Valley or U-Haul Class II Hitch Install-Hints & Tips

[Watt-man]

Well, no one chimed in with any help so I'll provide it myself in the hopes it will help someone in the future. After hitting the U-haul dealer, he was able to figure out that the "118465" is really in their books as a "CQT 118465" for $47. Perfect for my '07! There are two pieces to the install - a diode box which installs under the dash in about 30 seconds, and a harness that simply plugs into the existing harness pigtail in the spare tire well. The pigtail in the spare tire well is 'dead' until you install the diode box under the dash. DONE. The actual work is to run the rest of the wiring pigtail in the back out to the hitch... took some work but I've run it out through the factory rubber grommet for the tailgate (license plate lights) and around the structural member which is actually the bumper.

Unless there's some life issue with the diode box, this is under half price of the Honda parts but 'the same parts' in my view. Excellent!

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by ralphwilliams66

Yesterday, I installed the U-Haul #78258 Receiver Hitch (2") on my 03 Element.

U-Haul wanted almost $100 to install hitch and wiring.

Need to separate hitch and wiring. I had the hitch installed this AM at the local UHaul dealer. $134 for the hitch, $27 install, but $10 back for ordering it off the web. So all of $17 to install the hitch.

Now its an easy install for sure, bolts right on, fit nicely on my 2010.

Their cost on wiring was high, so I ordered a kit off the web, and will install tht myself.

[thrifty bill]

So I just installed the eTrailer wiring kit. You talk about easy. Direct plug in to existing plug in the spare tire hatch, and direct plug in to the wiring under the dash. Took less than one minute to complete, ONCE I found the plug under the dash. Finding the plug took about five minutes.

U Haul wanted $55 to install the wiring harness! WTF? I assume they must use a generic harness. So I would not have U Haul do the electrical installation. On the hitch, its an easy job, but for the $17.50 installation charge, I would let them do it.

[Wrenchmeister]

I just installed a valley hitch I got from ebay. I used a craw bar to stretch the holes instead of drilling or grinding. 10 seconds job, no shavings, no sparks or noise.

Rest of the install went well as well. Had a bit of tight fit locating the hitch due the excess undercoating. I used a floor jack to push the hitch in place. The hitch itself shaved off the excess.

Decided not to raise the E or use ramps to reduce the lifting. A creeper did the job just fine.

The job was a piece of cake. Now I need to find the harness...

[wrxdan2002]

Are the 04's hitches different then some of the later years? I look at a used U-haul hitch & it did not seem to fit width wise?

[Wrenchmeister]

They fit all years. There are hitches that install inside the support members and there is some longer hitches that install to the outside of the support rails.
But they all fit all years.

[fujirio]

any one got pictures of the hitch from u-haul on their element?

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by fujirio

any one got pictures of the hitch from u-haul on their element?

See the pictures above. Uhaul doesn't manufacture them instead they sell hitches by Vallley, Da Lan, Hidden and others with a Uhaul sticker on them. The hitches for the Element are all basically the same.

[Watt-man]

Originally Posted by fujirio

any one got pictures of the hitch from u-haul on their element?

Here are a few of mine. I had seen a few statements by others that to mount it on an 07-08 SC or all 09's and up, that you're supposed to notch the bumper for clearance. I didn't like that so I redrilled tbe rear mounting holes and made a spacer at the back so it would just fit tightly under the bumper without pushing up against it. You might have to stare a minute at the photos to ignore the trailer and receiver to appreciate where it all is. You can also hit your local Honda dealer and ask for a trailer hitch plug for a Ridgeline which is a drop-in and is cheap as well!

As you can see in the second photo the hitch is flush with the bumper - doesn't stick out and fits nicely.

[Watt-man]

Spacer Photo.