Beefier Hitches

RandomGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Location
Philadelphia, PA
TDI
2014 Passat SE Manual
Does anyone with an NMS have a beefier hitch than the Class I currently offered on etrailer? I've got that installed but looking to haul a dirtbike carrier which would require a class III (dirtbike weighs ~235 pounds, and I've got helper coils installed in-between my rear springs already). I know that none are currently available in the US, but are there any that would work from overseas? And if so, what modifications (I assume it would need to be attached to the frame for some more rigidity) would it need? Mainly looking for a 2" receiver that could handle 250-275 pounds of tongue weight.

Bonus points - for anyone who's had something similar done to their TDI by a towing specialist, what was the final bill?

Of course, I've also thought about just using a 1.25" to 2" adapter and taking my chances that the 200 pounds of tongue weight on the class I receiver is very conservative - on the spectrum of bad decisions, where would this fall? :D
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
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Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
As much as I want you to succeed I really think you're pounding a square peg in a round hole.

Those receiver bike holders do work, but think about the force and leverage of placing that 275# about 3 feet from the mounting points, any sort of bump that 275# will prob end up "feeling" like 300-400# at the mounting points.

The NA Passat was designed to compete with a Camry, it can do that well, but it's limitations are pretty evident soon as taken outside its comfort zone.

If you do find a fix report back and prove me wrong, maybe I'm being to cautious in my old age.
 

Rico567

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Jun 13, 2003
Location
Central IL
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium (Turned in 7/7/18)
<snip>

If you do find a fix report back and prove me wrong, maybe I'm being to cautious in my old age.
I don't think you are. Just because aftermarket parts are available to attempt to turn a sedan into a utility vehicle, that doesn't mean it's a good idea.....
 

RandomGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Location
Philadelphia, PA
TDI
2014 Passat SE Manual
As much as I want you to succeed I really think you're pounding a square peg in a round hole.

Those receiver bike holders do work, but think about the force and leverage of placing that 275# about 3 feet from the mounting points, any sort of bump that 275# will prob end up "feeling" like 300-400# at the mounting points.

The NA Passat was designed to compete with a Camry, it can do that well, but it's limitations are pretty evident soon as taken outside its comfort zone.

If you do find a fix report back and prove me wrong, maybe I'm being to cautious in my old age.
Nothing wrong with being cautious, and I'm in agreement with you - I would hate to be towing something and not be sure it's going to make it down the road and not fall off at the next large bump.

That being said, I'm not really pushing the limits that much - the tongue weight limit for a class I is 200 pounds, and I'd only be looking to increase that by ~25%, maximum. Also, I'm not an engineer by trade but I believe a no wobble hitch with that bike carrier would exert sufficiently less force than a trailer hitting a large bump well behind the car - I've towed almost 2K pounds with the car and when the trailer hits a bump, you definitely feel it ;)

I gave some more thought to the ECO option linked above and am leaning in that direction - the fact that it's mounted to the frame (I should clarify - I saw in another thread that it's mounted to the frame but couldn't find verification on their website) mitigates the main worry that I had. Again, I'm no structural engineer but I assume that the 2" ECO weighing in at ~50 pounds is every bit as structurally sound as the class III hitch on my Jeep which is rated for 500 pounds of tongue weight.
 

RandomGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Location
Philadelphia, PA
TDI
2014 Passat SE Manual
Curious why you don't get a small trailer.
Have you seen this 1 1/4 receiver front wheel trailer http://www.motorcycletrailer.com/mag1/caddy1.html
I've got a 4x8 trailer which tows my full size bikes and all the necessary accouterments (gas, stands, tires, canopy, tools, etc.) for them - would post a pic but can't figure this forum out. I could use that for dirt bikes and mini bike racing as well, but my preference would be a hitch carrier for convenience.

First world problems, I know :D
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
Nothing wrong with being cautious, and I'm in agreement with you - I would hate to be towing something and not be sure it's going to make it down the road and not fall off at the next large bump.

