack it up against the frame's side. br>br>This allows you to work on the opposite side of the receiver while only bearing half the weight, knowing that the whole thing won't fall off the jack and break your jaw. br>br>Once the first bolt was in, the second, third, and fourth bolts were a breeze to install. br>br>The frame cross member mounting center plate holes were off by about a quarter inch. It could be Curt's fault, or my truck could have been bumped in the last fourteen years, causing frame alignment to be off. In any case, a 1/2" drill bit took about 60 seconds to fix the problem. Those two bolts went in without difficulty as well. br>br> After all six were installed, it was simply a matter of tightening them to the manufacturer's recommended torque of 110 ft/lbs and you were done. br>br>The included fishwire was never used, which was fine because the wire had unwound and was useless after the first attempt when I used it just to test it. br>br>The finished look is very nice, and you won't notice the receiver hole unless you're looking for it. I haven't checked to see if it's now the lowest point on the frame, but if it is, it's only by a fraction of an inch. br>br>This was a no-drilling*, no-alteration (to the bumper fascia or anything else) installation that was reasonably priced and a simple job for the end result. br>br>*I did have to drill two offset holes, but that could have easily been due to a previous accident the truck had been in.

Isaac Blanchard

| Sep 27, 2021

I've bought Curt hitches before and have always been pleased with the quality of construction and relative ease of installation. Although it would have been easier with two people, I installed this hitch by myself. I was relieved to discover that the winch appeared to be perfectly balanced, and I was able to start assembly and check fit by using a heavy-duty floor jack to hold it in place. br>br>I ordered my Dakota with factory skid plates, so the assembly will need to be tweaked. When mounting the hitch to the crossmember, one of the original bolts for the front skid plate must be reused, and a hole must be drilled into the skid plate to provide a flush mount for the second bolt (part of Curt parts) to secure and torque to specifications. To drill through the skid plate to modify it, all that was required was a simple hole saw. br>br>For my Dakota, I created custom tow hook mounts that used the same frame bolt holes as this hitch. To accept the tow hook assembly, I had to drill an additional 1/2 inch hole in each side of the hitch's mounting plate. The hitch's material quality was excellent, and drilling these two holes took longer than mounting the hitch, even with a high-quality 1/2-inch drill and new cobalt drill bit. I bought longer carriage bolts of the same quality to add the 1/2 inch tow hook mounting plates to keep the structure sound. br>br>I bought this receiver hitch to use as a winch mount because it has a 9000 winch pull rating, which is more than enough for me. br>br>I would recommend this hitch to any Dakota/Durango buyer without hesitation.

Blaise Butler

| Jul 06, 2021