(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best towing hitches

u/codyski1

With those cars, I'd do a small hitch and trailer setup in all honesty.

Sure you can get roof racks for them, not sure why you'd say they don't have the capability. So let's take this problem and solve it. :)

They make roof racks for almost anything. It really was an easy thing to google, here's a couple YT videos from those searches:

• 2015 Malibu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fpRV-WvumY
  
• 2016 Rogue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEaaN3s1OGU
  
  But depending on the size and weight of your kayaks this could still be a bad option.
  
  Frankly, I'd put hitches on both, get or build a kayak trailer, and go that route.
  
  
• Trailer Hitch Malibu: https://www.uhaul.com/Trailer-Hitches/2015/Chevrolet/Malibu/Front-Wheel-Drive/
  
• Trailer Hitch Rogue: https://www.amazon.com/CURT-13204-Class-Trailer-Hitch/dp/B00RD4D9AO
  
  Here's some quick kayak trailer links:
  
  
• https://www.austinkayak.com/subcategory/213004/Trailers-Trailer-Accessories
  
• https://www.google.com/search?q=kayak trailer
  
  Then if you end up getting bigger or heavier kayaks, you already have the equipment with either or both vehicles to use a trailer and get safely down the road, lower load height, room for gear, etc. Honestly with smaller cars and small SUV-styled cars, I'd suggest this over roof racks anyways.

I just installed the curt hitch on my 2017. I chose the exposed one because I preferred expanding a hole in the frame rail and trimming 10 dollars worth of heat shielding to cutting a hunk out of the rear bumper plastic, but the hidden one mounts the same way as the OEM one with a higher tongue weight. There's a good instructional video for the install here

Edit:

Here is the one we went with and the install video if anyone is interested. I honestly thought the exposed one was the better-looking option.

I installed a hitch on my Equinox last year. If you or your husband are even the least bit handy, you can do it too and save yourself $200-$300. The Equinox is hitch ready as the holes are pre-drilled with nutserts and pre-wired for lights.

Just buy a hitch online (Amazon, eTrailer, etc) and 6 bolts later you are ready for a bike rack. The car does not need to be lifted for installation, although it makes it easier.

This is the bike rack that I have and it works well.

Saris Bones has a good amount of clearance.

Yakima King Joe 2 Also has good clearance.

What I am planning on doing with my car with a spoiler is putting on a tow hitch (something like this one) and just getting a larger capacity bike rack.

The benefits of the tow hitch are many, as you can use it for lots of different attachments. Most vehicles you can just bolt it on, there are lots of guides to follow on the internet.

I would definetly tow. Your toyota should easy tow a small trailer and your bike.
Putting a hitch on would be pretty easy. I believe this one just bolts up: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Series-51171-Insta-Hitch-Square-Receiver/dp/B0049MVDB0.
You could probably find a trailer on craigslist for pretty cheap or buy one from harbor freight for a few hundred and modify it to hold your bike.

We have a class 2 Curt but had no aspirations of towing much larger items than our bike rack. Fits well, was super easy to install and runs about $120 on Amazon.

Link here: https://www.amazon.com/120383-Class-Trailer-Hitch-Old-Style/dp/B000FZZRS0

The tow package is really just finding a tow hitch assembly like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Land-Rover-Receiver-LR040248/dp/B01417UHEQ (you can find them used on facebook, ebay, craigslist, etc.

And then getting the towing wiring harness from Atlantic British.

A lot of the "unreliable" perception Land Rovers currently have is still residual from back when they were fairly unreliable. Now, all the electronics and a lot of the parts are outsourced to companies like Bosch, Timken, etc., who make parts for lots of brands. So at this point, a Land Rover is just a "car."

That, the "unreliable" part comes from people who buy a clapped out high-mileage Land Rover that wasn't properly maintained an expect it to be problem free, and not have the maintenance schedule commensurate with a $70k luxury vehicle. If you are not handy with a wrench, a good independent mechanic is great, too. The lower control arm swap would have been about $1,700 at my dealer, but I got it done at my indy for about $700 (it's not impossible to do that job at home, but, for that price, I was happy to have a mechanic do it.)

I bought this hitch Curt
And this Rack

They are working out great. There is an add on for the Thule racks to support up to 4 bikes just look at their site for more info. YouTube has plenty of videos for installing the hitch if you plan to do it yourself. That’s what I did and it was really very easy to do.

I had a trunk mounted strap-on rack for my previous car - Chevy Malibu.
For the CX-5 I wanted something that didn’t contact with paintwork and could be removed when not in use.

I bought the hitch and the rack from Amazon...

Draw-Tite 76138 Class III... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XQJG3Z?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Allen Sports Deluxe Locking Quick... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078YN9MXJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Fitted the hitch with a friend in less than an hour with no issues.
The rack has a key lock to prevent removal which works well.

I’ve been really happy with the solution, particularly for the price point.

I agree with U/linuxgator, i wouldn't tow anything with the focus because the owners manual does not recommend it and does not even give a tow capacity.

That said, i do have a hitch on mine which i installed solely for carrying my bike rack. I've got this one. It was super easy to install, took about 30-45 min. The only modification needed was slightly grinding off the shoulders of 2 of the bolts to allow them to pass through the access hole in the frame rail.

