Hitch installations

[IsaacMTSU]

The hitch weighs 24 lbs

[IsaacMTSU]

So, a few things... First, this hitch is pretty awesome. It's thick black powdercoated (I guess it's not paint ), feels like it's really well made. I didn't have a grinder and had a hard time filing the holes out wide enough to get the spacer things in the frame. I tried not to trim the plastic, but you almost have no choice. It has a third bolt holding it through the tow hook/loop in the middle under the diffuser which really makes it seem more secure than if it only had the two mounting bolts like I originally thought. We'll see how it holds up!

[gearhead313]

My Curt hitch is nice, but its a little squeaky... I had to put a washer between the factory tow hook bolt and the hitch to get it to tighten enough not to move. I have every bit of its 100lb tongue limit also and its fairly wobbly... Just take the weight ratings seriously!

[Elwood]

My Curt hitch seemed to ride too low, and didn't grip the tow loop firmly. It jiggled up and down, which I temporarily "fixed" with a U-bolt. The Saris T-Rax bike rack rode low enough that it scraped the pavement exiting a parking lot once, so I had the rack modified with the horizontal bar angling up 45 degrees. This also kept the bikes safely above the pavement.

Later I went to a hitch shop and the only way the installer could think of to secure the hitch snugly against the car bottom was as shown in the other photo. The rear of the car is to the left. The hitch attaches to the tow loop with two U-bolts. This does hold the hitch securely.

I hope these tips are useful to others.

[HeadSpinner]

This is one reason I have my Expedition along with my CRZ. Bikes and hitch can be heavy. Plus any other gear would have me and my lady riding low in the CRZ... and there's no room to take a nap...