Valley Hitch Install Pics 08 CX-9

[Pootie Tang]

I ended up putting in my semi-bashed up Valley hitch. eTrailer customer service was pretty horrible. Took them 5 days to figure out that they should send me a proper one and help me return the first one. In the meanwhile they ran out of Valley hitches and back ordered them. After two weeks and still no delivery date, I said send me the "touch up" kit. Well this was insulting as well. It contained a single can of indoor/outdoor black spray paint. Nice. No sand paper, solvent, instructions, nothing.

On the plus side, they had sent me the Mazda wiring harness setup in the hitch box I first got so I scored that without charge, normally $50. So I felt better.

I still was banking on the Valley design to have the receiver tucked in more so I went for it.

The install went without issue, wiring and hitch. Pretty decent instructions. The hitch went right in with a nice, snug fit before the bolts.

Turned out my studying of the pics was right. The receiver just passes the inner edge of the rear valence and stays nicely underneath the car. Although a car this "pretty" shouldn't have a hitch IMHO, this setup is tolerable

Still have to touch it up with some real paint, but here's the pix. And, yes, I did remove and relocate that sticker on the right of the receiver. All black now on the visible surfaces.

 

[kegels]

I really like the tucked-in look of this hitch a lot(thumb)...i already placed the hidden hitch order before i saw this...otherwise i may have considered this one..

 

[sreddos]

I really like the tucked-in look of this hitch a lot(thumb)...i already placed the hidden hitch order before i saw this...otherwise i may have considered this one..

I have the hidden hitch and it looks just as tucked in as the valley.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123769390

 

[Pootie Tang]

I have the hidden hitch and it looks just as tucked in as the valley.

I disagree.The Valley unit barely project beyond the inner edge of the valence from under the car. The other makes, from the pics, extend well beyond this inner edge.

Note the two side-on pics from this thread (middle pic) and this one of the "Hidden Hitch":

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv150/db0mbase/photo.jpg

Note the projections.

Must be at least an inch or more.

Not trying to bad-mouth the other units. It just "is what it is."

That being said, I was very unimpressed with the condition of the Valley unit I received but after putting it in and a little touch up, it looks just fine and is well built.

 

[ceric]

Valley has only 4 bolts.
Hidden (and others) have 6.

Just to state the facts.

 

[Pootie Tang]

Valley has only 4 bolts.
Hidden (and others) have 6.

Just to state the facts.

Thanks Ceric. I did not realize this until you mentioned it. It appears all other brands use 6 bolts. The Valley uses 4.