Anyone have photos of trailer hitch alternatives?

[Mr. P]

If so, let's post em here to assemble a "database" of sorts.

I'm considering a hitch now, as we have a '56 CC 17' sportsman to haul come springtime. I saw a hitch on one the other day and it looked like someone had hacked away at the rear bumper quite a lot, and I want to avoid that.

Mr. P

[Mr. P]

well here's the result of digging around



http://volvo.autowebaccessories.com/store/images/volvo/xc90trailerHitch.jpg

Well here’s a first one for $181. It looks just like the one below from Volvo, but the one below MUST include installation, othewise it's a royal ripoff. I didn't bother to look just yet.
http://volvo.autowebaccessories.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1013&cPath=126_137_176




Here’s one from the Volvo web page for $364, which must be an installed price. http://www.volvocars.us/NR/rdonlyres/68F8E902-EDFD-4E44-BDFE-B28DA4E4F38E/3526/trailerHitch.jpg
Here’s what they say about the Volvo unit. The Volvo square-profile trailer hitch is a great way to tow heavy loads, and transport bikes, skis and other loads. The trailer hitch consists of three main sections: cross-member, ball mount and a 2"-diameter ball. The maximum towing capacity for this vehicle with the trailer hitch is 5,000 lbs. Pricing for the trailer hitch includes Hitch, Draw Bar, 2" ball and wiring harness.


http://www.truckaddons.com/images/Hidden3&4.gif
This is a so-called “hidden hitch” for $145 http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/HiddenHitch.asp

Good article on towing with a 2.5 AWD.
http://www.iboats.com/sites/trailerboats/site_page_1483/article_page_239.html
The boat I’m planning on towing weighs around 2200 pounds without the trailer.


Here’s an interesting one called the “hidden hitch” for $190
http://store1.yimg.com/I/hitches4less_1808_3939415
http://hitches4less.com/20voxccliiir.html

Here’s what they say about it:
Hidden Hitch Class III All hitches and receivers are completely coated black with the revolutionary Hidden Hitch Rust Resistant Coating that withstands 500+ hours salt spray testing - equivalent to 5 harsh Canadian or Northern U.S. winters. This hitch will keep it's superb appearance for years! Each hitch is custom designed for each vehicle type and model year for simple installation and better fit. A custom design ensures no cutting of rear bumper and no drilling whenever possible. The low profile design compliments the rear contours and aerodynamic styling of today's vehicles. Removable drawbars and ball mounts eliminate banged or bruised shins and enhance the appearance when not in use. All Hidden Hitches meet and exceed V5, VS, CSA and SAE J684-98 standards and are inspected for quality and workmanship. All Hidden Hitches have a Limited Lifetime Warranty!
• 500# Tongue Weight
• 5000# Weight Carrying
• 2" Receiver Tube or contoured round tube
• Ruggedly built and finished with tough Powder Coating.
• All hitches, Class I thru Class 5 are receiver type.
• Fast easy installation.
• Top-Quality product.

[Mr. P]

http://www.volvopartsworld.com/imgxc90/hitchmount-baseunit.JPG
this is apparently what you get from the dealer, they take a knife to your bumper. Let's hope they let their "highly trained staff" do the job, ouch, my wife would KILL me if I did this to her precious XC90.

Here's another view of the Volvo unit........note the cut in the bumper, which would tend to accent the fact that you were sporting a trailer hitch. Not exactly as well thought out as the rest of the car, eh?

http://volvopartsworld.com/imgxc90/towbar.JPG
http://volvopartsworld.com/xc90-5e.htm
A towing bracket for the Volvo XC90, specially designed for the North American market. The tow hitch consists of three main sections: cross member, ball mount and a 2” diameter ball. The bodywork of the car has been prepared for this installation. The ball mount is very simple to use. If you want to remove it, to make space for another of our tow bar-mounted accessories, you simply remove a spring pin.


