Stealth Trailer Hitch Install
 

So before I got a trailer hitch installed I noticed a bunch of hate on the forums for hitch installs, mainly because it's a hideous thing to look at.

I used to have a Yakima roof rack to carry my mountain bikes but the clips left scratches on my door sills and it was heavy and awkward to install, especially by myself. In my search for an alternative I decided on a platform style bike rack that attaches via a 1/4" hitch.

I also wanted a hitch so that I could eventually tow a small trailer for tires and a tool box to the track.

So I had the Hitch King in Queens New York, modify a Curt hitch to exit through my rear rotor symbol, but exit flush with the bumper, leaving the pin hidden behind the rear valence. See the results, no one would think I had a hitch installed. The bike rack is a Kuat Sherpa in white. And yes... My car, Volks, and bike rack all match. White and Gold....

This is the rear view with the hitch opening uncovered.
Attachment 258625

Close up of the hitch exit point.
Attachment 258626

With the hitch cover installed.
Attachment 258627

3/4 view - totally hidden.
Attachment 258628

Kuat Sherpa bike rack - weighs 28lbs and carries two bikes.
Attachment 258629

Rack installed and ready to receive bikes.
Attachment 258630

Rack folded up for storage - also an affective rear bumper guard! I love all the color co-ordinating goin' on...
Attachment 258631

View from back center (low angle is why you can't see tail lights properly)
Attachment 258632

The hitch and fabricating cost ~$600 and the bike rack cost $400. It was an expensive installation but now that I've spent the money I have no regrets. Totally stealth looks, nothing scratches my car, and the rack is easy to remove, and I can use my sunroof now that there is no roof rack in the way, better gas mileage, and looks a lot better than a roof rack.

I just put on my fireproof suit, let the flamin' begin!

Very clean install. I can see the usefullness in this. I've mulled over the idea as well since i refuse to put my current bike rack on my 8. A small tire/tool trailer would be great for autox and hpde's/

man if only you can modify that to mount snowboards, all my problems would be solved (or most of them)

That's nicely done. Can't imagine there's any better solution.

That's really cool. Would be even better if the cap had a rotor shaped running/brake light integrated into it (I'm assuming the wiring is there for a trailer).

Best solution I have ever seen.

Thumbs up!

really clean install id never need to hitch anything up to my 8 but if i did that is an awesome idea!

very nicely done

thumbs up :D

wow thats pretty cool, nice clean install.

good job!

Nice clean install! Now snap a pic with the bikes in place!

nice install bro good job

Would be interesting to see some pics of just how the hitch was attached to the trunk floor. Last guy I knew who tried this had the attachment bolts rip right through his floorpan, the sheet metal and framing is so thick in that area. Good luck with it but be careful!

Awsome, were you able to attach the hitch reciever to the frame of the car. Is it even possible? If not keep and eye on it. Over time it could break loose going down the road.

I've got an idea for your problem... it'll also result in more down force.

How do you feel about GT style wings?

^:naughty:

ha ha thats funny maniac. lol, POST PICS IF YOU DO. ha ha

Maybe alfy could help with a mock up of how it would look?

wow, that's really nice. i wish someone in my area could do something like that.

I'm reviving an old thread but I forgot to upload a picture with the bikes on the car. Just thought now that it's summer some of you might be looking at carrying bikes or tire trailers to the track. I've now had this set up for more than a year its proven to be very useful and practical.

Here's a pro that was a pleasant surprise. When I park in Manhattan with the rack folded up, NO ONE even gets close to touching my rear bumper cause it looks like a crazy bash guard! LOL I just park at the front of line of cars and I never get scratched!

Attachment 243053

Thanks for the info about your work there 416! I finally got mine done too! I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it to anyone else who rides.

