CX-5 Class III Hitch available

[Canadian-ES-GT]

Small question to those who are already pulling trailers with their CX-5's.

I did a good 500k round trip to Maidstone Vermont this past weekend in my 01 Mazda Protege with 2.0l MT pulling our trailer with 2 kayaks. The load was really not that heavy, but I had a lot of trouble with the hills or passing. Since both vehicles have about the same power/weight ratio, how are the CX-5's with pulling loads. This and the Tiguan are the two contenders for my next car.

Thanks

 

[doughboy52]

For the trailer/hitch experts out there. I have a simple question.

I plan to purchase the Draw tite Class III hitch soley for the purpose of being able to mount a hitch mounted bike rack with a capacity of 4 bikes. (most 4 bike carriers only come in a class 3 mount)

Will I have any issues with that?


Thanks in advance!

I'm only going to use my hitch for a bike rack as well went with the 1.25" Curt hitch and a Saris Bike Porter 4 hitch rack. The rack comes with an adapter sleeve to use with either 1 1/4" or 2" hitches. I'm impressed with Saris' products and they're made in the US, too!

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

 

[JTNY]

Saris makes nice racks but I'm sticking with either Yakima or Thule. Yes most of their 4 bike racks have sleeve adaptors but I feel with a solid class III hitch it makes for a more stable/secure platform.

I'm only going to use my hitch for a bike rack as well went with the 1.25" Curt hitch and a Saris Bike Porter 4 hitch rack. The rack comes with an adapter sleeve to use with either 1 1/4" or 2" hitches. I'm impressed with Saris' products and they're made in the US, too!

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

 

[under200]

Finished the install of the curt hitch and wiring. Wiring was the harder of the two, popping of hidden fasteners always makes me nervous. Anyhow, I am getting all sorts of noises now. Will have to loosen the bolts and see if I can get clear of whatever its tapping. Arrgggg.

 

[bamirault]

Anyhow, I am getting all sorts of noises now. Will have to loosen the bolts and see if I can get clear of whatever its tapping. Arrgggg.

Are these noises when hauling, or without pressure on the hitch? I have the Mazda installed hitch and it is noise-free; but I have yet to install the platform and haul something.

Brian

 

[under200]

Are these noises when hauling, or without pressure on the hitch? I have the Mazda installed hitch and it is noise-free; but I have yet to install the platform and haul something.

Brian

Without anything,not towing.. Seems to make noise when coming from a stop and giving it moderate gas.

 

[doughboy52]

Without anything,not towing.. Seems to make noise when coming from a stop and giving it moderate gas.

I was having the same thing happen - hearing a thunking noise mainly when accelerating from stop over some bumps. When I looked underneath I saw marks in the paint on the hitch where the part of the exhaust that goes through the hanger had been hitting the hitch. It only looked like about 1/4" clearance.

I called Curt tech support and they were great. I sent them some pictures and they talked to their engineers. He told me that they've changed the design of the hitch since I bought it (early- to mid-August?) and the part of the hitch that's bent at a 45 degree angle is now at a 90 degree angle. They're sending a new one to me through FedEx.

 

[da5id]

For the trailer/hitch experts out there. I have a simple question.

I plan to purchase the Draw tite Class III hitch soley for the purpose of being able to mount a hitch mounted bike rack with a capacity of 4 bikes. (most 4 bike carriers only come in a class 3 mount)

Will I have any issues with that?


Thanks in advance!

Unless they have motors attached, I would say 4 bikes (max 30lbs each) + the carrier (60lbs on the excessive side) would be safe and you probably won't notice it except for in the rear view mirror.

Best, David.

 

[under200]

Wow, that is great customer service. Did you buy the first hitch from Curt directly or a retailer?

 

[doughboy52]

Wow, that is great customer service. Did you buy the first hitch from Curt directly or a retailer?

Bought it from AutoAnything online. Curt didn't ask for a receipt or anything.

 

[under200]

Revised hitched installed, perfect and no more noise. Curt is a stand up company, good on them.

