Trailer hitch?
#41
My Hidden Hitch Fit too!!!!!!
Installation was simple, I was able to do it myself in less than an hour.
Shot with FE190/X750 at 2007-07-03
Shot with FE190/X750 at 2007-07-03
#42
Draw-Tite hitch with Thule bike rack
Information for anyone considering a hitch mounted bike rack:
I just installed a Draw-Tite hitch on my Fit. I used a Thule 1-1/4" four-bike trailer hitch rack to carry two bikes.
I just completed a 1100 mile trip. The hitch worked flawlessly. Having the bikes back there was great (although they do get in the way of the hatch...that's my only complaint). The bikes even stayed fairly dry during a rainy section of the trip.
I went 1100 miles with 4 people in the car, AC on most of the time, with two bikes on the hitch mount...average MPG: 34.5 I doubt I'd get that kind of mileage with the bikes up on the roof.
Also, with my wife's 96 Civic sedan, the same bike rack scrapes on the driveway (at the bottom of the hill, where the driveway meets the road). With the Fit, the bike rack is about 3-4" off the ground at the same place on the driveway. Much more ground clearance under the hitch rack! This is due to the length of the Civic's trunk versus the Fit's short rear-overhang hatch...the Fit really doesn't have that much more ground clearance than the Civic.
I just installed a Draw-Tite hitch on my Fit. I used a Thule 1-1/4" four-bike trailer hitch rack to carry two bikes.
I just completed a 1100 mile trip. The hitch worked flawlessly. Having the bikes back there was great (although they do get in the way of the hatch...that's my only complaint). The bikes even stayed fairly dry during a rainy section of the trip.
I went 1100 miles with 4 people in the car, AC on most of the time, with two bikes on the hitch mount...average MPG: 34.5 I doubt I'd get that kind of mileage with the bikes up on the roof.
Also, with my wife's 96 Civic sedan, the same bike rack scrapes on the driveway (at the bottom of the hill, where the driveway meets the road). With the Fit, the bike rack is about 3-4" off the ground at the same place on the driveway. Much more ground clearance under the hitch rack! This is due to the length of the Civic's trunk versus the Fit's short rear-overhang hatch...the Fit really doesn't have that much more ground clearance than the Civic.
#43
How about hitch mounted cargo carriers? Has anyone used their hitch with one of those, like the 20" x 48"? I am worried about it being so low to the ground. On my WRX and Mazda 3 it would sometimes scrape a little when you were exiting the driveway but it wwas OK other wise.
Has anyone hooked one of these up yet and travelled with it?
Has anyone hooked one of these up yet and travelled with it?
#44
Bumping this up to see if anyone has used a hitch mounted cargo carrier yet. I am moving and need as much room as possible so I am highly considering one of these, the hitches are under 100 and the cargo carriers seem to range from 100-150. It's a lot of money for a one time use but beats the hell out of the price of roof racks I was looking at and it won't scratch the car either. Anyone use one? Thoughts? Opinions?
#45
I thought about buying a cargo carrier, but wound up not doing it. The hitch is so low to the ground, and the carriers protrude so far out from the bumper, it seemed to me that the carrier would be banging and scraping almost anywhere I might drive. With any added weight on the carrier, you'd be lucky to drive over the most shallow driveway or dip in the road without shredding the carrier and/or denting the rear floor where the hitch is mounted. I'm not saying that these things WILL happen, just that they are likely.
#48
The Civic sedan's trunk extends rearward (past the rear axle) much farther than the Fit's rear hatch. If I remember correctly, the Civic's rear overhang is 16" more than the Fit's.
I have a steep driveway. The front of the Fit scrapes if I don't come to a stop before going up the driveway, and I have to go up the driveway entrance at an angle. BUT, the bike rack (on the Fit) has about 3-4" of clearance under it when I go up/down that part of the driveway. On the Civic, the bike rack scrapes.
#49
Bumping this up to see if anyone has used a hitch mounted cargo carrier yet. I am moving and need as much room as possible so I am highly considering one of these, the hitches are under 100 and the cargo carriers seem to range from 100-150. It's a lot of money for a one time use but beats the hell out of the price of roof racks I was looking at and it won't scratch the car either. Anyone use one? Thoughts? Opinions?
Last edited by john trials; 01-30-2008 at 10:25 AM.
#50
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After speaking with some people I am just going to make my own cargo carrier. Spending $130 for a simple flat panel with a 1 1/4" square tube attached to it is insane. Not to mention something that I will likely only use one time. So I will get my own square tubing, some angle iron, and plywood and bolt together something the exact size I need. I'll try to remember to post pics. I will be buying the hitch though $90 is fair to me.
#51
A pair of towing lights with magnetic mounts (the kind that are placed on top of a vehicle in tow) would work nicely, though you would need to attach them with bungees or tie-downs if your cargo carrier is not metal.
Last edited by Bluemoon; 03-06-2008 at 11:55 PM.
#52
what about these hitches from Uhaul? 99 bucks and free shipping U-Haul moving supplies: Your shopping cart
#53
I bought a wiring kit from a vendor on eBay for around $45. that was advertised as "plug & play" for the Fit. But they lied- it is still necessary to cut off one of the plugs that does not match the connection on the Fit. I did not buy the cheaper wiring kit on eBay that required cutting & splicing. Point being-go with the least expensive wiring kit, because you will have to cut & splice anyway. The eBay kits were less expensive than the very same kits on etrailer.com.
#54
I bought a wiring kit from a vendor on eBay for around $45. that was advertised as "plug & play" for the Fit. But they lied- it is still necessary to cut off one of the plugs that does not match the connection on the Fit. I did not buy the cheaper wiring kit on eBay that required cutting & splicing. Point being-go with the least expensive wiring kit, because you will have to cut & splice anyway. The eBay kits were less expensive than the very same kits on etrailer.com.
Sorry you got screwed on eBay; it has certainly happened to me before.
Last edited by Bluemoon; 03-06-2008 at 11:59 PM.
#55
If you bought the "plug & play" version, your cut & splice will be on the passenger side connections. No big deal, I just hate the eBay liars.
#58
My hitch (hiddenhitch) mounts underneath the triangular black rear lift pad that you see between the rear wheels. I keep a draw bar and 2" hitch ball on it act as anti-idiot armor to protect the rear bumper when parked on the street or in parking lots, so EVERYONE (tailgaters also) sees the hitch.
#59
gotcha man. how easy is it to install/un-install? the fam is going on vacation in june, and i want us to take the fit instead of getting a rental car. my friend is a certified welder, so i thought he could make a custom rack to mount on the back.
#60
Install the hitch in 10 minutes. The stock lifting pad is held on with 3 bolts, and the hitch comes with 3 longer ones to make up for the thickness of the hitch, and a u-bolt that goes over the little bent loop tow hook under the bumper. EASY!