I need to get a hitch installed on my new Jeep compass. I see that Uhaul does this and was wondering if anyone has used them and if they do a good job and use quality materials? I know every location will be a bit different as far as workmanship goes.
Using Uhaul To Install Hitch?
gmurrpa
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I'd do it myself. I don't trust anybody else with my vehicles. Especially some drop out working at a U-Haul store. But I've been both an auto mechanic and millwright in past careers so things like this come easy to me.
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I know a lot of people say not to get your hitch from Uhaul but I’ve had several done by them and the biggest reason is the warranty. I bought a hitch several years ago for a Honda Fit, while working in West Virginia and had it for several years and it began to rust. Took it to my local Uhaul, they checked their computer and replaced it at no charge to me. That might be something to think about.
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1,702 Posts
I've installed 3 or 4. For the most part, the hitch usually only required 4 or 6 bolts. Very simple if you have someone to help hold it up. An impact wrench also makes things very quick.
The electrical part is typically what requires more work. Your car may be mostly prewired for a trailer, which will make things easy if you buy a factory kit. If you don't have that, then one of the kits that lets you just plug in to your taillights works well in most cases and doesn't require much if any splicing. You need to know in advance though if your trailer needs a 7 pin or 4 pin plug and what will be required for that to work with your vehicle. Once you adding things like brake controllers, aux power, etc... it gets more complicated.
The electrical part is typically what requires more work. Your car may be mostly prewired for a trailer, which will make things easy if you buy a factory kit. If you don't have that, then one of the kits that lets you just plug in to your taillights works well in most cases and doesn't require much if any splicing. You need to know in advance though if your trailer needs a 7 pin or 4 pin plug and what will be required for that to work with your vehicle. Once you adding things like brake controllers, aux power, etc... it gets more complicated.
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Let me edit my suggestion by stating that I’ve had Uhaul install my trailer hitches on cars that wouldn’t normally have a hitch. So we never needed anything wired. One Honda Civic, two Honda Fits and my wife’s Honda CRV. We only installed them because we wanted to use trailer-based bike/cargo carriers. We never intended to tow anything. All of mine were installed in about 30-45 minutes. I’m certain there are better places that have more knowledge but Uhaul always had my mount in stock and it’s literally bolt-on so if you want to do it yourself I’m sure you can.
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275 Posts
After installing my hitch on my Forester, I'd suggest doing it yourself. It was four bolts and the only part that was a pain was needing to drop my muffler. That was really only tough because I was doing it myself and had to set up jackstands to hold the muffler. If I had a second pair of hands it'd be that much easier. As far as wiring, I lucked out as the Forester comes set up for towing and I just needed to get the plug and play adapter (which I bought years after installing the hitch because I bought the hitch initially for the bike rack).
I was recently in the same boat, needed a hitch installed on a Volvo XC60, I was reluctant to use uhaul, but I ended up going there and kind of keeping my fingers crossed, and after everything was said and done I came away super impressed, the guy that did the work seemed really knowledgeable, and did the work very carefully.
I don't know if this is the case at all locations but where I went the guy's full time job was just installing hitch's and he seemed to take pride in his work, so I would totally recommend them.
I don't know if this is the case at all locations but where I went the guy's full time job was just installing hitch's and he seemed to take pride in his work, so I would totally recommend them.
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5,871 Posts
I installed a hitch on my 2002 BMW 530. I had to drill the floor where the spare tires goes and remove the rear bumper cover. No big deal if you know how to work on cars. I never bothered with wiring because the I did not want to tow, Just mount the bike rack.
I did the same to a brand new volvo XC70. This was easier since I did not need to drill. Just remove the rear bumper cover and bumper and bolted it on. I did have to do some minor plastic trimming. Again I did not do the wiring since I don't have any plans now to tow.
I order both trailer hitches on line for about $150 each. Both were made by Curt.
I did the same to a brand new volvo XC70. This was easier since I did not need to drill. Just remove the rear bumper cover and bumper and bolted it on. I did have to do some minor plastic trimming. Again I did not do the wiring since I don't have any plans now to tow.
I order both trailer hitches on line for about $150 each. Both were made by Curt.
Did they have to cut away any part of the bumper or make any changes to the body? I want to get a hitch on our 2016 XC60. Volvo charges $$$ and cuts a hole in the bumper, just want to make sure whatever is done looks nice. If you have a pic, that would be awesome
Nope, nothing was cut, yeah I know all about the Volvo fee, I think the dealer quoted me $1k, I practically laughed in his face.