That being said, I'm not really pushing the limits that much - the tongue weight limit for a class I is 200 pounds, and I'd only be looking to increase that by ~25%, maximum. Also, I'm not an engineer by trade but I believe a no wobble hitch with that bike carrier would exert sufficiently less force than a trailer hitting a large bump well behind the car - I've towed almost 2K pounds with the car and when the trailer hits a bump, you definitely feel it ;)

I gave some more thought to the ECO option linked above and am leaning in that direction - the fact that it's mounted to the frame (I should clarify - I saw in another thread that it's mounted to the frame but couldn't find verification on their website) mitigates the main worry that I had. Again, I'm no structural engineer but I assume that the 2" ECO weighing in at ~50 pounds is every bit as structurally sound as the class III hitch on my Jeep which is rated for 500 pounds of tongue weight.
Again not telling you not to try it, if you were to say move the bike once across town and already had the stuff, I'd say go for it and cross your fingers. If you were to use it each weekend an haul the bike 100s of miles including some dirt roads to get to the trail head, I'd say be prepared for the worse.

200lbs of tongue weight of a trailer is shared by the wheels of the trailer, as the suspension of the car goes up and down that 200# prob fluctuates by a small percentage, where as if you have a carrier and a fixed object subjected to the same movement and sort of up and down is going to be all on the mounting points. That and the further away from the hitch the center of mass its just increasing the torque on the mounting points. Torque is force (wieght of the object) X moment arm (distance from the point of rotation, mounting points), any increase the moment arm multiplies the torque.

BTW your jeep has a frame that a hitch is mounted to, any hitch mounted to the VW to nothing more than reinforce sheet metal of the body panels.
 

unixb0y

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Location
Manitoba, Canada
TDI
2013 Passat Comfortline 6MT Nav
I gave some more thought to the ECO option linked above and am leaning in that direction - the fact that it's mounted to the frame (I should clarify - I saw in another thread that it's mounted to the frame but couldn't find verification on their website) mitigates the main worry that I had. Again, I'm no structural engineer but I assume that the 2" ECO weighing in at ~50 pounds is every bit as structurally sound as the class III hitch on my Jeep which is rated for 500 pounds of tongue weight.
I want to be clear about this. The ECO hitch bolts to the bumper bar holes. Essentially you are putting on a beefier rear metal bumper. It's held on with 3 bolts on each side.

The ECO hitch covers the unibody frame rails. The rails are built into every VW. That is why some have been able to install the B7 (euro passat) bosal hitch on a North American NMS Passat.

It would have been awesome if the ECO hitch would have used those rail mounting points and the bumper mount points. Maybe they didn't know that the unibody frame rails were there.

I got a generic marketing email from them this morning:
"Everyone!
If you have a vehicle that needs a hitch, we can custom fabricate one! This includes but is not limited to: trucks, vans, commercial trucks, SUVs, sedans, crossovers and more
We work directly with you on exactly what you want to make sure your needs are met"

So maybe they can help you out.
 

RandomGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Location
Philadelphia, PA
TDI
2014 Passat SE Manual
Thanks guys; based on your feedback it sounds like any solution is not going to be an "off the shelf" option and would need to be custom.

Now to find someone who does that somewhat close to me.........thanks again.
 

MyAvocation

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Joined
Jun 9, 2004
Location
Hoffman Estates, IL
TDI
2017 Passat SEL TSI
I agree the forces subjected to a bike hitch will be less than a trailer (teeter-totter on wheels) -- considering you already beefed-up the rear suspension. A bike hitch has the added benefit of convenience, stability, TCO and much less maintenance compared to trailers. However, exceeding the tongue weight limit is a good reason to visit a local hitch shop, where they can customize robust mounting.
 

r_boyd

Active member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Location
plano tx
TDI
2012 vw passat tdise sunroof and nav
Beefier hitches

Added curt hitch to my 2012 Passat tdi biggest issue I see is raising rear bend up a couple of inches bottoms out to easy any ideas or suggestions
 

RandomGuy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Location
Philadelphia, PA
TDI
2014 Passat SE Manual
Added curt hitch to my 2012 Passat tdi biggest issue I see is raising rear bend up a couple of inches bottoms out to easy any ideas or suggestions
Mine bottoms out at times, but it's fairly easy to take angles over steep grades to minimize that from happening.
 
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