Hidden Hitch Class III Receiver Hitch

WHY?  This truck is a working truck; I have to use it to haul things around a ranch and I have occasion to pull an assortment of different trailers.  Though I can pull my small motorcycle trailer with the bumper ball I figured that I would need a hitch that was positioned lower and was capable of handling more weight.  I set out to look for a class III receiver hitch.  I was about to buy the OEM Nissan hitch when I came across an interesting item on eBay--a unit made by Hidden hitch specifically for the 2005 Frontier.  This hitch tucks up nicely behind the bumper yet does not interfere with removal of the spare tire; it bolts into existing frame holes and no cutting or drilling is required.  The towing rating is 5000 pounds and a 500 pound tongue weight.  The price was definitely reasonable--$125 plus $28 shipping.  I paid online via Paypal.

SERVICE.  Better than average.  I received an email confirmation after placing the order, but I was not sent any shipping information.  The hitch arrived at the door seven days after purchase, which I have found to be about average.  Everything arrived in the original packaging and appeared to be in good shape.  Parts and instructions were included (with one exception--see below).  There were no obvious dents or dings, all of the welds looked to be clean, and the black finish was without blemish.

INSTALLATION.  This job could be accomplished by an owner with modest mechanical skills and required only basic hand tools, though it would be handy to have a floor jack or a friend to help support the hitch as it is being bolted into place.  Using a floor jack to lift everything into place, I had everything bolted into place within 15 minutes.  The illustrated instructions were clear but almost unnecessary, as it is pretty obvious how the hitch fit into place.  The only snag was the fact that two 12mm nuts were missing from the parts bag; luckily I found a couple of them in my spare parts drawer.  After everything was in place I was careful to tighten all the bolts to the recommended torque specs.

RESULTS.  Nice.  I'm really impressed with the fit and finish of this hitch, and it bolted into place without any problems.  If you'll look at the pic below you'll see that the mounting plate has cutouts for a couple of different connectors; I didn't use either of them but they are a nice touch and make for a clean installation.  You'll also notice that the only part of the hitch that is visible below the bumper is the receiver itself.

WORTH THE MONEY? Absolutely.  It's a nice price for a quality hitch.