One note I did not have them install any of the wiring since I have no plans to ever haul a trailer, I don't know if that would affect the need to cut.
I will try and take a pic and post it later.
One note I did not have them install any of the wiring since I have no plans to ever haul a trailer, I don't know if that would affect the need to cut.
I will try and take a pic and post it later.
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1,228 Posts
On my 2004 X3 I used this bolt on hitch and this kit, Curt 56146 SMD Trailer Wire Converter. Very good directions.
Total cost was about $150, approx $900 lower than the dealer quote.
Wiring was super easy as the battery is in the trunk.
Nope, nothing was cut, yeah I know all about the Volvo fee, I think the dealer quoted me $1k, I practically laughed in his face.
One note I did not have them install any of the wiring since I have no plans to ever haul a trailer, I don't know if that would affect the need to cut.
I will try and take a pic and post it later.
One note I did not have them install any of the wiring since I have no plans to ever haul a trailer, I don't know if that would affect the need to cut.
I will try and take a pic and post it later.
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42,822 Posts
There's a local place by me that does hitches. I'll be getting a hitch on my Fit this spring, and will most likely use them. If they do custom hitches, I'm going to see if I can get a 2" receiver so I can use the Kuat rack I have already.
My wife's Crosstrek has a 2" Ecohitch that uses the bumper cutout on the car. Oddly enough, the Subaru receiver doesn't use that cutout, and cost a LOT more than even the fairly expensive Ecohitch. We paid one of the Subaru mechanics to install it for us on his own time, which I'm glad for, because installing that hitch required removing several bumper parts as well as dropping the exhaust. It's a SUPER tight fit in there. I don't even have jack stands to lift a vehicle to make that kind of work easier. And, my garage is not a pleasant place to do that kind of work, either.
I don't trust Uhaul with ANYTHING. I agree that their trucks are horribly maintained. The only thing I've done is rent trailers from them...because for trailers there's often no other option. But I have had great experience with Penske trucks. A friend of mine used a Uhaul truck for an in-state move (Michigan), and their truck dropped a major drivetrain part on the road in the middle of the night. Uhaul was ZERO help for them. They got another truck from a competitor, moved their crap between the two (in the dark), and left the Uhaul truck there until the next day, when Uhaul would actually be available to do anything about it.
My wife's Crosstrek has a 2" Ecohitch that uses the bumper cutout on the car. Oddly enough, the Subaru receiver doesn't use that cutout, and cost a LOT more than even the fairly expensive Ecohitch. We paid one of the Subaru mechanics to install it for us on his own time, which I'm glad for, because installing that hitch required removing several bumper parts as well as dropping the exhaust. It's a SUPER tight fit in there. I don't even have jack stands to lift a vehicle to make that kind of work easier. And, my garage is not a pleasant place to do that kind of work, either.
I don't trust Uhaul with ANYTHING. I agree that their trucks are horribly maintained. The only thing I've done is rent trailers from them...because for trailers there's often no other option. But I have had great experience with Penske trucks. A friend of mine used a Uhaul truck for an in-state move (Michigan), and their truck dropped a major drivetrain part on the road in the middle of the night. Uhaul was ZERO help for them. They got another truck from a competitor, moved their crap between the two (in the dark), and left the Uhaul truck there until the next day, when Uhaul would actually be available to do anything about it.
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2,526 Posts
Uhaul did a great job on mine as well. I picked the place with the best reviews within 30 miles of me though.
One thing I heard is that if you take off the sticker with the warnings, the one on the right, it will void any warranty you have. I did take the uhaul one off though.
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393 Posts
but would you trust them if they were just doing the hitch mount and no wiring?
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1,228 Posts
Sure, maybe, but show them the Amazon prices and see if they'll match.
Ditto on that, I rented a truck to bring stuff from the Bay Area to Sacramento in August.
The AC didn't work(didn't think to check in Palo Alto) 105F almost all the way and it ran out of gas with 1/4 showing on the gauge, at rush hour, on busy Howe Ave, *&%&^$)&^*!!!
I'll likely be using them this weekend because the difference in price for the hitch (on etrailer) is about $15 with install being $40. I don't have all the tools or space and really the help to do it myself on a Honda Civic, which creates a problem. I called up a local shop that came highly recommended, but their total quote was about $120 more than what Uhaul quoted me, so it seems like a no brainer with the lifetime warranty .
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