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Hi gents. Just a post to see if you guys would like to see a few pics of this tow hitch going on. I'm only RARELY putting my 5x8 fold up ramp cargo trailer behind the car to get stuff for my GS like the GTE swap when its time and here this weekend to take my front and read subframes to the carwash and blast the grime and paint off after I soak em and apply paint stripper. Here in TN we don't need trailer lights or registration if you're day towing so I wont be doing any wiring, just pure bolt on. If I can get home after work tonight with some good light, I'll do it.
I didn't know that rule was a thing, nice! Must be great down there lol
Im curious how the hitch goes/works, would add a lot of utility
Yea we’re pretty lax here. Kinda common sense laws here lol. It should be pretty straightforward. I can’t imagine I’ll ever have over 2500lb being the car
So I just finished it up and other than being careful to not scratch the paint it’s extremely easy. I’ll get more pics in the morning but off the top of my head here are the tools I used:
Flat head screwdriver
Precision Pick
3/4in Torque wrench (optional)
Ratchet 1/2
12in Extension
10mm
12mm
Razor blade or knife to trim OEM Diffuser
and
Patience along with a beer or 2
I bought a corolla recently that had a curt hitch installed and that thing is the best jack point I could imagine, floor jack under the receiver frame is way easier than going for the rear diff.
Okay that's a lot cooler than I thought it would be and very cleanly installed. Nice work!
Thanks!! I could’ve been done about 20min earlier but other tenants here always come talk to me whenever I’m wrenching and they see the garage door up with the GS. I opted not to trim the foam and it’s nearly as tight fit as without the tow bar. I still need to lower the LS and put my Weds on but I’ll get to it lol
Thank you for sharing, I agree, there is a ton of utility fo having the receiver frame on this beautiful car. Rigidity to the frame, ability to tow, and as Gerf mentioned, a better jack point. Your LS looks great in that blizzard white color.
Can you tell me where you found the hitch? I don't see any listed for our cars.
And can you post a finished photo of where the receiver point sticks out of the bottom of the fascia?
Sure thing! I used to work for 4wheel Parts which is now Total Off-Road. And since I still have my connections, I was able to order through them. But this is the only part number specific one I’ve seen. They used to offer a harness kit for the car but it’s been discontinued.
Answer300 - You did a really kick-*** job with that hitch install. Now, I wouldn't even consider this, except ... I have found my 5'x10' utility trailer the best thing since sliced bread. Will I do this to my LS. No, but I would in a second. I'll explain why below. Once upon a time, I had a camper shell thingie on my 2000 Dodge Ram with an 8' bed. Loved the camper shell. I do not have it any longer. I used it when my youngest son was racing BMX. Kept everything clean and locked in the back. Found a used one for $400, sold it years later for $300. But one day, I was loading up bush debris in the back of said truck with said camper shell. Lots of bush debris, small thin limbs.
It took me 5 or 6 loads of that stuff in the bed because (hard to explain), the small limbs had their own small limbs and they tending to fan out when stacked, and after some smallish amount, I was having to ram them up under the camper shell. And that ramming only worked so long until subsequent limbs just wouldn't cooperate. After 2 or 3 loads I said, to hell with this, I'm getting a utility trailer. A couple weeks later, I found a new one, $940. Dude cut me a good deal because it was a leftover they were wanting gone before newer models showed up. That's the best $940 I ever spent. I can do so much with this utility trailer. I could have hauled all 5 loads of those limbs with one trip with the utility trailer. I can pile that crap on there over my head, and just throw a strap over it, hold it down and go. Very quick, very easy.
I recently put a motorcycle front mount on the trailer. And positioned it to where when the bike is on there, it is neutrally loaded, no extra tongue weight. I mainly did that because I added a hitch to my little blue can, just for shi1s-n-giggles. And the little blue can tows this combo GREAT, and gets 35 mpg while doing it. I've modified the trailer to where I can fold the ramp forward, and it holds the rear tire of the bike in a "track." Folding that gate down removes a lot of wind drag. And the 78 hp blue can is very sensitive to wind drag. Yes, it is slow to get going, but once it does, it rolls along real nice. The combo below is ~1,650 pounds.
To wind this up, that's why I won't add a hitch to the LS. Because I already have 3 tow vehicles. My old Ram, my dad's old Sierra, and now my little blue can (pictured below). I've been towing ~3.5 hours to the Tail of the Dragon, and riding the below motorcycle there on weekends. It is really nice to ride in comfort to and from the Dragon, because the bike is not NEARLY as comfortable on longer rides. What a heavenly experience it would be to tow this combo with the LS. If I did not have a tow vehicle (or three) already, I would follow your lead and add this same hitch to my car.
07-26-24, 12:55 PM
Curt Hitch Install 12114
