New Hitch Installed

[fmicle]

Hi everyone,

After a previously failed installation (tried to install one for the Sedan on my Liftback), I managed to install a hitch this time! I ordered it online from reese-hitches.com, it's a Draw-Tite hitch (part number 24786), for $71.75 + $18.02 shipping. It took them a few weeks to ship, but eventually the hitch came and I started working on it. It was a little more complicated than I thought, didn't manage to get it done in one evening, before dark, I'd say it took me about 3-4 hours in total, because I ended up removing the rear bumper, so I can get to the upper screws. Reaching from underneath is almost impossible IMO. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll be more than happy to answer them.

Here are some pictures of it.

[ism3t]

bikes are bigger than the car! i love it

[fmicle]

how much weight can you put on that before the front wheels come off the pavement? :) Looks good tho.

The hitch is rated for 200 lbs tongue weight, so no worries about losing the grip on the front wheels :wink:

[kimona]

The hitch looks good. Nice installation. Too bad you had to remove the rear bumper. Was that difficult? Nice bikes!

[fmicle]

It was kind of difficult, because there is little room for a wrench where the screws need to be tightened. I only had an angle of about 30 degrees, so it took me a while to turn the screws all the way. But it seems to be alright, 2 years later nothing is loose and I am getting ready to pull a sport trailer next weekend, for a camping trip. Will post pictures...

[POORSHA]

Welcome to the " you cant do that " club.. Enjoy the hitch.

[WeeYari]

Can you worm your way in under there and take pics of the attachment points. I want to see how it differs from my Curt hitch.

Thanks

[fmicle]

Yes, I'll try to get some pictures of the attachment points. I go under and do visual checks from time to time, just to make sure everything is still alright and pull hard on the hitch to check for any looseness.

I installed the wiring harness a couple of weeks ago and I'm quite proud of it, since I got everything under the plastic interior covers, so you can't see anything; the loose end rest inside the spare wheel when it's not being used. And U-Haul let me do a connection check last Sunday, all the lights seem to be working fine, whoo-hoo :-)

Pictures later after I get home from work... almost there ;-)

[WeeYari]

I installed the wiring harness a couple of weeks ago and I'm quite proud of it, since I got everything under the plastic interior covers, so you can't see anything; the loose end rest inside the spare wheel when it's not being used. And U-Haul let me do a connection check last Sunday, all the lights seem to be working fine, whoo-hoo :-)

Is there finally a plug-and-play wiring harness available, or did you have to splice?

[mikenacarato]

thats awesome. ive been looking at getting the hidden hitch so i can carry my track wheels and tires on it and not have to throw them in the car.

[fmicle]

Is there finally a plug-and-play wiring harness available, or did you have to splice?

I had to splice, but that was easy, the kit had everything I needed, unlike the radio/cd/mp3 player installation, no soldering needed this time :-)

[fmicle]

Okay, here we go, I took some pictures of the attachment points on the left side. I'm lying on my back under the car, right shoulder almost touching the left rear tire. I stuck my hand in one picture, to give you an idea about the available space. The lower bolt is easy, the higher one is a bitch, like I said I had to detach the bumper so I can get access from above. By the way, I had to remove 4 factory screws that were there and use those provided with the hitch.

http://cqr1dw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pu_C_x0QP1p_Wz8t99kmgj4UeboLffBOAZXXfWzy922ClDSM 2lph2f8YELq8eSrc6pHt9yuT0_2ZHUGDD5Rw21BAiXGepfhli/IMG_1509_sm.jpg

http://cqr1dw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pkYVVkxoSwC0c1vJXK4UXinl51yh7_-mCHHMpXiyibKczex642XzqOOjp3u3Vz1FH6C4h5lekhnB_KYUJ 77HH1Ynzt90Lk9bN/IMG_1510_sm.jpg

Gotta go install the new cold air intake, before it gets dark ;-)

[Yaris Hilton]

Very nice!

[R2D2]

Can you worm your way in under there and take pics of the attachment points. I want to see how it differs from my Curt hitch.

Thanks

I've been looking at the Curt and it looked fairly easy to install-how was it?
I bought a Curt for the wife's Rogue and it was very well designed and easy to install. I am very pleased with it so I was considering one for the Yaris.

TIA
R2

[saplaymate]

I have a curt, very simple and strong mount design.

[yaris prime]

+1 for the Curt. Uses different attachment points than some of the others- very easy to install- did not need to remove bumper.

[Mead]

I gotta question... (obviously you dont have an exhaust) but do you think an after market exhaust will block the hitch? I have the medallion touring like this:

[saplaymate]

It fits with my obvious Concept G. and will fit with any other exhaust!

[fmicle]

Well, I do have an exhaust, the stock one ;-) and the hitch is not in the way at all, the main horizontal bar goes right above the lower bumper edge. There is one thing I can't figure out from your pic, how far back that attachment rod goes. If the attachment points are the same as for the stock exhaust, I don't see a problem. If you can upload a picture from a slightly different angle (push the camera deeper under the car, like 90 degree with the exhaust) I will be able to tell better.

