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CRUZTAKER
07-01-2006, 04:13 PM
Installed in under an hour.

With a little trimming I was able to finally get around to installing the progaurd from Dennis that has been sitting in my barage for the last 6 months.

Even with the hidden hitch, it fits tightly with no bowing.

I look forward to seeing long haul milage increases.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/7/PROGAURDCRUZTAKER004Large.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/7/PROGAURDCRUZTAKER003Large.jpg

glassman99
07-01-2006, 07:47 PM
Look's good!!! What's the capacity of your hitch?

1stMerc
07-01-2006, 08:57 PM
Cruztaker,
You beat me to the punch. Installed my hidden hitch Class lll 2" and progard a couple weeks ago, but hadn't gotten around to snapping any pic. Made exactly the same alterations, looks good.

MM2004
07-02-2006, 04:23 AM
Nice work Bear,... :beer:

Mike.

davidholland
07-02-2006, 04:28 AM
Where cn I get the Proguard piece?

MM2004
07-02-2006, 04:42 AM
Where cn I get the Proguard piece?

Dennis Reinhart carries them.

Mike.

JohnE
07-02-2006, 05:17 AM
That looks good. My Reese Hidden Hitch has a different design, which is too low all the way across. If I were doing it again, I'd go for your typical class II design. You can see the custom adapter I made to use a carrier rack, as there were none made for the rectangle bar design.


John



http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=93 97&d=1151842645

FordNut
07-02-2006, 05:23 AM
Mine required a little more trimming, but the hitch is made differently. Mine is a class IV with 2" receiver.

CRUZTAKER
07-02-2006, 08:00 AM
Look's good!!! What's the capacity of your hitch?

Here is the hitch spec:

CRUZTAKER
07-02-2006, 08:01 AM
That looks good. My Reese Hidden Hitch has a different design, ....




Appears similar to mine.
However, I only use an extention to clear the bumper with the rack, NOT a lift piece to raise it.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/7/HITCH002.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/7/HITCH003.jpg

chrish
07-02-2006, 08:09 AM
Isn't the pro-guard suppose to tuck inside the rear facia?

KillJoy
07-02-2006, 10:03 AM
Isn't the pro-guard suppose to tuck inside the rear facia?

Not according to the instructions. Although, some have done it that way.

KillJoy

SMOKE
07-02-2006, 10:11 AM
Not according to the instructions. Although, some have done it that way.

KillJoy

I was thinking the same thing. 1st install I did it that way (outside) and then felt I did it wrong. Then tucked the plate up underneath the bumper cover.

But, I've already got pronounced sag, and call me crazy, but I think the little gap is allowing air up in between the plate and back into the pocket of the rear bumper cover.

Gotta take the cover down to do some exhaust tip polishing, gonna experiment with the plate outside the bumper cover again....just seemed like it would be too "flappy" on the outside...

JWM

chrish
07-02-2006, 10:23 AM
just installed another one! My fresh instuctions photo show the pro-guard & the outer rim of the rear facia visible.....to each ther own I guess........
thanks

CRUZTAKER
07-03-2006, 07:38 AM
It should be on the OUTSIDE of the rear facia, not tucked, to work effectively. ;)

FastMerc
07-03-2006, 12:23 PM
I put mine on the outside,it supports the fascia nicly.

jgc61sr2002
07-03-2006, 06:28 PM
Barry - Nice job.:up: Looks good.:D

the_pack_rat
07-03-2006, 07:46 PM
I have the proguard on mine.

In regards to the center of the bumper cover sagging :

IMHO -

Having the proguard installed before the car has had one too many high-speed runs of any significant distance down the highway, may have simply done the trick all on it's own. But once your bumper cover has already started to sag, simply installing the proguard isn't going to magically make the center sag go away. It does seem to help prevent it from getting any worse tho.

Don't take the /\ above /\ as a diss to the proguard. NO regrets & I do highly recommend it ... but I feel the best use of it, is made by complimenting the install by fabbing up a center support bracket for the bumper cover.

Bottom line & my advice -

To get the sag back out - keep it out, & make the most use of the proguard, do up some sort of center bracket/support.

My bumper cover was already sagging before I did the proguard.

I installed mine tucked, but I drilled a small hole in the middle of the bumper cover - made/bent up a bracket that attaches to the center of the inner bumper re-inforcement & notched out the proguard to make the presence of it much more effective.

Details on what I fabbed up
(http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=302227&postcount=6)

1stMerc
07-06-2006, 09:35 PM
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=94 26&stc=1&d=1152246507
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=94 27&stc=1&d=1152246543
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=94 28&stc=1&d=1152246791