I plan on buying the Hidden Hitch PN 60985 available from:

http://www.etrailer.com/ or http://www.hitchmart.com/

From what I’ve read, you can install one in 15-30 minutes using hand tools, no drilling and it comes complete w/ a receiver and even a cover. All you need to add is a ball and wiring.

The etrailer.com site shows photos of it installed and gives you an idea how simple the installation must be.

bluesman77

Gravity: More than just a good idea – it’s a law!

 

Thanks for the reply Bluesman. Anyone else out there? 8)

 

I plan to get the UHaul hitch with the 2" receiver instead of the hidden hitch with the 1 1/4" receiver. Mostly due to the better accessories available for 2" hitches...I want to add a swing-away 3-4 bike rack.

-brendan

 

Thanks brenden. I've been thinkin' about the 2" also for the same reason. Keep those replies comin' people. 8)

 

Opps!, sorry, that's brendan. :lol:

 

Definitely get the 2". Check out U-haul, they are quick and cheap.

 

Thanks marky. I've not heard of the U-Haul hitch for the "E". Could I just go to a U-Haul rental place and buy one? Do they put it on or could I do it myself like the Hidden Hitch? Replies welcome. 8)

 

U-Haul has my vote. It was cheap and very easy to install.

Also don't forget Sportsrack.com for the wiring harness. Mention this site and get an extra 10% or 15% off (can't remember witch). I think it cost me around $25 shipped.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the harness discount vlad. I was just checkin' out the U-Haul site and think I'll look into theirs. Do you have the U-Haul hitch? Do they let you put it on yourself, or do they want to do it? How much did it cost you in time and money? Thanks for the reply. 8)

 

Ok...I'm not sure if I remember the prices correctly but I'll tell you what I remember:


I think the hitch cost $115 after taxes. It would have only cost $10 or $15 more to have it installed but I installed it myself. Took about 40 minutes. It fit very tight so I had to use a hammer to get it into place; but it was really quite simple. There was no drilling involved. If you want to take the easiest route, just let them install it.

The reason I ordered the wiring harness from Sportsrack is because it plugs into the OEM plug so you don't have to splice into your rear lights. I haven't installed it yet so I'm not sure how hard it is; but if you search, you can find other posts that talk about it.

The other reason I wanted the 2" hitch is because I already have some accessories for it. I plan on installing hitches on just about all my cars in the future and the 2" seems like it will be the easiest for compatibility's sake. It is also easier to find accessories for the 2".

Good Luck...no matter what you choose.

 

I opted for the oem hitch and had the 11/2 receiver removed and replaced with a 2" receiver, the reason I did this is I tow a very large boat with mine (short distance) and the way the oem hitch bolts thru the frame rather than having bolts attach it to the frame is much more sturdy and much more costly, but if your gonna tow something big and heavy, that may be the way to go. BTW the stock hitch has a 150 tongue 1500 tow limit while going with a bigger hitch you up those limits to 500lbs tongue 10,000 tow limit

 

"BTW the stock hitch has a 150 tongue 1500 tow limit while going with a bigger hitch you up those limits to 500lbs tongue 10,000 tow limit
"

Carefull! The safe towing weights depend on a lot more than the simple physical strength of the hitch itself. The suspension, wheelbase, tires, transmission cooling and brakes all need to be considered.

paulj

 

[quote:0e80bd195e=" "]Carefull! The safe towing weights depend on a lot more than the simple physical strength of the hitch itself. The suspension, wheelbase, tires, transmission cooling and brakes all need to be considered.[/quote:0e80bd195e]

I'm curious if the shape and construction of the hitch (e.g. how deep towards the center of the vehicle it goes) has any bearing, particularly between the hidden hitch and the uhaul hitch, when it comes to adjustments to the tongue weight and towing limits.

That said, a bigger hitch isn't likely to allow you to tow anything *substantially* bigger, I suspect. This is, after all, based on Honda's "global small car platform".

-brendan

 

Judging from what I've read among RV owners, the way to maximize the towing capacity of a vehicle is to put the hitch pivot directly over the rear axle. Fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches do this. There is also a hitch for the likes of Suburbans that uses a pivot near the axle, and a circular track under the overhang. If you can't do that, you need things like weight distribution hitches and dampers to keep the trailer from wagging the dog. Admittedly these are for trailers above 3500 lbs.

The Element has a short enough overhang that hitch geometry shouldn't make much difference. For anything above 2000 lb the Element is a better 'toad' (towed by the RV) than a towing vehicle. The Element has too short of a wheelbase to make a good tow vehicle.

paulj

 

[quote:03652d17b2=" "]TW the stock hitch has a 150 tongue 1500 tow limit while going with a bigger hitch you up those limits to 500lbs tongue 10,000 tow limit[/quote:03652d17b2]Does that bigger hitch come with a new 250 HP engine and beefed up transmission, big tires, more steel framing to up the carrying capacity above 675lb?

 

Here's some more info on the U-Haul hitch:

It bolts on through the frame, like the oem hitch does. The hitch fits on the outside of the frame and you feed the bolts through the larger hole in the frame with a wire bolt-feeder that is provided. The bolts have a rectangular metal piece attached to them that prevent them from turning inside the frame (so you are able to tighten them with a single socket wrench from the outside). There are four identical bolts (two on each side of the frame) and another U-shaped bolt that attaches to a pre-existing metal loop in the middle of the E (right behind the bumper).

As far as I can tell, this hitch is mounted exactly the same as the OEM hitch. I haven't seen the OEM hitch but I can't imagine how it would be any different since this one uses all five of the OEM mounting points.

 

Thanks for all the info and comments all you "E" owners. And thanks for the U-Haul info vlad! I think that's the way I'm gonna go. I also think the 2" has the definate advantage when it comes to accessories. I'm lookin' into one of those cargo trays that slips into it so I can carry a load on that when we go travelin'. Thanks again everybody

 

I looked at a lot of hitches, and after deciding they were all pretty expensive, I just built my own. This way I could conceal it better and it is strong enough to pull all my trailers. Only cost $35 ish. Then I just bought a $20 trailer light thing off ebay that pluged in behind my rear right pannel.

 

Jeeeee and i thought my billet grill and tinted windows would allow me to tow up to 10,000 lbs sheeeeet!! :shock:
seriously I said the hitch can handle that much weight, not the car,,, read the writing before you read into it and come up with your own answers

 

I dunno Dive, when I read this:

"TW the stock hitch has a 150 tongue 1500 tow limit while going with a bigger hitch you up those limits to 500lbs tongue 10,000 tow limit "

it implies the E could take those higher limits. The 150/1500 limit is really on the Element, and not on the hitch. For all we know, if you put the Honda hitch on an F550 you could tow 10,000!

Just didn't want some newbie to get ideas!!

 

Hi Bigfoot, I'd like to think that I'm not the "newbie" you're referring to, after all, I've been posting since last July :lol:, that should qualify me for somethin'. See ya.

 

Hello ALL:

Just picked up my 2004 EX 4WD.. Took it right to the Uhaul store and they had the hitch in stock IT was part number 72858.. They used the 2003 listing as the 2004 listing was wrong in the computer. Fit it in 30 minutes!
They didn't have the electrical connector in stock, I can add that myself.

Quick, Fast, Easy ... $141.75 TITLE/TAX/DELIVERY/DEALERPREP!!! (well maybe not delivery ,

It is a 2" receiver...

Hightly recomment UHaul. It is the 3rd hitch I have gotten from them.. always bang on professional!