Oem Hitch

[Chris_Top_Her]

Anyone looking to buy an OEM hitch? taken off a new car (never attached to a trailer or bike rack)

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Anyone know what this connector is called? It has "E8" on it but that doesn't seem to produce an identical piece. I had to remove some leads from it when uninstalling and kinda had to rough it up to do so. Still works but I just want to buy a new one to sell with the hitch.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

All parts, no wires cut, I'll make a sell thread soon. And many mosquito bites. Ofc I'm home cooking for them.

 

[cybercruiser]

I had them include the Mazda hitch as part of my deal, because my trade-in had it, and I needed it on my replacement vehicle for our hitch mounted bike rack.

They claimed it was something like a $599 option, I asked if it was gold plated, since a REESE or Draw-Tite should be under $150. It took three trips to get it mounted, they lost the nut inside the frame that the the mounting bolt threads into. They finally gave up trying to fish it out, and spot welded it at that point, so, it has three bolt/nuts and one spot weld. They had to take off the Muffler, drop the exhaust and cut the rear bumper plastic, not a very well thought out dealer install setup.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

You have to lower the muffler regardless, not a big deal, only 2 17mm bolt's and some dishsoap.

 

[Rich 65]

Your dealer has a bunch of idiots working there - like mine. Mine botched the cut out in the bumper (not even spacing on either side) and forgot to reattach the "trunk" light.

 

[paris1]

Your dealer has a bunch of idiots working there - like mine. Mine botched the cut out in the bumper (not even spacing on either side) and forgot to reattach the "trunk" light.

The real culprit here is Mazda for supplying a hitch that, without benefit of pre-scored bumper valance, requires the 19 year old in the dealer prep department to try to figure out how best to cut the bumper for clearance.

 

[cybercruiser]

The real culprit here is Mazda for supplying a hitch that, without benefit of pre-scored bumper valance, requires the 19 year old in the dealer prep department to try to figure out how best to cut the bumper for clearance.

agreed!!

 

[Rich 65]

Do not agree. It does not take a master mechanic to make a simple even cut out in a plastic bumper. The instructions even have a template to show the actual cut out size and shape. All he/she needed to do was figure out where the center of the bumper is located. Still no excuse for not reattaching the storage area light connection. That is just sloppy work. I have purchased several Mazda's from this dealer (great Sales guy) but have had several issues with the Service department.

 

[paris1]

Do not agree. It does not take a master mechanic to make a simple even cut out in a plastic bumper. The instructions even have a template to show the actual cut out size and shape. All he/she needed to do was figure out where the center of the bumper is located. Still no excuse for not reattaching the storage area light connection. That is just sloppy work. I have purchased several Mazda's from this dealer (great Sales guy) but have had several issues with the Service department.

Like that's going to go well! I rest my case.

 

[Rich 65]

What was I thinking! 1/2 of 47 in is 23 1/2 in. The 1/2 in must have been too complicated. Actually now that I look at it the cut out is about a 1/4 in off, so that may have been it.

 

[fdew]

When I asked about the hitch the sales guy told me that the service department recommended not getting the OEM hitch. They said I would get a better hitch that looked better from Curt.

They did sell me the lighting adapter and the most important feature of that is that it tells you how to find a factory wire from under the hood to the back of the car. Turns out that info is online as well.

 

[Flyersguy172]

sorry to dig up an old post, but are there any thoughts/recommendations on a good aftermarket hitch to haul mountainbikes around? I would be hauling probably 2-3 29'' bikes. Has anyone tried the hitch offered from Curt, and if so do you have any bike rack type suggestions that would work with it?

 

[paris1]

Just about everybody on this forum that has a hitch has a Curt. Use the search function for "Curt" and you'd turn up a million posts. They make a great hitch, though it's not quite as unobtrusive visually as a properly installed Mazda hitch.

 

[Flyersguy172]

Thanks, I'll go that route then

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I have the Hidden Hitch... it sits almost flush with the bottom of the plastic bumper cover. Here is pic from Etrailer.

http://www.etrailer.com/question-72877.html

 

[paris1]

I have the Hidden Hitch... it sits almost flush with the bottom of the plastic bumper cover. Here is pic from Etrailer.

http://www.etrailer.com/question-72877.html

I'll take your word that it fits a little closer to the bumper than the Curt, but the camera angle on those two pics are different enough that you really can't tell.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

This picture I took a while back with my Hitch-Vise on shows it a little better.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

 

[fdew]

If you want hidden, I designed Hidden. A friend of mine will weld one together for you for $300