General Fit TalkGeneral Discussion on the Honda Fit/Jazz.
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If you come in with a hitch on you car and any problem you will not get the benefit of the doubt. For sure any drive train related issues will void the warranty. Honda does not want this vehicle towing things.
I just ordered my Hidden Hitch and wiring harness too. When I first started replying on this thread, I still had my '07 Sport. Then it died in a crash, and I just replaced my 1st. Gen with a new '09. I really like the wheel well/floor edge mounting of the new hitch compared to the lift bracket mount of the '07'08 hitches. It probably makes no real difference, but I like the wider stance of the new design hitch.
When some of you have your hitches installed, I'll be interested to know what the clearance is between the lowest part of the hitch and the ground on level.
I have a great two-bike rack that works with a hitch, and would really like to use it instead of a roof-mount bike rack. The problem I have is the crown of the road in front of my house and the steepness of my driveway may cause the hitch to bottom out. Knowing the clearance might help me to do some kind of a mock up to tell if a hitch will be workable.
When some of you have your hitches installed, I'll be interested to know what the clearance is between the lowest part of the hitch and the ground on level.
I have a great two-bike rack that works with a hitch, and would really like to use it instead of a roof-mount bike rack. The problem I have is the crown of the road in front of my house and the steepness of my driveway may cause the hitch to bottom out. Knowing the clearance might help me to do some kind of a mock up to tell if a hitch will be workable.
Thanks in advance for any info.
I will try to remember to let you know. I have some of the same concerns.
Thought I would pass on an update I just got from etrailer on the hitch:
Thank you for ordering with etrailer.com, we appreciate your business.
I wanted to send you an e-mail with the status of your order. The hitch is in transit to our Distribution Facility and should be available to ship from our Missouri Warehouse by the end of this week. I will have tracking information sent to you by e-mail as soon as it becomes available.
Thought I would pass on an update I just got from etrailer on the hitch:
Thank you for ordering with etrailer.com, we appreciate your business.
I wanted to send you an e-mail with the status of your order. The hitch is in transit to our Distribution Facility and should be available to ship from our Missouri Warehouse by the end of this week. I will have tracking information sent to you by e-mail as soon as it becomes available.
So - hopefully, pretty soon.
Dave
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the good news. I am running out of mods to install, and am looking forward to adding the hitch for bumper protection in parking lots.
Installed the HIdden Hitch receiver today. This receiver is pretty substantial - I had to have another person help lift it and line it up to keep the bolts in the right place, etc.
I had taken off the tail pipe and muffler (pretty easy to do) to get easy access to the frame rail above the muffler. This probably wasn't necessary - but you might want to loosen the tail pipe or take it off the rubber hangers to get a little more access.
I bought a course metal file (had a medium and a fine, already). That made a big difference in creating the "keyhole" to slip the backing plate into the frame rail. Used the course and finished the slot with the medium.
I made one mistake. I mounted the hitch and tightened everything down before I put the tail pipe back on. Can't get it on with the hitch mounted. So I took off the passenger frame bolts and loosened the driver side for the hitch. Was then able to slip the exhaust back on and fasten the bolts for the hitch, then mount the exhaust on the hangers and rebolt to the pipe.
With my screw up, it took about two hours. I see this as an hour job - more steps to do than for the 2008 hitch, and you want to take your time with the file.
Someone asked about the clearance. The bottom of the receiver (for the draw bar) is 8.5 inches above the ground.
I too installed my www.etrailer "hidden hitch" on my 2009 Fit yesterday. However, I just jacked up the rear of the car and took off the Rt. rear wheel for easy access to the Rt. side frame rail. EASY! Took 45 min. Did not bother w/ muffler. Just had to angle the file to the right a bit to "widen" the hole.
Now - how about the light assembly? I have not tackled it yet. Let me know if you have any issues w/ putting it on.
Later,
Paul C.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzager
Hi,
My forst post. I just picked up my 2009 Fit Sport (manual Tranny). I did read through this forum and ended up slecting the Fit instead of a Pontiac Vibe.
One thing I needed, however, is to occasionally pull a small trailer I built wiht windsurfing gear - total weight of 600 pounds. Figured both cars could do this.
Oops. The new 2009 looks to be completely different from the 2008 unibody frame. Listed 2008 hitch receivers don't look to me that they will work.
Anybody have any source for a hitch receiver for 2009?
I too installed my www.etrailer "hidden hitch" on my 2009 Fit yesterday. However, I just jacked up the rear of the car and took off the Rt. rear wheel for easy access to the Rt. side frame rail. EASY! Took 45 min. Did not bother w/ muffler. Just had to angle the file to the right a bit to "widen" the hole.
Now - how about the light assembly? I have not tackled it yet. Let me know if you have any issues w/ putting it on.
Later,
Paul C.
You shouldn't have any problems with the light wiring connections- they plug into the wiring connectors on the back of the tail lights, behind the plastic hatches on the rear corners inside the car. My Hidden Hitch and wiring kit should be here in a day or two. The wiring instructions on the etrailer site are pretty clear.
The wiring harness was pretty easy - unplug and plug the harness in. I spent the most time feeding the wires inside the plastic lining of the back area to make it all neat. If you don't care about hiding wires it takes 5 minutes.
Also, can you show or explain what had to be filed? I don't like the idea of compromising the factory galvanizing/undercoating but I'll need a hitch on this car for sure.
BTW, Honda cannot "void your warranty" for any reason but they can refuse to cover a specific repair under warranty. However, it is their obligation, legally, to show compelling evidence that your modification has contributed to the failure. If, like me, you'll use this only to carry bikes on the back, there is no way they can show you have towed something (contrary to the manual) if you have not.
Also, can you show or explain what had to be filed? I don't like the idea of compromising the factory galvanizing/undercoating but I'll need a hitch on this car for sure.
BTW, Honda cannot "void your warranty" for any reason but they can refuse to cover a specific repair under warranty. However, it is their obligation, legally, to show compelling evidence that your modification has contributed to the failure. If, like me, you'll use this only to carry bikes on the back, there is no way they can show you have towed something (contrary to the manual) if you have not.
Tim,
I just received my Hidden Hitch today. It is a small area of the plastic fender liner at the edge of the frame at the wheel well opening that has to be "trimmed" according to the instructions. Dzager used a file, and I may either do that or a small hacksaw. For the small etrailer price, this is a hell of a substantial piece of hardware. It is made with the same design as hitches you would buy for a pickup truck, and spans the entire width of the car, from inside edge to inside ege of each wheelwell. It uses existing holes in the body.
I will post photos when I get it installed, but this won't be for a few days yet.
Tim,
I just received my Hidden Hitch today. It is a small area of the plastic fender liner at the edge of the frame at the wheel well opening that has to be "trimmed" according to the instructions. Dzager used a file, and I may either do that or a small hacksaw. For the small etrailer price, this is a hell of a substantial piece of hardware. It is made with the same design as hitches you would buy for a pickup truck, and spans the entire width of the car, from inside edge to inside ege of each wheelwell. It uses existing holes in the body.
I will post photos when I get it installed, but this won't be for a few days yet.
Thanks, Dave. I look forward to pictures. Sounds like I'll be needing one of these too since I don't visualize a rack on the roof of this car at all.
The next question is "which bike carrier?" It's between the Thule 917 and the Yakima Holdup for my needs. Any opinions out there?
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