2012 Passat TDI hitch installed today--perfect fit

[TSK]

I installed the Curt hitch today on my new Passat TDI and it fit perfect. What a nice product. Bought a 2" Euro-ball drawbar and it looks and fits great. The part numbers for the wiring and hitch are posted below.

C56201KIT Curt PWM Powered Converter with Wiring Kit 1 and the hitch is C11234 CURT Trailer Hitch Receiver with Drawbar - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

 

[burdundi]

Sounds good. Let's see some pics!

 

[TSK]

I agree. I will do that when it is daylight out.

 

[TDI_Ryan]

Pics.

 

[Whitecloud1]

Yeah, hurry up with those pics! I'm getting a Curt hitch installed tomorrow AM!

Do you recall what the tow rating is on our TDI Passats? I know it's in the book somewhere but not close right now....

 

[gearguywb]

Where are you guys picking up the hitches?

 

[TSK]

etrailer.com was the place I ordered mine from. Came very well boxed and at the door in 2-3 days. The wiring kit worked perfect too. The tow rating is listed at 2000 lbs. and tongue weight is 200 I think. There is a thread showing the wiring steps with pictures, and the website for the Curt hitch has the install instructions on the same page as the hitch. I used a Dremel versatool with the straight blade and it worked very well. It cuts the plastic like butter and great control and accuracy. I did not get a chance to take any pictures but the install instructions depicts the general idea very well. There is a picture of a Passat with the hitch on their web page too.

 

[Whitecloud1]

I had the dealer put it in and made it part of the purchase. Didn't want to mess with it. Now if/when anything happens, it's their issue.

 

[asolo]

Possible disagreement with TSK....

Page 168 of 2013 manual says trailer-max 1,000 lbs.. Strongly suspect 2012 same....at least various web-sites say that. We're talking SMALL trailers here. Please don't pretend otherwise. Except for lightest towing-loads, this isn't a "hauling" vehicle.

 

[dubStrom]

I installed the Curt hitch today on my new Passat TDI and it fit perfect. What a nice product. Bought a 2" Euro-ball drawbar and it looks and fits great. The part numbers for the wiring and hitch are posted below.

C56201KIT Curt PWM Powered Converter with Wiring Kit 1 and the hitch is C11234 CURT Trailer Hitch Receiver with Drawbar - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

How 'bout some pics or at least some comments about...

Ground clearance?

Visibility?

 

[rhalbert10]

Has anyone put in a 2" receiver hitch on the Passat?

 

[Lightflyer1]

Last I checked there isn't one commercially available. If you want one you will probably have to make one.

 

[dubStrom]

clearance, visibility??

OK, so the OP is still trying to find his camera. Anyone else mount one of these on a new Passat? I put a Curt hitch on my JSW, and had to be careful driving across low spots like drain trough on the side of the road (curb line on driveways). I was able to avoid scraping by driving off diagonally, but still had to be careful.

The Passat has a little more clearance back there, and possibly less distance to the rear wheels... angle of attack should be a little better, but I'd stil like to see some photos. Someone tell me now how there is a whole thread with photos of hitches on 2012 an 2013 Passat!

or maybe just post a picture of your hitch? Please?

 

[oilhammer]

Possible disagreement with TSK....

Page 168 of 2013 manual says trailer-max 1,000 lbs.. Strongly suspect 2012 same....at least various web-sites say that. We're talking SMALL trailers here. Please don't pretend otherwise. Except for lightest towing-loads, this isn't a "hauling" vehicle.

While I know it isn't exactly the same car, but it does have essentially the same mechanicals and a HIGHER curb weight, Volkswagen shows accessory trailer hitches in their own catalog for pretty much all their models including the Passat.

I think you've been exposed to lawyer speak, in that they (VOA) doesn't want to assume responsibility for stupid American people who cannot drive a car properly let alone one with a trailer in tow. Because rest assured, your car CAN tow a trailer, even if YOU can't.

I have a genuine VW accessory hitch on my Golf. Not only does it fit perfectly, but Volkswagen even saw to it that the holes necessary to mount it were ALREADY THERE!!! And this is on a smaller, lighter, less powerful car! Rated for 1500kg (about 3300 pounds, braked).

 

[Lightflyer1]

Do you have a pic of this acc. hitch? I am considering this this time instead of the etrailer hitches. Or a web link? Is the dealer able to order or one of our vendors?

 

[oilhammer]

There are no genuine VW accessory hitches available for the NMS Passat, because technically it isn't a genuine VW. However, that doesn't mean that a real B6/7 Passat hitch won't work, but I kind of doubt that it would. It would be interesting to try, though.

The Americanized Jetta does have a genuine hitch, but it is actually sold in Europe. The NMS Passat is only sold here and China.

So your only option for the NMS may indeed be an aftermarket type hitch like Curt, Hidden-Hitch, Draw-tite, etc. I am not very fond of those, though, as the usually involve drilling, and do not actually mount into the unibody structure but rather just attach to sheet metal, often including the spare tire well, which has no reason being asked to be a structural support member for a trailer hitch.

I had such a hitch on my Audi 5000. It worked, but I never carried anything too heavy with it (only a small dirtbike trailer) and even then it tweaked the metal in the trunk floor somewhat.

 

[Lightflyer1]

This thread details a Wetfalia hitch install for the european model on a US car.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=334858&highlight=hitch

 

[asolo]

Don't get you oilhammer. In one post you said you're OK to tow a trailer weighing more than the car for one of your vehicles and in the next you said: "I never carried anything too heavy with it (only a small dirtbike trailer) and even then it tweaked the metal in the trunk floor somewhat."

I would think that might tell you something!