My story's a bit different. I found a local speed shop / welder here in the DC area who said he'd do it. I gave him the Curt hitch that you can get for the RX-8 ($175) and he estimated it'd be an extra $200 for labor and 2 hours to do it. 3 hours later it was far more complicated than he thought and raised it to $300 and a few more hours. Nearly 8 hours after starting, they finally finished it! And he gave me a few words of advice for anyone else thinking about going this route:

1) He loves the way it looks and said he'd do it for his RX-8 if he had one!
2) DON'T buy the Curt hitch as a starting point. He basically cut it into such pieces that there was nothing left of the original in order to get everything to fit.
3) Just find a welder that will custom weld some 1-1/4 inch square tubing and a few brackets. Having finished it, he thinks that a custom one would not only be far easier, but take less time and cost less money overall... he estimates $450 total (which is cheaper than I paid for the Curt hitch and the labor on the work).

Here's a few pix:
http://www.rocketsandrobotics.com/im...RX8hitch-1.JPG

http://www.rocketsandrobotics.com/im...RX8hitch-2.JPG

http://www.rocketsandrobotics.com/im...RX8hitch-3.JPG

http://www.rocketsandrobotics.com/im...RX8hitch-4.JPG

http://www.rocketsandrobotics.com/im...RX8hitch-5.JPG

If anyone wants any other details, drop me a line!

nice very clean.

Very nice work. It looks a lil strange with a bike hanging on to the back, but good work nonetheless.

wow great alternative to the roof rack

nice (love the Lions plate cover, well the miss does anyways)

never would of thought about that... but now i know it can be done, thanks to this post. Just alsome stuff guys.

I'm super happy that this project has been a hit with other members!!! Our RX-8s are sexy even when hitched!!!

Well, '416to212', I'm sure everyone here would agree that it's safe to say; "you can remove your flame suit you donned on" :o:

great alternative to the roof rack. Well thought out.

this is from back in 2005

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/Projects...52717298_v3sYU

Sorry to resurrect again, but I'm looking to pull a racing bike(Motorcycle) trailer. It would be about 500 pounds max. Do you think this type of install would work?

How you attach the pin to hold the rack into the hitch?

Thanks!

I too am curious about small trailers. I have a small flatbed that is great for things like a small mattress or tv that wont fit in the car.

Considering he said it would work for smaller trailers, like for sets of wheels/tires, tools, and the trailer it's self, I'd say it'd be close. Perhaps worth asking into at a shop.

However, this is the style I know I'll be going with, since I want to tow a trailer of wheels/tires next season.

PURE WIN. +1 for carrying wheels for AUTOx or the Track. I mean, 4 wheels and tires fit in the inside of the car.... but still. It'd look more proper to have a small rack like the above^, preferably in aluminum. Are those bike racks aluminum?

Would probably be too much tounge weight if you had 4 wheels/tires on a rack. On a trailer the trailer axle holds the majority of the weight, the hitch just pulls it, rather than lifts it.

what do you do if you have this...

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129...47929891a3.jpg

im guessing thats your exhaust and the id say your sol but can we get some under shots of these

I don't know about that much. I've seen it done with various other cars, including Miatas.

120ish pound trailer, with 4 wheels/tires(My personal ~16lb wheels, plus ~25lb tires) perhaps a jack as well. It should weigh in around 300-350 lbs loaded.

I'll be putting a hitch to the 8 sometime in the next 2-3 months, I'll update with how that goes. It'll be the same hidden style as this though, with the receiver hidden, and a removable hitch. All in all, just for autocross days and such, because I don't want to drive the track tires there. Especially since sometimes it's a good distance away.

What do you guys think about an RX8 Towing a sportbike on a small/light but high quality motorcycle trailer? Im disabled so it would be real helpful to be able to move the bike myself.

Get a decent trailer, keep tongue weight down.... Good to go.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U...2+14.10.32.jpg

That is a 300 or so pound trailer, and another 400 or so pounds of stuff. No worries. 20 mpg on highway at 65, 19 mpg at 70. I just keep the highway speed to what can be done closed loop on the computer.

The weight on a trailer should be distributed slightly forward of the trailer wheels placing some weight on the hitch. If it is behind the wheels, the trailer can begin to whip.

About how much do you think Im looking at to have the hitch put on, ballpark of course.

@alnielsen, agreed. tows nicely at about 20 pounds. I am scared to go lighter..

@ para, all I can say is find a place and call. The ones you buy will go on with a few holes drilled and a few bolts, I cannot image that is over $100.