are gen 1 and gen 2 Astros hitchs interchangable

[Thebrain]

are gen 1 and gen 2 Astros hitchs interchangeable

I'm planning a hidden hitch for a 99 astro are the gen 1 1988 though the gen2 2005 models use the same hidden hitch?

Thanks TB

[pauldeere]

Not for sure, however if you have a hitch installer in your are they should be able to give you that info.

[Lumpy]

Seems simple enough to discover. Go to whatever website and look up a trailer hitch for some year Gen I. Do the same for some year Gen II. See if the hitch model numbers are the same.

Or look up some trailer hitch on something like RockAuto, OReilly, AutoBlown etc and check the "Applications". That should tell you "Chevy Astro 85 - xx" or whatever.


Lump

[RECox286]

The universal hitch kits will fit both, but there will probably be a difference in the specific fit hitches.

How do I know ? I have universal hitches on both gen 1 & 2 trucks. They (Reese) fit and work very well,

and they were a stock item that I didn't have to order and wait for, no matter how quick a delivery.

There were extra parts left over after the install, but what the hey ?! I can't see the difference from my

rooftop...

Uncle Bob

[Thebrain]

I should have mentioned I will not buy a new hitch.

either I see one already on a van same model as what I've planned on gen 2 and know it fits.

there's a couple of junk yards that usalley have a pile of hitchs in a corner so I better know what they look like.
Thanks TB

[DRZ]

the bolt on area of one is level and is stepped on the other. Can't remember which is which but the bolt holes are in the same position. I think that is why some hitches bolt under the bumper brackets and some above
.

[Leeann_93]

I took a Draw-Tite Class III hitch off my '93 and installed it on my '99 then on my '02. Perfect fit; all bolt holes line up and are usable.

All mine are AWD; dunno about RWD.

[Thebrain]

I took a Draw-Tite Class III hitch off my '93 and installed it on my '99 then on my '02. Perfect fit; all bolt holes line up and are usable.

All mine are AWD; dunno about RWD.

a local JY has a 93 Astro w/ a U-Haul hitch class 3
kindof of rusted up and he asking $50. that w/out the receiver, or the wire converter, it appeared that the PO just extended the wires from the taillights into the 7 pin connecter?

the 93s looks like it will fit the 99 thanks for posting.
TB

[Leeann_93]

Mine was more than a little rusted up. Hit it with the wire wheel, primed and painted it. When I switched it from the '99 to the '02, I painted it again.

Wires should be in a bundle in the jack compartment. Easy to connect to the connector of your choice.

[Thebrain]

I picked up a hitch today think it's a class three it has a U-haul lable,off a 93 Astro I mearsure the center of the bolt on both my van and the donor Van mearsurement was 41 1/2" states 750LB tongue wieght and 6000Lb load
not sure what all that means I had the understanding the 99Astro is rated at 500LB tongue wieght an 5000LB tow 1.capisity is this correct for the rear wheel drive?

2.I think the AWD Astros are rated a tad higher ?

I hope the hitch isn't rusted though I probablley should have jabbed it a bit w/ a screwdriver.
anyway I paid more than I wanted to $40. plus $4. tax total $44. from a JY I wanted a hitch from pull a part for $25. which included the slide bar and ball all I got was the hitch I'm on a time line w/ my new boat so I had to payup.

I did'nt get there slide bar because I did'nt know if I needed a straight bar or the kind that is elavated a bit because of how low the van is allready.
3.what do you guy's think straight bar or elavated I think my tounge wieght will be 250-300LB tow wieght 2500LB-3000LB.
4.I'm also curious if I'll need rear air shocks w/ this load?

5.don't think I've sean the taillight wires in the jack area mine is a conversion.

6.if I don't see the wires guess I'll have to slice into each light.

7. I bougth Krylon spray paint w/ the primer built in used it on the mailbox last year and it looks good.
Thanks Guy's for the advice TB

[Leeann_93]

The straght, drop or rise receiver depends on the trailer. You have to use whichever one makes the trailer level when hooked to your vehicle.

I usually buy the 2" drop bar, then turn it over to be a 2" rise if needed.

It means the hitch is rated for more weight than the Astro can tow, so this is good. You actually can tow 5,500 lbs with 500 lbs tongue weight.

[Thebrain]

here's the new (kindof )hitch.

how did you run the wires that at in the jack area to the outside is the a hole already there maybe covered w/ a piece of rubber?

the bundle of wires in the jack area has the small white, green,brom,yellow I assume these are the only wires I slice into and just leave the other larger wires alone?

and are these wire's standardized like white being ground ect?

My old boat trailer has a male wire end I attach image and so doe's the wire that came w/ hitch there is also a dual female wire end however I would have to cut the rubber cover off the old boat wire end to be able to insert it into the female van wire end.