Repeat: The Passat body/engine/tranny are NOT designed for large trailer-loads either via total load or via tongue-weight. Light towing, yes, OK. Above 1,000 lbs -- as the manual says -- no, don't go there.

If you say your other car is spec'd for loads bigger than that...fine. All I'm saying is pay attention to what the manual says. It IS NOT rolling over for lawyer-speak. It is acknowledging the actual limitations of the vehicle.

 

[Lightflyer1]

It is speced for bigger loads with the proper hitch and accessories (brakes etc.). The euro hitch vs anything like curt or one of those.

 

[asolo]

Post those specs, please.

The Passat is a light -- and lightly powered -- car. FWD alone would limit its capacity. Light towing is fine...no argument there. Only trying to discourage silliness, nothing more.

 

[dubStrom]

Do you have a pic of this acc. hitch? I am considering this this time instead of the etrailer hitches. Or a web link? Is the dealer able to order or one of our vendors?

VW won't have one of those hitches Brian is talking about lightflyer. because this is USA built, and those VW hitches are euro (right Brian?)

 

[dubStrom]

There are no genuine VW accessory hitches available for the NMS Passat, because technically it isn't a genuine VW. However, that doesn't mean that a real B6/7 Passat hitch won't work, but I kind of doubt that it would. It would be interesting to try, though.

The Americanized Jetta does have a genuine hitch, but it is actually sold in Europe. The NMS Passat is only sold here and China.

So your only option for the NMS may indeed be an aftermarket type hitch like Curt, Hidden-Hitch, Draw-tite, etc. I am not very fond of those, though, as the usually involve drilling, and do not actually mount into the unibody structure but rather just attach to sheet metal, often including the spare tire well, which has no reason being asked to be a structural support member for a trailer hitch.

I had such a hitch on my Audi 5000. It worked, but I never carried anything too heavy with it (only a small dirtbike trailer) and even then it tweaked the metal in the trunk floor somewhat.

The Curt hitch requires no drilling for Chattanooga Passat... just dropping the exhaust to mount over it. I'd still like to see what OP did, and how it hangs back there. I think it might be less exposed than the JSW hitch from Curt.

 

[Lightflyer1]

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/volkswagen-passat-saloon-2011-and-gt-detachable-tow-bar.html

The Curt hitch looks like it clamps to the existing crash bar supports and some bolts through sheet metal. The euro hitch seems to remove the internal bar and replace it with the hitch with arms that extend into the channels in the body and bolt in. Needs to be modified though to work on a US car.

Good luck discouaging any one from doing any thing they want.

 

[dubStrom]

etrailer (where I got my Curt hitch for the JSW) is usually very accurate.

Installation Notes:
No drilling required for installation
Underbody panel(s) must be temporarily removed
Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation
Trunk access required for hitch installation
Tech Tip: Underbody panel will need to be trimmed before reattaching.


http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2013_Volkswagen_Passat.htm


The pictures I've seen at etrailer have been accurate as well (actual hitch photo).


Not as clear as photos we usually get here, of course.


Uh, the underbody panel trim was necessary for my JSW as well. I don't have time to link my post on that installation, but I think it it VERY similar to that hitch, but without the added under wheel well support.



I have a truck to drag my trailer around right now, and way too busy to do this now. But, SOMEONE will have photos soon enough.

 

[asolo]

Whatever...haul away, gents. Heck with the specs.

Please do be courteous enough to put a conspicuous sticker on the back of your over-load so that I can avoid you rather than risk following you on the highway.

 

[oilhammer]

Don't get you oilhammer. In one post you said you're OK to tow a trailer weighing more than the car for one of your vehicles and in the next you said: "I never carried anything too heavy with it (only a small dirtbike trailer) and even then it tweaked the metal in the trunk floor somewhat." .

Read it again. The part about the tweaked floorboard was in my Audi 5000 that had a hitch mounted through holes in the [non-structural] body pan.

 

[oilhammer]

There are no genuine VW accessory hitches available for the NMS Passat, because technically it isn't a genuine VW. However, that doesn't mean that a real B6/7 Passat hitch won't work, but I kind of doubt that it would. It would be interesting to try, though.

The Americanized Jetta does have a genuine hitch, but it is actually sold in Europe. The NMS Passat is only sold here and China.

So your only option for the NMS may indeed be an aftermarket type hitch like Curt, Hidden-Hitch, Draw-tite, etc. I am not very fond of those, though, as the usually involve drilling, and do not actually mount into the unibody structure but rather just attach to sheet metal, often including the spare tire well, which has no reason being asked to be a structural support member for a trailer hitch.

I had such a hitch on my Audi 5000. It worked, but I never carried anything too heavy with it (only a small dirtbike trailer) and even then it tweaked the metal in the trunk floor somewhat.

Specifically, the bold part. I regularly tow a small trailer that can be in excess of 2000 pounds with my Golf, and will be towing something over 3000 pounds next week.

dubstrom, good to know the Curt hitch requires no drilling on the NMS Passat, because I have already had a customer ask about installing a hitch on his car. Thanks for that info!

 

[Tdi Noobie]

I have the curt on my passat from Etrailer. Installation was a snap, just like the directions. I have a Kuat tray bike rack on it, and the clearance is a little higher than my JSW, which would scrape occasionally. Havnt had that problem yet with the Passat.

Ill try to remember to snap a picture when I get home.

I cant comment on towing as all I use it for is my bikes. Roof racks kill fuel economy and trunk racks just suck in IMO.

 

[dubStrom]

Here it is...This was the Curt hitch install on the JSW.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=284419&highlight=curt+installation

 

[Knarrly Viking]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=347249&page=2