Aftermarket Hitch Installation - UPDATED - COMPLETE
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,390
From: Ottawa, ON
Was almost rear-ended by distracted lady in accordion highway movement.
HWY401 EB traffic flow was changing from 100+ kmh to almost 0 kmh.
While going around 100kmh in the leftmost lane I've noticed yet another jam ahead and started breaking. Immediately I've heard tire squeaking sound behind. I almost released my brake pedal and slowly moved as far as it was allowed by a distance to the car in front of me.
Next moment I felt an impact and saw in my mirrors a car doing some kind of donuts
When we both stopped, I was still in the leftmost lane, and other car was on the left shoulder facing opposite direction! I still cannot quite figure out its trajectory. She obviously did hit the concrete divider by her right fender. Bumper wasted, radiator leaked.
I went out and after making sure the lady is OK (even her airbag have not deployed) I went back to assess my damage. To my surprise, at first moment I wasn't able to see any evidences of the impact on my bumper
After more study I've found some burnt plastic on the edge of my trailer hitch.
I checked underneath and found no damage as well.
Only half-day later, having a closer look at a pic I've taken there, I found these two marks left by my hitch:
So I guess the hitch was the only part being touched.
Seems like having a hitch altogether with being moving forward at the moment of impact both save me from getting a new bumper (or a new car if I just stopped as I could).
Two quick conclusions:
1. Hitch adds some protection.
2. Don't stop as fast as you can, if space allows give the following car enough space to break.
HWY401 EB traffic flow was changing from 100+ kmh to almost 0 kmh.
While going around 100kmh in the leftmost lane I've noticed yet another jam ahead and started breaking. Immediately I've heard tire squeaking sound behind. I almost released my brake pedal and slowly moved as far as it was allowed by a distance to the car in front of me.
Next moment I felt an impact and saw in my mirrors a car doing some kind of donuts
When we both stopped, I was still in the leftmost lane, and other car was on the left shoulder facing opposite direction! I still cannot quite figure out its trajectory. She obviously did hit the concrete divider by her right fender. Bumper wasted, radiator leaked.
I went out and after making sure the lady is OK (even her airbag have not deployed) I went back to assess my damage. To my surprise, at first moment I wasn't able to see any evidences of the impact on my bumper
After more study I've found some burnt plastic on the edge of my trailer hitch.
I checked underneath and found no damage as well.
Only half-day later, having a closer look at a pic I've taken there, I found these two marks left by my hitch:
So I guess the hitch was the only part being touched.
Seems like having a hitch altogether with being moving forward at the moment of impact both save me from getting a new bumper (or a new car if I just stopped as I could).
Two quick conclusions:
1. Hitch adds some protection.
2. Don't stop as fast as you can, if space allows give the following car enough space to break.
Last edited by Vadimus; Nov 4, 2012 at 09:09 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 367
From: Chicago, IL
Nice! Mine isn't as great as yours, but my hitch has saved me from some damage as well.
A guy knocked on out door one night and asked if I knew who the owner of the white Mitsu was. My heart dropped, 'oh god... why?' Guy replied that He needed to talk to the owner because he (the Mitsu owner) had damaged his (random guy's) car. I'm thinking to myself, 'WTF, I didn't hit this guys car.' So I told him I knew the owner but he was not around, and I'd be glad to take a look at it and get the info.
So we walk out there, and the guy starts showing me his cracked headlight, and a pretty decent scratch in his paint. First thing I pointed out was "Dude, the paint transfer looks black, and this car is white." (I'd already scanned and concluded my paint was fine. The frigging guy replies with "Yeah, I was trying to park and I hit his trailer hitch, he owes me for the repairs." I almost fell out. Dude was dead serious. He thought that because I had a bumper protector on my car, I should pay. I just told him I'd pass along the info. Car gets parked in the garage now anyways, at that time I had just been waiting for the landlord to get the rest of her belongings out.
Like this, but mine is black:
A guy knocked on out door one night and asked if I knew who the owner of the white Mitsu was. My heart dropped, 'oh god... why?' Guy replied that He needed to talk to the owner because he (the Mitsu owner) had damaged his (random guy's) car. I'm thinking to myself, 'WTF, I didn't hit this guys car.' So I told him I knew the owner but he was not around, and I'd be glad to take a look at it and get the info.
So we walk out there, and the guy starts showing me his cracked headlight, and a pretty decent scratch in his paint. First thing I pointed out was "Dude, the paint transfer looks black, and this car is white." (I'd already scanned and concluded my paint was fine. The frigging guy replies with "Yeah, I was trying to park and I hit his trailer hitch, he owes me for the repairs." I almost fell out. Dude was dead serious. He thought that because I had a bumper protector on my car, I should pay. I just told him I'd pass along the info. Car gets parked in the garage now anyways, at that time I had just been waiting for the landlord to get the rest of her belongings out.
Like this, but mine is black:
Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
You can find them on Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More | eBay
This is one of them, it is called a Tow Bar Swan Neck Towball
The question is > can we fit it on the North American model without removing the spare wheel or any other modifications ?
This is one of them, it is called a Tow Bar Swan Neck Towball
The question is > can we fit it on the North American model without removing the spare wheel or any other modifications ?
Last edited by Corbul; May 2, 2014 at 08:15 PM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
That is good news if I can keep the spare wheel.
I have attached the picture with the Euro spec Hitch and from the pic it seems it is attached with 10 screws. 6 are underneath just like the NA version, but there are an extra 4 on the side. Are those extra 4 slots available on our cars ?
I have attached the picture with the Euro spec Hitch and from the pic it seems it is attached with 10 screws. 6 are underneath just like the NA version, but there are an extra 4 on the side. Are those extra 4 slots available on our cars ?
Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
Yeap. Those 2 "ears" on each side. I've been looking on eBay on different NA hitch brands and those ears don't seem to be present.
Also I would be curious to see what is the rating of the Euro hitch, they don't have the V6 available there so the towing rating for the car is lower.
But that hitch does look very slick...
Also I would be curious to see what is the rating of the Euro hitch, they don't have the V6 available there so the towing rating for the car is lower.
But that hitch does look very slick...
Last edited by Corbul; May 2, 2014 at 08:32 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,390
From: Ottawa, ON
2000kg towing capacity (unlike our 1800kg AFAIR).
Last edited by Vadimus; May 2, 2014 at 09:27 PM.