U Haul Hitches

The last 3 vehicles I owned, I installed the hitches myself with a minimum of hassle.
The vehicles were a 2001 E-350 van, a 2015 Sienna, and a 2015 Transit 250.
All 3 hitches cost less than $150, shipped, from e-trailer.com. All were installed without drilling using pretty basic tools.
Just sayin.....
 
rossage said:
The last 3 vehicles I owned, I installed the hitches myself with a minimum of "hassle".

All were installed without drilling using pretty basic tools.
Just sayin.....
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That was my issue, my car needed two holes drilled, the muffler dropped and bolts fished threw the frame. $25 for install and warranty was easier, plus they have that cool lift and I dont, which makes working under my car a pain in the ass.
 
Installing hitches on modern trucks is a snap because they come pre-drilled for a hitch. On any other vehicle, ya just never know what you are getting yourself into but as J has supplied above, there's a specific video on Youtube for most anything on the planet when do-it-yourself is the plan.
 
SnakeCharmer said:
Installing hitches on modern trucks is a snap because they come pre-drilled for a hitch. On any other vehicle, ya just never know what you are getting yourself into but as J has supplied above, there's a specific video on Youtube for most anything on the planet when do-it-yourself is the plan.
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Etrailer.com is good about posting up their own installation videos for specific vehicles.
 
riiz said:
That was my issue, my car needed two holes drilled, the muffler dropped and bolts fished threw the frame. $25 for install and warranty was easier, plus they have that cool lift and I dont, which makes working under my car a pain in the ass.
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This is kinda my thing...only $54 for installation and it's got a warranty. I have neither the desire nor the time to do it myself. And it's only going to carry a bike rack. I have no intention of towing a trailer.

So, so far I've got one kudo to U Haul (they're literally down the street from me which is why I asked about them), 3 DIY recommendations, and one Rack & Road. Sounds like I'm going for it. :thumbsup:
 
I had U-Haul install a receiver hitch on my 2003 Audi Allroad. They did a fine job, and it was relatively inexpensive.

Goose Mud Audi.JPG


BTW, that photo was from 2008. The High Roller Yakima Roof rack is still going strong, as is the Thule T2 on the back. The car transformed into a 2010 white Q5 in Dec. 2009.
 
Uhaul installed my latest on my Honda Civic for a bike hauler.
Although they messed up the plastic under carriage under the gas tank this last time, they usually do a good job for the price...
Can't beat the price unless you do it yourself.
 
Runs with Scissors said:
How much was the mud installation??? :whistling:
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That mud ultimately cost me my car. We got into over a foot of goop/clay trying to get to Gooseberry after a wet snow. My car had air suspension that raised to 10" of ground clearance, but that wasn't enough. With 4 adults and 4 bikes we got out of there somehow, but the mud ruined u-joints, tie-rods, axle, and many other parts underneath. The owner of the do-it-yourself carwash in St. George was not amused when we were finished with their cleaning bay.
 
mike said:
Yowch, herzalot...mud leads to car sale?! :eek:

M/T tires, high clearance and 4wd...don't leave home without at least two out of three. Bonus points for a shovel and tow strap. :):thumbsup:
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Well, we had 4wd and 10" of clearance. All season tires. We also had a tow strap and a shovel in the car. M/T and 4 WD trucks were stuck where we managed to get in and out. Maybe due to weight ratios - or the fact that the one large puddle we were thinking about venturing through, we decided would instead be our turnaround spot. We rode Hurricane Rim/JEM that day instead. I think we had a serving of Guacamole that afternoon.
 
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herzalot said:
Well, we had 4wd and 10" of clearance. All season tires. We also had a tow strap and a shovel in the car. M/T and 4 WD trucks were stuck where we managed to get in and out. Maybe due to weight ratios - or the fact that the one large puddle we were thinking about venturing through, we decided would instead be our turnaround spot. We rode Hurricane Rim/JEM that day instead.
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Our first Touareg (2007) had the adjustable suspension and better skid plates than my Jeep... Now they don't offer any of the off-road options in the states. :thumbsdown:
 
Please do one thing....take off that ugly U-HAUL decal as soon as you get home.

I ended up buying and OEM model for my car which came with a wring harness for lights. It was cheaper than U-Haul. It took me a while to do alone in the driveway but I've never had any problems. I only had to drill to widen a hole and the cable/bolt fishing as well as the exhaust movement was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The best benefit is the way the OEM hitch is hidden compared to the U-Haul model. They all are a bit different.

If you're looking for a rack, I'm going to put a Thule 990XT in the classifieds soon.
 
Racer X said:
Please do one thing....take off that ugly U-HAUL decal as soon as you get home.

I ended up buying and OEM model for my car which came with a wring harness for lights. It was cheaper than U-Haul. It took me a while to do alone in the driveway but I've never had any problems. I only had to drill to widen a hole and the cable/bolt fishing as well as the exhaust movement was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The best benefit is the way the OEM hitch is hidden compared to the U-Haul model. They all are a bit different.

If you're looking for a rack, I'm going to put a Thule 990XT in the classifieds soon.
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I'm pretty sure the rack that U Haul uses is the OEM rack...with the ugly sticker. :) I've seen pictures of it installed and it looks great to me.

Your Thule looks almost exactly the same as the Yakima Two-Timer I am seriously considering. I can't see a time when I'll be racking more than 2 bikes at a time.
 
Runs with Scissors said:
I'm pretty sure the rack that U Haul uses is the OEM rack...with the ugly sticker. :) I've seen pictures of it installed and it looks great to me.

Your Thule looks almost exactly the same as the Yakima Two-Timer I am seriously considering. I can't see a time when I'll be racking more than 2 bikes at a time.
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Definitely go with the Yakima. It's made a little bit more burly so I suspect it will outlast Thule's similar model. I used to have a Yakima and it was great but it eventually fell apart so I started shopping the newer models and I happened upon a super discount on the equivalent in a Thule AND I had a considerable stash of gift cards to apply to the purchase. So in the end, I got a brand new top-of-the-line (at that time) model ($449.99 retail) for about $178 out the door, NIB. Otherwise, I would have stayed with Yakima. This Thule is frail, comparatively, but it was CHEAP!
 
If the hitch looks good for your model, go for that since the price is nearly half. I was in your situation when I shopped for a hitch and most people I asked were very happy with the U-Haul hitch and installation.

As far as a rack, I can say my Thule has been on four trips to northern California and it has been fine. I had to get that particular model because it holds on the top bar and straps the wheels. I could not use the kind that clamps down on the top of the wheels because I had to transport a old bike with full fenders/trim. I also like that it locks to the hitch and the arms lock to the bikes. Mine holds two bikes but I remember they made and extension for four bikes. Now I ride solo so I just put the bike in the car.

If you have an suv, look at racks that tilt down so you can open your tailgate and watch the location of your tailpipe and your tires. My friend got a rack last year and on a trip, the heat from the exhaust was too close in line with the tire and boom, the tire overheated and blew up.
 
So I got the hitch installed...they managed to not have the reservation in the system or the hitch:(...so I boogied to another place that had it it, brought it back, and they installed it. Took only 7 hours to make it happen. :confused:

Got the Yakima Holdup rack at REI - 20% off member sale now to April 10 - saved $86 on a $429 rack. Put the bikes on it today from west Anaheim to Santa Ana Canyon and there's no rattle, wobble, or bounce. 2 inch receiver hitch and rack. No adapters.

Even with the mixup I'd recommend U Haul hitch installation. $230 for hitch and install, lifetime warranty.

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