Just bought a trailer hitch...

[twixt]

Just ordered it, 108 shipped. it is a hidden hitch, stay tuned for install pics.

(for towing my bike)

[twixt]

hidden hitch installed! all you can see is the chain loops and the drawbar intake. quite nice. getting the rear bumper off BLOWS, and i screwed up the clips that hold the bumper against the quarter panel so i gotta harrass the dealer and replace that cause the gap is messed now.

[07WYarisRS]

My Father works for hidden hitch

They are a pretty good quality product. Not all are actually a "hidden hitch" that just the name they started out with because they pioneered the Hidden look.
FWIW you should buy the electical controller/isolator as well, save shorting out the system should you get water into the lights. I also HIGHLY recommend changing the trailer lights to LED to minimize the load as much as possible.

[atebit]

hidden hitch installed! all you can see is the chain loops and the drawbar intake. quite nice. getting the rear bumper off BLOWS, and i screwed up the clips that hold the bumper against the quarter panel so i gotta harrass the dealer and replace that cause the gap is messed now.

Hmm....the instructions for the Sedan hitch just say "Remove the two plastic fascia rivets from the fascia tabs", but it sounds like it was more involved than that (go figure). Now that you've done it, any words of wisdom?

[BlueFlash]

lmao a yaris with a tow hitch

[Astroman]

Where did you get the hitch at? Do you have the LB or sedan?

[redyaris]

What can a Yaris actually tow? Even class I (2,000 lbs MGTW, 200 lbs) sounds unattainable to me. Does Toyota even recommend towing for this car?

[Astroman]

In the US, no. In Canada, you can tow. :confused: Most people here seem to use the hitch to mount a bike rack anyway.

[churp]

The manual lists 700 pounds towing capacity for Canada--not recommended for US. Same cars, same capabilities....other than Toyota/US not wanting us to tow, big deal!! I'll have one once I get the bucks.

[BlueFlash]

the only thing a yaris should tow is a fellow yaris that blew a tranny from towing a trailer lol

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

NOT TO BE STUPID BUT WHY ???????

[BlueFlash]

do you think when the yaris was engineered and manufactured it was made to tow if it was it would have a stronger driveline and chassis plus it just looks ugly as hell to see a car towing its ugle looking and ugly to know that car will never be the same

[Astroman]

Maybe, just maybe, some people want to put a hitch bike rack?? Ever think of that:rolleyes:

[BlueFlash]

ya but its still ugly they do make removable universal bike racks and im sure they are cheeper than a tow hitch and the bike rack togather

[churp]

ya but its still ugly they do make removable universal bike racks and im sure they are cheeper than a tow hitch and the bike rack togather

Did you ever think that some people think a totally invisible hitch(when not in use) may be more practical than a universal bike rack (which I think would be butt ugly) that may scratch your paint?

[fmicle]

So, here is my story:

After selling the Jeep Cherokee and getting the Yaris, I was missing my hitch, which I used to transport my bike around.

I checked Hidden Hitch but they don't sell online and the closest dealer is some 100 miles away... So I went to U-Haul. They didn't have the model that fits the Yaris in stock, but they offered to order it for $170. I went to their website and ordered it myself for $130, including shipping. Great deal! Or so I thought...

I tried to install it today, but had to give up after more than 1 hour. First I had to file little dents in the plastic bumper, so that the edges fits nicely, without tensioning the bumper. Then I struggled to align the holes, but I didn't succeed no matter how hard I tried. All I needed were a few millimeters, the bar was tight against the spare tire case and just wouldn't move.

Twixt, where did you get yours? Mine is a U-Haul model, like I said, part number 249060, for Yaris Liftback... If I had managed to install it, it would look really nice, just like Twixt said...

Any ideas, suggestions, thoughts, are welcome!

[Astroman]

Well I ordered a hitch for my yaris, and wired her up over the weekend. Went with a hitch manufacturer out of Wisconsin. I'll post pics when it gets here sometime this week.

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

good luck with the warranty when you drive that bad boy into the dealer......

[Meteorite Man]

Just ordered it, 108 shipped. it is a hidden hitch, stay tuned for install pics.

(for towing my bike)

Did everyone with the "negative comments" miss the part about "(for towing my bike)" I think the word "towing" was misused, maybe transporting or hauling would of been better but it's for a freakin "BIKERACK"!!!. Class I hitch, Slide the rack into the receiver, pop in the pin, mount the bike and away you go. Seems that everyone's eye caught the "hitch" part and assumed he has a 38' fifth wheel travel trailer.

Universal bike rack? Hmmm.... I know if I had the choice between tossing a bike up on the roof, which is a gimmee for scratched paint and droppin' a nut, I'd opt for the hitch type rack. Better fuel mileage (no drag), Don't have to hear that thing vibrating through the roof and it will. I think the pros outweigh the cons.

Chuck

[Astroman]

In another couple of months my mileage will hit 36k anyway. :rolleyes:

[Meteorite Man]

6374

6375

Hmmmm....Now if it was like this...I'd see you're concern,

Have at it

Chuck

[Astroman]

:laughabove: That is one reason why inbreeding is discouraged! That's right up there with the youtube video of the tiny car trying to haul what looks like a 24ft trailer up a hill.

