While I've towed many things over the years, I've never installed a permanent hitch on a car so this is all mysterious stuff to me.

Question: Does this hitch bar stick out too far? A shorter, similar one could be about 3" closer to the hitch receiver.

Is it okay to have it out this far? Keeps bad moving things further away from precious Element, but creates more leverage on the hitch, it would seem.

Need some advice from those in the know.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/uploads/files/hitchstick.jpg

When not towing, you can remove the bar (and install a propeller :) ). The receiver box is as flush with the bumper as on most SUVs I've seen, and better than some. As to whether the bar is too long, that may be depend a lot on your trailer. If the tow ball is too close, part of the trailer could hit the bumper on a sharp turn. If the trailer isn't too heavy, you can get by with a long bar. For example some hitch bike racks let you use a trailer as well with a 'pass through' receiver. The rear overhang on the Element is pretty short, so the distance from ball to rear wheels is less than on many other SUVs. Your trailer supplier may be a better source of infomation on what you need in terms of a tow bar, ball, and of course chains.

paulj

Looks just fine to me. I think we have the same hitch...Valley/Uhaul. I have a little different connector for the 7 spade wiring but all in all...super.

Yes, it's the UHaul/Valley with the plug from UHaul that I painted black. I checked in at a trailer store here and the guy there said it looked okay and would give me a little extra turning radius.

The Element has one of the more cleaner looking hitch installs that I've seen.

You may want to reverse your drawbar, so that the "step" is down instead of up. Since the E is suitable for only light trailers, you may find that your trailer may be more appropriately level that way. You can also purchase other interchangeable drawbars that extend less far or even more, or that have a larger or smaller step up/down. That appears to be a standard drawbar, so there's lots of them out there to choose from. Nobody ever said you had use what it came with. :wink:

Yesum, these things seem to be infinitely adjustable. Up, down, bigger, smaller. in, out - wait, that was a movie I was watching.

My drawbar and ball was purchased from Wal-Mart after careful measurement and trigonometry, a little algebra (SEE, high school IS important!), so that the top of the ball is at about 19" off the ground, per the instructions from the manufacturers of the Scamp trailer I am buying.

My only regret getting this 2" hitch outfit is that it must weight about 50 pounds, deducting from my limited load capabilities!

Yeah, and like me, I bet you had a slide rule (not a calculator) when you took algebra in high school! Speaking of "the old in-out", you didn't happen to be thinking of Stanley Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange", now did you?

On another train of thought, it's funny that you mention the model name of your trailer being a "Scamp"! I'm taking my time getting around to it, and I suspect you've read references to it, but I'm soon going to be posting pics of the powerboat I've been known to tow behind my E, and the only comparable name would have to be "Freak"! You'll see why soon enough. :wink:

and I still have it!

Ah yes, Clockwork Orange. What a yummy movie!

Post those pictures of your Freak boat ASAP. We need some excitement around here.

The Durango 95 purred along all horatio like, leaving a warm feeling down in my gutty wutts.


Like, Wow...What a flashback.

"No time for the old in-out, love, I've just come to read the meter."


Flashback, indeed!!! :D



8)