Installed Curt hitch

[SteveMach-ee]

I keep telling myself I'm going to add a hitch, but haven't gotten to it. If i wait long enough I'll buy a Lightning and won't need the hitch

Might want to double check the max weight you can put on there, lots of reports of frame damage from putting too much weight, too far out, especially with bike racks. The car frame is pretty thin. It doesn't matter what the hitch is rated for, you need to check the safe weight for the car frame, the number rattling around in my head is 162lbs, but I'm not sure that's right. I think I saw that posted here by @MachLee but that might not be right either.

When I install a hitch I'll go with the Ecohitch, it has reinforcement by also attaching to the bumper mounts, so it doesn't just rely on the thin frame.

Everyone thinking of installing a hitch please pay attention to this! The Draw-Tite and Curt hitches only attach with 4 bolts. They attach in a manner that such that excess torque/tongue weight can cause cracks or tear-out around the two rear bolts bolts on the frame. I think using them with several ebikes or that motorcycle is risky. There are horror pics on this forum of this. The Ecohitch has 8 and the extra 4 bolts and their placement really make mechanical sense to me. It is more expensive but well worth it. Search the forum for install tips and carefully make only two cuts in the facia and in the wind cover. Just bend the excess inward. They can always be bent back and secured later if you need to remove the hitch. There is no need to over trim them or cut them off.

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[kens]

Everyone thinking of installing a hitch please pay attention to this! I'm pretty sure the Draw Tite and Curt hitches only attach with 4 bolts. The Ecohitch has 8 and the extra 4 bolts really make mechanical sense to me. It is more expensive but well worth it. Search the forum for install tips and carefully make only two cuts in the facia and in the wind cover. There is no need to over trim them.

Last I looked it was $427. Not a ton more than the Curt, bill and a quarter is pretty cheap insurance to me.

 

[dan_meh]

Everyone thinking of installing a hitch please pay attention to this! The Draw-Tite and Curt hitches only attach with 4 bolts. They attach in a manner that such that excess torque/tongue weight can cause cracks or tear-out around the two rear bolts bolts on the frame. I think using them with several ebikes or that motorcycle is risky. There are horror pics on this forum of this. The Ecohitch has 8 and the extra 4 bolts and their placement really make mechanical sense to me. It is more expensive but well worth it. Search the forum for install tips and carefully make only two cuts in the facia and in the wind cover. Just bend the excess inward. They can always be bent back and secured later if you need to remove the hitch. There is no need to over trim them or cut them off.

Yes. It was because I want to put 4 bikes on the hitch that I got the Ecohitch. I only load our “acoustic bikes” (not electric). I got the wiring in case I wanted to pull a trailer and I had dreams of putting a luggage box back there. Turns out I don’t need to, but consumers buy capability they don’t need .

Ditto to those who say the US should get some frame reinforcement like EU. I don’t want to tow (turns out), but accessory hitches are common for bikes and for extra luggage space (drive I-95 in the summer… it feels like every third vehicle has a hitch mounted platform with a cooler and beach chairs on it).

Next generation. Maybe they can put a “bounty” on “carry dirty things outside the vehicle.” Otherwise…

 

[RandallOfLegend]

anyone know if I could retrofit

Everyone thinking of installing a hitch please pay attention to this! The Draw-Tite and Curt hitches only attach with 4 bolts. They attach in a manner that such that excess torque/tongue weight can cause cracks or tear-out around the two rear bolts bolts on the frame. I think using them with several ebikes or that motorcycle is risky. There are horror pics on this forum of this. The Ecohitch has 8 and the extra 4 bolts and their placement really make mechanical sense to me. It is more expensive but well worth it. Search the forum for install tips and carefully make only two cuts in the facia and in the wind cover. Just bend the excess inward. They can always be bent back and secured later if you need to remove the hitch. There is no need to over trim them or cut them off.

I have a Curt now, no ebikes, but 2 road bikes would be the maximum load. But I wonder if I could re-use the Curt bolts already in the frame and swap it for an eco hitch.

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