P500 Moose 2” Install

[lazypengu1n]

Ended up going with the Moose 2” Hitch. Had everything lined up and saw the the hitch was going to be pressed up against the rear diff. Took an oscillating saw and cut about 1/4” square to clear the hitch tubing.

Looks good. Won’t be towing or hauling anything over OEM capacities anyways.

 

[Admin]

 

[Brmcg324]

I had the same interference on my 2020 P500, the rib on the rear gearbox (it’s not a differential). I did not want to cut on the gearbox, so I used a grinder to make the notch on the square tubing of the moose hitch. I also put a spot of black spray paint to slow the rusting. Finally, I added extra washers under the mounting bolts to space the moose hitch out from the frame a bit more. This hitch is so much more practical than the small built in hitch, and I do not pull anything heavy.

 

[lazypengu1n]

Thanks, I was having a hard time trying to get the name for the gearbox down. Looks awesome!

 

[wtmcminn]

I put a KFI front hitch on the front bumper for my hitch hauler, and then added this 'adapter' to the rear for my road feeder. Am I asking for trouble simply using the adapter?

 

[lazypengu1n]

It’s personal preference - I’ve seen adapters so weird stuff on ATVs and SXS, YMMV. For the $85 and 30 mins, I like having the extra hook positions and the solid hitch.

 

[Brmcg324]

I was using an adapter like that, but the extra length of a hitch and being low to the ground, it became awkward and dragged on the ground if you go up or down a hill. The moose hitch seems to be a useful height, about the same distance above ground as the hitch on my pickup truck. With a hitch hauler and soft rear springs, it was hitting the ground with only 100 pounds in the hitch hauler.

 

[wtmcminn]

I'm sensing my first mod replacement...

 

[Kilroy]

I did not have any issues with the Moose hitch hitting the gear box on my 2015 P500. I did have to open up the holes in the hitch to get all of the bolts to go through. I do need to trim some of the back of my Curt D Ring shackle since it does hit the gear box and prevents me from having the d ring parallel to the ground plunger I can't get the hitch pin either. The Curt works fine if I turn it 90 degrees though.

 

[SILVER_ALERT]

I put a KFI front hitch on the front bumper for my hitch hauler, and then added this 'adapter' to the rear for my road feeder. Am I asking for trouble simply using the adapter?

View attachment 353037

I had one of those for a while and I did not like it. It was heavy, and stuck out way too far when I put the 2" hitch in it. It also bottomed out on steep transitions. I don't tow anything really heavy, so I got one of these and it works for just about anything that I need to do.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TN4V68K/?tag=sxsweb24-20

 

[driller]

I don't tow anything really heavy, so I got one of these and it works for just about anything that I need to do.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TN4V68K/?tag=sxsweb24-20

View attachment 353082

That's what I use and it works well for my purposes. 👍

 

[Vyza]

Will the Moose hitch fit the 2021 P520?

 

[The Green Goat]

Will the Moose hitch fit the 2021 P520?

Yes

 

[crewcabrob]

Yep, I have one on mine.

 

[crewcabrob]

Looks like all the other pictures you have seen after its on.

On my 21, I didn't have to make the notch. Two of my spacers were missing from my packaging, so my new spacers were just enough to clear the gear case without modification.

Rob

 

[Kilroy]

Two of my spacers were missing from my packaging,

I was missing spacers also when I bought my hitch a couple of months ago. Moose sent out another complete bag of bolts, nuts and spacers within a few days. I never did hear back from Dennis Kirk about the missing spacers.

 

[wtmcminn]

View attachment 353557

Looks like all the other pictures you have seen after its on.

On my 21, I didn't have to make the notch. Two of my spacers were missing from my packaging, so my new spacers were just enough to clear the gear case without modification.

Rob

What part number is typed on those instructions? I got mine today, went to put it on, the instructions sheet says 2015 Honda Pioneer 500, part number 4504-0146. Couldn't get the holes to line up. Just hanging it on the upper bolts, the bottom holes were 1/8-1/4" off and I didn't want to force/drill anything for fear I had the wrong part number shipped from Motosport? Any help here? I was also missing 3 small spacers...good grief,.

 

[crewcabrob]

Mine didn’t line up perfect, but I didn’t have to drill the holes out. I just used a little leverage to help line up the holes. Make sure you don’t tighten anything down until you get them lined up.
I took one of my small spacers to the hardware store, found the closest thing I could and bought 4 so they would all match. That’s crazy you were only given 1 in your parts bag.

 

[Vyza]

That's the same part number listed on my instructions for the hitch that I just bought last week. I found the lower holes to be very tight and the top holes were a little more off. I wanted to use M10 bolts instead of the included 3/8" bolts to keep everything metric. I was able to use M10 bolts for the lower holes, but not the top. I had to use the 3/8" bolts for the top and realized that they probably included the smaller bolts to make up for any tolerance issues.

I had to put one bolt in the bottom with the the nut just barely on and then had to put a lot of pressure on the mount to get the second bottom bolt to align while turning the bolt with a wrench to get it to screw into the hole. I had to keep using the wrench to get the bolt far enough through the hole to fasten the nut. I then alternately tightened each bolt from the back which pushed the mount away from the frame. This provided more wiggle room. I repeated this process for the top bolts. And, once I had all of the nuts on the bolts, I alternately tightened each nut a half turn or so at a time.

In retrospect, I wish I would have just widened all four of the holes a little before installation. And, although I currently have it installed this way, I will probably remove the top 3/8" bolts, drill larger top holes, and replace with M10 bolts.

 

[Kilroy]

I had to open up all four holes by 1/32" to get all of the bolts to go through. The hitch receiver has been stable and good to go. I have pulled a few small trees by using a logging chain and a D Ring shackle in the receiver hitch.

I did double check afterwards to make sure the bolts were still tight and they didn't stretch any. The bolts were fine and no damage to the receiver either.

 

[Idahotruckman]

I just installed the same hitch. Dennis Kirk / Moose left out 2 of the small spacers that go on between the outside of the frame and the hitch. They were good about sending the missing spacers.
The install was fairly easy. The holes were off just enough that the bolts were difficult to get through the holes. I didn't have to drill larger holes or cut part of the hitch.
The hitch is heavy-duty. It will be handy to assist in moving thr atv trailer in the yard.