Adding Trailer Hitch to SS WITHOUT Trimming Bumper
Thread Starter
Joined: 02-17-2014
Posts: 8
From: Portland, MI
Adding Trailer Hitch to SS WITHOUT Trimming Bumper
So, as Spring SLOWLY comes to fruition here in Michigan, I am contemplating how I will be getting my mountain bike to the trails with my newly acquired HHR SS. I want to add trailer hitch (for bike rack purposes only, not towing, of course). BUT All the trailer hitch manufacturers want you to trim the rear bumper!!! WTF??? No way am I going to modify my bumper. I see others have simply left the bumper intact and there is some contact, but this worries me as well. I have searched this forum in-depth, but I have not found a solution I like, yet.
My question: has anyone purchased a hitch and modified (cut/welded/repaint) the hitch to fit without touching the bumper? I am fully aware this would void any warranty from the hitch manufacturer. I take full responsibility for what I think I may do. But, in the end, I want a bolt-on item that does not require me to modify my car. I have access to all the cutting and welding equipment I would need, so it's not really something that scares me too much.
It seems like moving the receiver to the bottom of the cross member instead of coming out the side, would provide the clearance needed to get under the bumper. Then, a drawbar extension and a tall drawbar to get the hitch back up to the original height would work? I could even make the receiver as short as possible to better "hide" the receiver.
Thoughts?
My question: has anyone purchased a hitch and modified (cut/welded/repaint) the hitch to fit without touching the bumper? I am fully aware this would void any warranty from the hitch manufacturer. I take full responsibility for what I think I may do. But, in the end, I want a bolt-on item that does not require me to modify my car. I have access to all the cutting and welding equipment I would need, so it's not really something that scares me too much.
It seems like moving the receiver to the bottom of the cross member instead of coming out the side, would provide the clearance needed to get under the bumper. Then, a drawbar extension and a tall drawbar to get the hitch back up to the original height would work? I could even make the receiver as short as possible to better "hide" the receiver.
Thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: 08-26-2008
Posts: 1,488
From: Sequim Washington
How about shimmimg the mounting bolts on each side with washers ??
It might not get you 100% but closer then without.
You might be able to get longer mounting bolts to bring it where you want it as long as it doesn't create a touch problem somewhere else ??
SF
Senior Member
Joined: 06-07-2011
Posts: 2,180
From: SE Mich
The previous owner of mine cut a hole in the rear fascia and welded up a custom one underneath. I like it for bike rack usage, but I would never have had the stones to try what he did. Just not my cup of tea. I like having it, though.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-20-2011
Posts: 134
From: Portland, OR
I'm one of the ones that didn't trim. It pushes up the plastic. I had some clear bra type stuff put between them.
Does it look perfect? No. But not bad.
But I would hesitate to make the goth any lower. Stick a bike rack on that thing and I already bottom out on a transition into a driveway.
If you do lower the hitch be sure to get a rack where the tongue immediately curves upwards.
IMO
Does it look perfect? No. But not bad.
But I would hesitate to make the goth any lower. Stick a bike rack on that thing and I already bottom out on a transition into a driveway.
If you do lower the hitch be sure to get a rack where the tongue immediately curves upwards.
IMO
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