I asked the tow rating question of my dealer on Saturday, and he gave me the 1000lb answer from the OM. And I plan on towing a small boat and trailer @ 600 lbs combined weight with the Curt hitch meantioned without worries of voiding my warranty. My wife will also use the hitch for her bicycle in the future.
Still working today. Saved only $28 but still. Just ordered a CURT for my new 2013 TDI Passat. Hitch should arrive just before the car does. Oh happy day.
Mine arrived in the same manner, which tells me UPS throws these things around.
Wouldn't want to cross the UPS person that carried, not wheeled, it to the front porch. Didnt notice the shipping weight before I took the cardboard box to recycle but that hitch is very well made (read heavy). Believe I'll use a floor jack to hoist it into position when I install it. Just waiting on a Passat to put it on. Plan on using it almost daily to transport our 2 bicycles to the local bike trails parking lots using a Thule 917 rack.
I used to load for UPS in college. If you didn't throw stuff around like a mad-man, you couldn't make your trailer load and you'd back up the conveyor. That was a no-no (backing up the conveyor). "This side up" and "Fragile", forget about it...
LMAO, you can just hit me and I can show you mine in person.
See the online instructions for how to install that Curt Hitch model... It clamps around the 2 rear bumper shock columns on both left and rights sides, and you also punch holes in the drain plugs in the spare tire well, and attach bolts there also. Total of 6 bolts securing it to your car. You can cut the lower valance with some pinking shears if you want the frilly custom look where it notches around the plate for the square 1 1/4" hitch part. No need for a die grinder to cut it out. Pruning shears would work also oar a set of Wiss shears. General Contractors like me don't mess around, I broke out the Sawzall for the manly hard core quick and dirty butcher hack cut that saves lots of time. 3 BRAAAAPS and you're done with it.
I have a great rapport with my UPS guy, when this sucker came, I was out the front door, and he left it up on the truck for me to lift off, after I signed for it. It was a beast! Installing it single handedly took me using some 2x4 blocks and a 4 ft 2x4 on edge for some leverage to wedge it up in place while attaching the nuts and bolts.... good swear fest, but I got it on all by myself... I could have used a spare hand to make it easier.
You didn't look at Mike's?
I had mine installed by the dealer JIK there were problems later on. It does sit low and I do have to watch out for it on driveways with a sharp angle. I'll be crawling under it to see if there's a better way to deal with it.
Same here, Drawtite from etrailer, no problems with the install. Just using it for a bike rack though, haven't trailered anything.
That kit does come with the correct trailer lighting controller. As for the hitch itself, I do not know.