 

[vihila]

Just ordered a Curt hitch based on all the feedback and pictures posted on this forum. Ordered hitch (#12080) and T connector wiring harness (#56011) from HitchSource.com (no tax and free shipping). Thanks for all the info people! Installation looks similar to the way I did my Subaru, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Hopefully the one I ordered is the new one with the 90 degree angle!

 

[ludicious]

Just finished install of the Hidden Hitch Class III... I definitely wouldn't push the weigh limits as the metal you're attaching too *is* a frame rail... but not a truck frame rail. Install was done in under an hour. 20 minutes of that was fighting with the muffler hangers, I used bicycle chain citrus degreaser and just rubbed it on the rubber/post with a rag. I'm sure a spray bottle would have worked better. I did this alone, would have been easier with a second set of hands, but I used a few cardboard boxes and wood pieces to prop the exhaust and then the hitch in place so I wasn't straining to lift it at a stupid angle while putting a nut on.

Something I don't know if it was mentioned in this thread, but I used the two bolt feed wires in unison... because feeding the wire from the access hole to the bolt hole... PITA. I fed one from the bolt hole back to the access hole where I could get my fingers on it, and put a hook on both wires to pull it back through. Made it cake.
Feeder wire trick

Was happy with my Yakima rack's clearance, something I could never do with my Wrangler... use the rear gate with the hitch on. I don't think I'd ever opt for the 1.25" hitch... just for limitations with bike racks.
With bike rack


End result... no drilling, no mess, 1 hour, solo job, 1 ratchet 11/16 and 3/4" sockets... done.

 

[dahlberg123]

I purchased the CURT Class III 2" trailer hitch (#13127) from AutoAnything.com and had it installed for $40 by the local shop down the road. He said everything bolted up and aligned perfectly and was installed in 20 minutes as the box indicated. I haven't had any rattles, pops or squeaks since install and the hitch itself is pretty well hidden, I was worried I would see it hanging down but it must bolt up real close to the frame.

Next up, wiring!

 

[da5id]

Other than the factory trailer hitch, does anyone know of a hitch that requires a cut out of the rear bumper fascia? I am actually looking for one with the BIGGEST cut out (the most low profile hitch) since I need to maintain the departure angle from factory.

I know most everyone looks for the opposite so that the bumper won't be modified, but due to the crazy angles at the bottom of my driveway hill, I am pretty sure that a 2" receiver box under the bumper will drag every time I try and get into my garage.

Thanks

David

 

[crenninger]

Duck tape a 2x4 piece of wood under there and test drive your garage entry to confirm before starting to cut stuff.

Other than the factory trailer hitch, does anyone know of a hitch that requires a cut out of the rear bumper fascia? I am actually looking for one with the BIGGEST cut out (the most low profile hitch) since I need to maintain the departure angle from factory.

I know most everyone looks for the opposite so that the bumper won't be modified, but due to the crazy angles at the bottom of my driveway hill, I am pretty sure that a 2" receiver box under the bumper will drag every time I try and get into my garage.

Thanks

David

 

[da5id]

I've driven to the point on my driveway and measured the clearance to be less than the thickness of my hand, so I know I will scrape. Now I am looking for a low profile hitch package. Preferably with a 2" receiver rather than a class 1 or 2. (I'm not cutting anything yet either way, rather, I am looking for a hitch which mounts higher, requiring the bumper to be cut for clearance)

 

[paris1]

My guess is that the OE hitch is done that way because Mazda deemed it the most aesthetically (sp?) pleasing, while Curt, et al used their own design to simplify installation, lower cost and make the product more appealing to the DIYer crowd. Kinda' doubt you're going to find anything with a lower (higher) profile than the Mazda accessory.

 

[da5id]

My guess is that the OE hitch is done that way because Mazda deemed it the most aesthetically (sp?) pleasing, while Curt, et al used their own design to simplify installation, lower cost and make the product more appealing to the DIYer crowd. Kinda' doubt you're going to find anything with a lower (higher) profile than the Mazda accessory.

That is my guess too, if it had the 2" receiver I would pay the premium for it, but the combination of those two deficiencies makes me hope for an alternative.

 

[mic]

your lucky, all 3 of the mazda dealers in my area will NOT install other than Mazda Trailer hitch's