Thanks for suggestions TB

[Thebrain]

2 more ?s

I have the gen 1 hitch (off a 93 astro it a hidden hitch from U-haul) on my 99 the hitch receiver is way under the rear bumper, I have sean other Astros on the road and there recievers where even w/ rear bumper.

1.was the hidden hitch designed to be this much hidden under the gen 2 see image (2" drop)?


2.is the gen 1 rear bumper the same size (front to back length)/ as the gen2?

3. is the a rule of thumb for how high the ball mount should be, I cruised by a actualle trailer hitch store and if I remember correctly the man mumbuled 18" off the ground was rule of thumb? is this 18" the top of the ball or the bottom of the ball mount?

he also suggested a 6" drop turned rightside up for my 250LB tongue load.

image attached is a 2" drop what do you Guy's think it appears the top of the ball is at the middle of the bumper?
Thanks TB

[Old Barney]

I mounted my light socket in the bumper Had to use a stack of spacers to fit between the plastic and the steel bumpers. Also I carry a box end wrench I bought at tractor supply in the trailer section this way if I need to switch around the ball to different lift or drop. 2" I leave the ball adapter in the receiver sit on the ground and kick the wrench with both feet and swap it around then remove it and tip over the adapter. At home I use my impact and do it the easy way. If you look at my gallery here I posted photos of my rear bumper. I also used a socket that has both 4 pin and 7 pin this way The only adapter I have to use sometimes is a 5 pin round to 7 pin flat.
The hitch I installed is from a 1999 AWD into the 2000 RWD. Which is NOT a shin knocker unless I leave the ball adapter in OUCH!!
The other socket that looks like a light socket is just 12 volt outlet for winch

[Thebrain]

Barney when you say mounted the light socket in bumper are you referring to the 5 or 7 pin connecter that's connected to the vans taillights?

if yes how is it mounted I clicked on you're photos and only saw 7 photos of a white van on blocks in the back yard. can you post the image.

not quite sure what you are using a box wrench on do you have a adjustable ball mount?

so is there a actualle rule of thumb for the height of the ball?

from what I understand the astro's rear end will not sag much if any w/ a 250LB tongue weight

and it's most important to have the trailer level at the point of ball, not tilted down or tilted up but level. so I guess I need to mearsure each of my trailers to determine the right ball mount height?
Thanks TB

[AstroWill]

not quite sure what you are using a box wrench on do you have a adjustable ball mount?

so is there a actualle rule of thumb for the height of the ball?

from what I understand the astro's rear end will not sag much if any w/ a 250LB tongue weight

and it's most important to have the trailer level at the point of ball, not tilted down or tilted up but level. so I guess I need to mearsure each of my trailers to determine the right ball mount height?
Thanks TB

Use the box wrench here to flip the ball to the other side, so you can have the ball lower, or higher.

reesehitch.jpg (47.78 KiB) Viewed 1608 times

The rule of thumb is that your trailer should be level.

Depends on springs, condition, cargo load, etc etc.

Yes you would need to measure as it would be fully loaded and connected to the van. They sell adjustable ones as well.

[Old Barney]

I have two groups of photos one for the white donor 1999 AWD and another group for the green 2000 RWD The trailer plug is a HOPKINS combination 7 conductor has 6 flat socket contacts around the center and a center contact, and on the left of the 7 contact there is a 4 contact vertical inline pin socket with separate cover. There are a few manufacturers of this style but I think the HOPKINS is the best for the money I have had a few the door spring gets weak or rusted so bad it won't hold the cover down. The cover of the 7 conductor has a tab that is supposed to lock into the plug so it wont fall out and obtain road rash.
I will try to get better photo in 2000 RWD set of photos today of sockets and add them here.
What ever brand of socket you buy make sure it has a rust proof door hinge pin and spring. Tractor supply,O'Reilly's have Hopkins may be other stores that carry them.
The fine photo of the ball adapter pointing to were the box end wrench goes is great I put it in the receiver upside down (ball down) and use my electric pawn shop special impact to remove and install the mounting nut. I also have seen the ball nut come loose on other peoples set up so I drill a small hole below the nut after the nut is installed and install a hair pin just to stop the nut from vibrating loose. Never happened to me but have witnessed this happening. The lock washer works fine when collapsed fully. Kind of like people who ware suspenders and a belt at same time. I call them safety engineers.

[Old Barney]

I forgot yes the connector is called 7 pin round and has inside flat sockets then i carry a 7 pin round to 6 pin round adapter which has 6 round contacts inside a round usually metal shell.
I also have a pintel hitch I don't have it with me all the time unless I plan on a military style trailer.

[AstroWill]

Kind of like people who ware suspenders and a belt at same time. I call them safety engineers.

[Lumpy]

I have two groups of photos...

Post em, please.


Lump