I've made scaffolding out of scrap wood many times over the years. Between that and jacks, I've put many a bumper, fuel tank and so on under vehicles. What you might try is get a nut on one bolt, leave it loose. Add another nut to another bolt. Work your way around until it is suspended by nuts and bolts. Just tighten the nuts and pull it up. Make sure it is seated properly then torque everything down.

 

I hear you. I have been accumulating a few pieces of 2X4 and some small concrete blocks to hold the damned thing up as close as possible, ideally RIGHT ONTO THE BOLT HOLES, so I can start screwing (pardon me). Last time, as I indicated, I had no scaffolding, my Wife was on one side (and she isn't that strong) and I was on the other side (and at 67 Years of Age, I guess my Upper Body Strength is gone), and the damned thing was jimmying around and smacking into the bolts instead of the holes going around them and up against the frame. I would hold my side up with one hand and try to put the washer and nut on with the other hand and hold the hitch tight against the frame long enough to get the nut started. I came so close ONE HUNDRED TIMES but couldn't get the nut started after many tries. My Wife was ready to kill me and tell me to take it to a garage which I hate giving in on, so we just wrapped it up before the Divorce papers arrived. I was screaming at her to HOLD THE GODDAMNED THING STEADY!!

So, yes, I will (probably tomorrow morning) start again and use some kind of scaffolding to hold the thing as tight as I can get up against the frame,, with the bolts cleanly through the bolt holes. Once I get the nuts started, I agree with you 100% that tightening will not be a big deal. Just have to get the nuts good and started on the thread so they hold. And I agree, work my way around. Very frustrating last time. First time I did it. Got the bolt fishing perfect and then foiled by the wobbling hitch. It is only 50 lbs or so, so I agree if you say, 'what the heck'? But the Arnold Schwarztenegger arms are gone. And the pecs too. And all that. Even the muscle down below is pretty much gone, sorry to say. Do you know a Doc, I could call?

 

I'm 67 too and except for falling over at times, (that's why I had to quit riding and retire from work) I'm pretty much like I was 10 years ago. I guess throwing bundles of roofing shingles for 45 years keeps one in shape. I recently put a rear fuel tank in a Ford F-150. The straps are under tension so they spring out. I used a couple of pairs of vice grips to hold the straps until I could get a bolt and nut on each end. Vice grips and small C clamps can really help out at times too.