(don't worry, the dealership will assign "their best man" to mark the bumper and cut it with a hack saw, lol.)




mr. P

[Big]

Sounds like you've made up your mind. For me the Volvo hitch was a given because I did not want to take a chance with a generic design slapped on brackets to fit the XC90. I have to assume that Volvo engineers know the best point to position the hitch and designed it the way they did for a reason. For example, moving the attachment point up-down or forward-back changes the towing dynamics and rating.

The cut in the bumper cover doesn't bother me. I like the fact that only the receiver box is showing and not the hitch frame. The installation instructions specify two notches rather than one bigger cut although it is a matter of preference.

The cost seems a little high but towing is one area where I do not want to go cheap.

[Mr. P]

Yo Big, I have not totally made up my mind, and I like to explore all options, and in case you haven't noticed, I like to toss in some humor and pull a leg a bit now and then just to liven up the posts. You make some very good points. Thanx for the comments.

regards,

Mr. P

[Mr. P]

Thanks to Ricky Lee, here is another post for a hitch that is below the bumper, and appears very easy to install.
http://www.hitchesonline.com/hidden_includes/001_hh_class3_4_square_rec_hitch.jpg
(generic photo??)
http://www.hitchesonline.com/volvo_c3_XCV90_03.htm

And here is a link offered by RPW, which is apparently the same hitch, but an "exact photo" of the unit sold for the XC90.
http://www.etrailer.com/productdetail.asp?partno=87810&vehicleid=3890&yearfrom=2004&h=e

(posts lifted from the Swedespeed forum, thanks guys!)

Mr. P

[adp]

at http://home.comcast.net/~xc90/xc90_hitch2.JPG you can see what the Rear Skid Plate looks like with the Volvo hitch installed

I am wondering what the Hidden Hitch would look like with the Rear Skid Plate

Somebody out there must have this set up that they can take a pic of.

Also, I wonder how much "clearance" you lose when you add a hitch.

Does it make sense, if I am going to install a hitch, to simply remove the Rear Skid Plate? The black of the hitch "stands out" against the silver of the rear skid plate, and might be less visible without the skid plate.

thoughts?

PS I am noodling on this because the 90 is my wife's car, and she'd just as soon have NO hitch (but I want one as I use it for the bike rack).

(sorry for the duplic ate post, for those of you who frequent other forums)

[Big]

Also, I wonder how much "clearance" you lose when you add a hitch.

Does it make sense, if I am going to install a hitch, to simply remove the Rear Skid Plate? The black of the hitch "stands out" against the silver of the rear skid plate, and might be less visible without the skid plate.
No vertical clearance is lost although the departure angle changes a few degrees. Hasn't been a problem yet in light off-roading. The most annoying thing is how much debris the receiver box picks up because it is open on the front; to block debris I added a plastic cap similar to what goes on the rear.

If all you are doing is carrying a bike rack, a hidden hitch which does not require cutting the bumper cover may be best. It should not be too obvious.

[Botanique]

Attached are pics of the Volvo hidden hitch with the skid plate. The car arrived from the factory with the hitch installed - getting underneath, the cut in the bumpter is very neatly done and limited to the minimum necessary for the hitch bar to get through - nonetheless - I'm glad I have the cover in place - particularly since the dealer did only a half-decent job cutting into the rear skid plate to accommodate the hitch. The cut outs are not really visible unless you crouch down to the hitch level.

Sorry I did not remove the cover but I frankly have nothing to tow and did not really want to bother figuring out how to remove the cover on such a cold morning.

Pics are attached.

[Briguy]

I had a class 3 hidden hitch put on 2 weeks ago. It required no cutting and it fits well just below the bumper. It is also more "hidden" than the pictures posted on this thread. I went to hitch house in Sarasota, FL. I'm sure you could call them and get the exact model #. They installed it and wired it up and sold me a versaball package for just a little over $300.00.