[keesue]

I had a Hidden Hitch installed which I use with a bike rack to carry my bikes. Works nicely. When the rack is in the garage, all you can see is the receiver covered with a rubber plug. Completely unoticable, better than hoisting the bike up on the roof risking a scratch, is out of the air stream which affects mileage and it doubles as a bike rack for servicing before a ride.

[Imagine]

I've had a hidden hitch on my car for a while now. I bought it from everythingauto.com and installed it myself. Installation was simple, and it works great! I use it to haul my roadbike around. I hate bike carriers that touch the paint.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/funkygarage.php?do=thumb&width=480&rideid=283&id=me%20040.jpg

[Meteorite Man]

You mean this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCN55W23CbI


That's what happens when you have 105 horsepower.

Chuck

[keesue]

I've had a hidden hitch on my car for a while now. I bought it from everythingauto.com and installed it myself. Installation was simple, and it works great! I use it to haul my roadbike around. I hate bike carriers that touch the paint.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/funkygarage.php?do=thumb&width=480&rideid=283&id=me%20040.jpg

Yeah, that's the one I have.

[smokinyaris]

can you post pics once you have it all strapped down..............

[Shijima]

Just a note to anyone interested in towing, Canada does recommend 700 as the max, and at my dealer we install hitches everynow and then. Anyways.

I just found this company http://www.leesurelite.com/ which has a 250 lb camper trailer. Well within the recommended limits.

I think this would be a perfect camping accesory, it seems like quite the cool little camper, and I think I might buy one for next camping season, after my yaris comes in.

[tapuleo]

Can anyone recommend a bike rack they've had a good experience with? I'm wanting a hidden-hitch, but the bike racks look like they're going to cost quite a bit more than the hitch itself. :(

[slvryaris]

That video never gets old. SMOKIN LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN.....
You mean this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCN55W23CbI


That's what happens when you have 105 horsepower.

Chuck

[Meteorite Man]

You guys with the sedans have more options for carrying cargo than us Hatch Dummies...Atleast you have a trunk lid.

7340

7341

[Imagine]

Can anyone recommend a bike rack they've had a good experience with? I'm wanting a hidden-hitch, but the bike racks look like they're going to cost quite a bit more than the hitch itself. :(


What type of bike? I personally like the hitches that the bike tires sit on.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/40-3559-NCL-MOUNTED.jpg

Easy to load/unload. Fits all types of bikes. The bikes stay firmly planted. This will be my next bike carrier.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=22745&item=40-3559&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

[maryinredding]

We just installed a drawtite on the back of my liftback so that we could put a bike rack on it. It was not an easy task because the second bolt goes way up under the bumper and there's very little room. It took both my husband and I to get those last two bolts up there so they could be tightened.

[tapuleo]

What type of bike? I personally like the hitches that the bike tires sit on.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/40-3559-NCL-MOUNTED.jpg

Easy to load/unload. Fits all types of bikes. The bikes stay firmly planted. This will be my next bike carrier.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=22745&item=40-3559&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

I've got a mountain bike and my kids have little tiny bikes, so it should hold 3. I'm having a vision of gently setting the 3rd bike on there and watching the front bumper come off the ground. :smile:

[tapuleo]

We just installed a drawtite on the back of my liftback so that we could put a bike rack on it. It was not an easy task because the second bolt goes way up under the bumper and there's very little room. It took both my husband and I to get those last two bolts up there so they could be tightened.

Did the drawtite match to already existing bolts/holes? And now that you've got it on there, how do you like it?

[caveatipse]

I regularly use my Yaris to tow a 15,000 pound airplane.

[maryinredding]

Yes, the drawtite hitch matched the bolt holes perfectly, but the upper ones were really hard to get to. There was barely enough room to get your hand up there and then you had to maneuver the bolt into the stationary nut. They just didn't give you enough room. We have yet to put the bike rack on it but I am sure it will be great.

[Darth Gilbert]

I'm considering putting a hitch on my car for mounting a bike rack. I'm concerned that having a hicth on my Yaris will hurt the resale value, since people will be wondering what the heck I've been towing...

[tapuleo]

I'm considering putting a hitch on my car for mounting a bike rack. I'm concerned that having a hicth on my Yaris will hurt the resale value, since people will be wondering what the heck I've been towing...

If you're worried about resale, maybe you're thinking about selling? If you're thinking about selling, why would you put a hitch on it since you're not going to use it?

Kidding aside, it's just a couple of bolts. If you go to sell your Yaris, take the thing off if you're worried about it. Throw it in as a bonus & maybe they'll buy the car.

[Imagine]

Yes, the drawtite hitch matched the bolt holes perfectly, but the upper ones were really hard to get to. There was barely enough room to get your hand up there and then you had to maneuver the bolt into the stationary nut. They just didn't give you enough room. We have yet to put the bike rack on it but I am sure it will be great.


The hidden hitch was the same way. The top bolts are indeed tricky.

[loafer650]

does the yaris come with an auto level susp like my armada? if so ill order one..

[maryinredding]

We have put the bike rack on the drawtite hitch and everything is working great. As long as you don't wire your car for the electrical connection for the hitch, it is pretty clear what you are going to use it for.

[Imagine]

does the yaris come with an auto level susp like my armada? if so ill order one..


LoLz!!! If you carry anything heavy enough to require auto leveling suspension on the Yaris.. You are screwed anyway.