Trailer hitch for an SUV

[Mel Miller]

I installed a U Haul hitch on my Odyssey, and it was fairly easy. I did go to Honda for the correct tap into the factory wiring. I also had Honda install a transmission cooler. That way, if there were ever any transmission issues, they couldn't claim I had damaged it due to overloading.
My hitch has a 1 1/4" receiver, standard 2" ball, and is designed for a maximum 3500 lb towing capacity. This is what Honda recommended for towing capacity so there was no sense going to a 2" receiver with 5000 lb capacity.

[Bill Orbine]

Have you priced what it would cost to ship the stuff? Might be an attractive alternative.

Or.......rent a truck/van...one way. Beats beating up the family car!

[Wade Lippman]

. My initial thinking was to just have Uhaul install a hitch and rent whatever size trailer to fit our needs. I did a little research on Uhaul hitch installation and there were some very negative comments about slip shod work.

I successfully sued Uhaul a couple years ago for a defective installation. Of course, the one near you might be more competent.

[Robert Engel]

Don't DIY it. Let someone who knows what they're doing do it. Plus they'll do the wiring for you, which alone is good enough reason not to DIY it.

I've had 3 hitches installed by UHaul with no problems.

I think it depends on the person, not the company.

[Myk Rian]

Or.......rent a truck/van...one way. Beats beating up the family car!

Oh, I don't know. I've had hitches on 3 Pintos, a Festiva, 1 Aspire, and 2 Contours. No problems.

[Mel Miller]

Oh, I don't know. I've had hitches on 3 Pintos, a Festiva, 1 Aspire, and 2 Contours. No problems.

Some really great cars there....

[Don Morris]

Wade's having to sue Uhaul is why I'm leaning to DIY. Plus, I have to drive to Illinois from the East coat anyway and make the return trip with the stuff: dishes, desk, etc. Flying to the midwest with my wife, then renting a return Uhaul would be hugely expensive. Thus, a one way trailer seems the most economical, efficient way to do this. Additionally, there is a large number of people with positive experiences with DIY hitches that make the DIY process the most logical for me. Thanks creekers for the responses! That includes me putting one on my daughter-in-laws car, although that was just for a bike rack. At least mentally I've committed to the DIY route, and probably Etrailer.com. Etrailer has reasonably good videos on the installation. I did look at my torque wrench limit which was 80 lbs. The minimum needed is 90 for the Draw-tite model and 136 for the Curt. I'll have to go to HF and get the 1/2" Pittsburg Pro click torque wrench that goes to 150 lbs limit. The reviews on it were good and won't cost me a bundle like my old torque wrench that never made it back.

[Jerome Stanek]

how big of a trailer are you looking to get.

[Curt Harms]

If I ever need a hitch I'll look at Tractor Supply in addition to online. No shipping - (decent) hitches most likely ain't gonna be light.

[Bert Kemp]

if its a one time thing why not just load your stuff into a pod and have them deliver it to your house??

[Bryan Rocker]

Why wouldn't you go to a hitch place and have the right one put on properly?

Ditto and more importantly, if you stopped by a u-haul they would install the right one for your vehicle. I wouldn't consider a bumper mount hitch for any of the current SUV's since most of them are plastic........