getting a trailer hitch - alternatives to Uhaul?

[jim v]

My 93 Aerostar (don't laugh that thing's a good daily driver. Plus 5 speed) needs a trailer hitch to haul a bike or two around. Uhaul is right around the corner so I went there. They ordered the parts and we set up a time for the work (when their "hitch installation specialist" would be available). It was absurdly cheap - less that $200 all in

I drop it off the morning of and first thing they mention, no wiring was included in the estimate. Ok, it sounded too cheap at first so let's add the wiring, we're at about $250 more or less. Around lunchtime I get a call from the specialist - its going to require a lot more parts (which need to be ordered), a lot more time ("at least half a day") and need to be rescheduled for the following week.

At that point I pulled the plug. The cost was going to be more than I paid for the van and, based on some comments from the installer, I wasn't feeling very confident it would be a quality job.

So NESR, where can I get a hitch installed? I'm in the Boston area and more than happy to pay for good work and convenience.......

[OneCheekRider]

I bought my last two hitches off ETrailer for not much money. About to purchase another one for the GF's car. What's preventing you from installing the hitch yourself? I did have UHaul install wiring in one of my cars (Lincoln Town Car) and it was only $40 and I felt they did a good job.

[Petorius]

If it is anything like the hitch I had on my GTI, it is literally just four bolts. Buy one and do it yourself. The wiring will probably just be two wires you have to tap into your tail light wires. The GTI had pulse-width modulation tail lights (whatever that means), and was still really easy, just required a controller box and one more wire to the battery or 12 volt plug in the hatch (I chose battery).

[jasnmar]

Getting frame bolts in / out of 93 in New England is not going to be very fun. Start treating it with penatrant now.

[GingahNinjah]

Just put a brand new CURT hitch on my Crosstrek. Came with the hitch, tongue, 2" ball and the vehicle specific plug and play wiring harness and mounting instructions for $186 shipped brand new from Ebay. my dad and I had it mounted in 30-45 mins once we had all the tools etc

[MattR302]

I ordered a hitch for my Mazda on Saturday afternoon from CARiD.com - Auto Parts & Accessories | Car, Truck, SUV, Jeep and UPS tracking shows it's on the truck for delivery today. $155 including shipping.

[e30addict]

Etrailer.com is sweet.

Just put a Curt hitch on my Mazda and they also had a plug and play wiring harness.

They can set you up with whatever you need.

[duganc1717]

Rack Attack Framingham, RT9

[jerseygirl]

Ordered both of mine for my Mazda 3s off of Autoanything. Very nice and extremely helpful. Then I had Paul_E_D help me install it.....and by help me, I sat there watching and paid him kindly later I don't think that install is an option though....

[Paul_E_D]

Nor is the payment!

[number9]

There are very few manufactures of hitches left, so most of them end up coming out of the same factory nowadays. When I put the hitch on my '00 Subaru Outback, the cheapest place to buy it was actually from U-Haul online. I installed it myself, it took a couple of hours but wasn't difficult -- just time-consuming.

[Jason P.]

Curt hitch and wiring kit for my STi from amazon. My whole setup with tongue/ball was around $200.

[brady]

Go to etrailer.com as suggested and watch their install video for your specific vehicle after you input your info and they show you the hitch(es) that will work. You'll have an idea of what's involved and be able to make an educated choice about installing yourself.

[breakdirt916]

craigslist for hitch...then diy

never thought I'd say this to anyone because most of what I have is low budget, but conisder getting another hauler, ha

[Garandman]

What is the vehicle?

We usually buy from eTrailer but got the Honda OEM from Bernardinline. Install ease varies from trivial (Chevy Express) to som effort (Outback) to removing and cutting bumper fascia and installing a trans cooler (Odyssey).

We had a local garage do the Odyssey install.

[nhbubba]

What is the vehicle?

2nd two words of the first post describe the vehicle pretty completely.

[Spooler]

I have no recent experience, but my dad had a hitch put on at Mann's Trailer in Rutland, if you're in central MA. He says they did quality work. Not sure about price, it was a long time ago.

[rice_rocket]

+1 for etrailer.. and +1 for rack attack in framingham. I got lucky and they were clearing out stuff that fit my subaru, so I bought their hitch. They do installs in the side for not a lot more.. but when the guy took one look at my subaru and asked if I did any/all the work. He promptly told me to do it myself. Yes it was 4 bolts under the carriage.. I had to move my mufflers to tuck it in, but that was well within my realm. Also had to buy the box for the tail light wiring which I got from etrailer, and tapped all the power myself.

[number9]

U-Haul (and I'm sure others) sell two electronic boxes. One is like $20 and requires you do a bunch of electrical work. One is like $40 and plugs directly into the car's harness, and you have to do zero work.

Buy the $40 one.

[rice_rocket]

This is good advice... BUT only if and *if* your car has a harness that can be tapped/bypassed.

In my case the Subaru did NOT have any way or form of doing this..

My Odyssey Minivan and even the Honda CRV had one tucked inside the panels..

[number9]

This is good advice... BUT only if and *if* your car has a harness that can be tapped/bypassed.

In my case the Subaru did NOT have any way or form of doing this..

My Odyssey Minivan and even the Honda CRV had one tucked inside the panels..

What year is your car? My '00 Outback had one hidden in the brake light wiring. Took a few minutes to find it!

[rice_rocket]

2005 legacy gt sedan. .totally a model thing. Outback had them always..

[number9]

2005 legacy gt sedan. .totally a model thing. Outback had them always..

That sucks

[jim v]

thanks for the replies, sorry it took me so long to get back to this. Latest info -

-eTrailer does not have a hitch for Aerostars
-Rack attack shows Curt makes a hitch but they want to confirm that it really is available. They're going to talk to Curt and then call me Monday. Normally they don't deal with anything >10yrs old but the Astar is remarkably rust free. It will be expensive though.

Starting to think I should take the Astar seats out and just load the bike in the back of the van