I bought this one because it's a 2x2 receiver and the trailer chains would be below my bumper. It's also a complete kit for $150 which is awesome.

You do need to use a dremel of a drill to widen out a mounting hole on your car and you will need a second person to help you install. Fortunately, there's a good video on YouTube for this exact hitch.


"CURT Class 3 Hitch Tow Package with 2" Ball for Subaru Crosstrek, XV Crosstrek"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1HCEAG/ref=cm_sw_r_em_taa_0EUhzbX9NGDD3

I did not like using the sleeve so I bought a 2-1/2" drop shank. The Curt shank was cheaper than the Equal-i-zer shank and works great. There is a longer version as well if your truck sits really tall. I thought that I would need the taller shank with the taller truck and our low riding Airstream so I bought the 10". That was too tall, bottoming out on driveway apron. I use the bottom set of holes on the linked shank and everything lines up perfectly.


We have a lot of tongue weight and the bigger shank bumped us up from 1,000 lb max tongue rating to 1,500 lb max tongue rating. So, there is a little added peace of mind.

Yeah it is, I ordered a hitch like this and did it myself. It only takes 30 min or so and was really easy. Get a cheap torque wrench from Harbor Freight if you don't have one, they have coupons all the time for like $11.

Here are the instructions for your vehicle https://assets.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/12100/installsheet/CM_12100_INS.PDF. My girlfriend has an Impreza and we had to use a drill to enlarge the holes a little bit, which was kind of a pain in the ass, but would be easier if you had a proper grinder. There's a coupon on amazon right now, so you can get the hitch for $95+tax. Curt rates it as easy, so it shouldn't take too long. If you're on the east side I'd be glad to help.

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-12100-Class-Trailer-Hitch/dp/B00D1S0KK8

Edit- I linked the wrong product. updated the links. the old one was for a crosstrek.

I have the EZ Lift 1000. With the sway control. It’s very adjustable. I have about 10000 miles on it. Still working great.

EAZ LIFT 48058 1000 lbs Elite Kit, Includes Distribution, Sway Control and 2-5/16" Hitch Ball-1,000 lbs Tongue Weight Capacity (48058-A) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SB6S3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rn6rDbDJK4ZFA

This guy! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C6S1LS

Most adapters like that are pretty long and so they cut your tongue weight rating by about 50%, but this one only adds 5.25" of horizontal displacement, so the hit is just 15%. The extra 4" of height goes a long way. :)

a) smarties!!!! we both have them on our lists!!!

now that im looking we have a lot in common on our lists same protein powder, sour patch kids. creatine. and now im going to add the bumper dumper


b) since we have a lot of the same items, im gonna try to pull things off my wishlist that you might like:

You seem to do a lot of outdoors type stuff, how about a waterproof iphone case. a recovery strap incase you ever get suck or need to pull someone out.

You must workout since you have protein powder and the like: i hear this is a great workout book.

and last but not least, a camping cot

Thank you again. To be clear, you're talking about something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SGPRYC

and this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DZHH2P/

I have no recovery mounts on the Suburban but I do have a plow on the front that is attached to (2) 2" receivers. Can I thread the strap around the frame of the plow, and loop the strap through itself to secure it to the truck?

I've always thought one of these would be great for vanlife.

https://www.amazon.com/Bumper-Dumper-Original-Mountable-Portable/dp/B006IVN03O

Get a weight distributing hitch. I had sag like that when towing my flatbed trailer with my ATVs on it. I installed one of these badboys and now I tow completely level.

Pic after install

People rant and rave about Blue Ox WDH. However, I use this one, and I am pleased with it so far.

Just like the bumper dumper!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IVN03O/

We must be talking about different things. A wdh doesn’t need to be installed. You attach/remove it every time you use it (the one I have anyways). I’m on my phone, I’ll post a link later...

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SB6S3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_jZG7BbXRWE73F

The []() link thing isn’t working 🤔

http://smile.amazon.com/Bumper-Dumper-Original-Mountable-Portable/dp/B006IVN03O

Bumper Dumper

I disagree.

> you shitbuckets!

Relevant.

The Bumper Dumper
http://www.amazon.com/Bumper-Dumper-The-Original-Mountable/dp/B006IVN03O

Personally prefer the trailer hitch edition. How can you go wrong with one called "The Bumper Dumper"?

For sway control, absolutely. These things aren't like pa's tandem axle car hauler. They are built to be light weight and light on the tongue, 10% of the camper weight, so they blow around everywhere. If you want to go the cheap route just buy the sway control and have the metal tab welded (picture 2) welded to an extended ball mount so it looks something like this but gives you more clearance. It's worth the 100 bucks in safety.

The other option is buy The whole set and install it yourself. It's not difficult and there's youtube videos all over the place. If you do buy a WDH bigger is not better. The leverage involved can do a lot of damage to the tow vehicle or trailer so don't just buy a 12000lb set and hook it to your 3000lb tow light.

These numbers are straight out of my ass because I don't know your cab, axle, 4wd, but here goes. Generic v8 full-size truck payload 1500lb. GCVW 7000. Trailer Max- 7500ish

Single axle trailer up to 4500lb- sway control, no WDH
Tandem axle trailer up to 7500- sway control and WDH