My hitch is from Draw Tite, but I understand there are different models out there and they even have different attachment points.

Oh, btw, what size rims and tires do you have? I just got a new set for my Yaris and was a little afraid to go with a thin tire...

[yaris prime]

I gotta question... (obviously you dont have an exhaust) but do you think an after market exhaust will block the hitch? I have the medallion touring like this:

Hmm... here are some pics of the curt hitch mounted on my car with the factory exhaust. It uses the holes that you see right above your exhaust in the picture.

[fmicle]

I finally found the pics I took when installing the electrical harness for towing. I wanted to hide everything, so you can't see it when it's not in use. So I took out the panels as you can see in the first photo and I unclipped the side panels, so that I could lay the wires underneath and out of sight. You must be careful with the side panels, because you must push the edge toward the inside, to unhook it, you can't simply pull on it after unscrewing the bolts. This hook is I'd say at the same height as the top edge of the tail lights. You'll see it if you pull the panel just a little bit and peek inbetween.

http://cqr1dw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pdpf-u9A8G8DvCHRFYE2lY0g3510dw-IXts0yI4J_OkHqizsWnynTF_ErWvK-NWAKMFzRTdDmFz6BjyeNHVc6RB4exCx7UCUc/IMG_1488.jpg

The day before I had figured out which wires are the stop lights, brake and turn signals, so with that note in hand I spliced the wires. The kit had an extra long green wire for the right turn signal. The white wire (ground) is attached to one of the bolts securing the tail light.

http://cqr1dw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1ps7brfn5nkHSliqchJnbtD3J3qNBguajhRkvPPIHtuhsIkdf UjUGqsUlBvfn8BnJGIeBYw0RSWO2ve5rKORwEbFiRPqjxsYgS/IMG_1490.jpg

And this is the end result, the cable is resting inside the spare wheel when it's not in use, out of sight. I managed to fit the controller module behind the back panel, although I had to cut a little piece of one vertical rib, to avoid the panel forming a bulge over the controller.

http://cqr1dw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p0AHmW4jh4OF5viyWMvw96G8U7vDiuzbQOonK6wGBTKCpdP_ r8xuKDkBl0D0WR8xDuR-IZBjuMhyGdS26DNgtCAJJZCMR5378/IMG_1491.jpg

[Mead]

Well, I do have an exhaust, the stock one ;-) and the hitch is not in the way at all, the main horizontal bar goes right above the lower bumper edge. There is one thing I can't figure out from your pic, how far back that attachment rod goes. If the attachment points are the same as for the stock exhaust, I don't see a problem. If you can upload a picture from a slightly different angle (push the camera deeper under the car, like 90 degree with the exhaust) I will be able to tell better.

My hitch is from Draw Tite, but I understand there are different models out there and they even have different attachment points.

Oh, btw, what size rims and tires do you have? I just got a new set for my Yaris and was a little afraid to go with a thin tire...

Thanks, I think the Draw Tite will work, the Tanabe exhaust uses the same stock hanger locations. BTW I highjacked the exhaust pic, it's not mine :rolleyes:

Yaris Prime, I think your Curt will work too. And judging by the attachement points it looks easier to install than the Draw Tite however I think those lower openings are tow points but I guess if you need a tow they can do it thru a receiver...

[Mead]

fmicle - how do you like that bikerack? is that a Bell from Wallyworld?

How's it on the freeway? pretty stable? I like the fact the arms are spread out more than high end racks.

[fmicle]

fmicle - how do you like that bikerack? is that a Bell from Wallyworld?

How's it on the freeway? pretty stable? I like the fact the arms are spread out more than high end racks.

Yes, it is a Bell and I think I got it at Big 5 or something like that. It was $75 I believe as opposed to $149 for Thule or some other brand name. So I went for the cheapest. I like it, it does the job. I took it on a road trip a few years ago, 2,400 miles in 8 days (from San Jose, CA to Moab, UT then Arizona and back) with my MTB on it at all times while driving.

The rubber rings that the straps go into and velcro back onto themselves are broken, but the straps are long enough so I can lead them around the bar - and I actually feel better this way, much stronger than a little piece of rubber.

I wanted to get a ski rack to attach to it, but unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that fits this model. Yet :wink:

[Mead]

Thanks, I was looking into all kinds of racks, lots of them have fold down arms and the 'tray' style I feel will scrape because I'm lowered.

The Bell with the inability to fold arms makes it lighter and prolly stronger. I'm a leaning towards that. More features IMO = more weight and $350 racks will need to be locked down.

I think the bell can handle 100 lbs while the folding arms around 70 or less for 1 1/4".

[Revsson]

I'm too lazy to go out to the car at this hour, but what is the length between
mounting points? or how wide is this hidden hitch? :iono:

[ptitpiffute]

Hi guys,

I've a question about the curt hitch (I've looked all over here and couldn't find the answer).
Does it feet on an RS model Yaris LB 2007, because of the skirt, it seems that it is a pain in the bu.... to get one install here in MTL.

Thanks

Cheers