Inexpensive Hitch?

[va32h]

The quote from Uhaul to put a hitch on our 2004 Ford Freestar was insane.

We will be pulling either a Rockwood or Coleman pop-up.

I have seen kits at places like Wal-mart - how hard is it to install yourself?

 

[Memph1s]

It depends on the hitch and vehicle. I bought a Reese hitch from Wal-Mart that was a no drill model. It simply bolted on through holes that were already in the frame of my Expedition. The hitch itself was a breeze. The wiring for the trailer, lights and brakes was a little more of a challenge but still not too bad. When I had the hitch put on our Windstar it had to have holes drilled so I paid someone to install it to be sure it was right.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Like Memph1s said, it depends on the hitch and the vehicle. I have installed Reese hitches on vehicles that required no drilling without a problem. On my Sport Trac, however, it required removing the bumper. I took that one to a body shop to put on. My F150 came ready to go, as a lot of tow vehicles do now with towing packages. If you are going to do it yourself, invest in a torque wrench and follow the directions exactly - don't cut any corners and torque the bolts to the specified values. If you have any doubts, take it to a reputable installer - safety and peace of mind are worth the cost. By the way, I have found Uhaul's installation costs pretty steep. You may even consider buying a hitch and having a good body shop install it for you like I did once.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Wow it is completley different up here U haul has by far the best prices around it only cost us 259.00 for the hitch wiring and install for our 05 montana where most shops wanted 600-1000 to do the same job same hitch and same wiring and no nationwide warranty.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Unknown to me when I purchased my truck, the dealership took it to uhaul to install the brake controller. An 80 dollar controller with plug in installation cost me over 250 bucks.

 

[clkelley]

. On my Sport Trac, however, it required removing the bumper .

Now granted we have connections since my hubby is a manager of an Automotive Repair Shop.

My hubby bought a Class III hitch for my Sport Trac directly from a Ford dealer for about $150 and had the technicians at his shop install it. They didn't have to remove the bumper or drill any holes at all. Another $40 for the receiver and ball, and we were all set. My Sport Trac was already pre-wired with a 4-pin wiring harness. However, if I ever get my baby, I'll have to have it upgraded to a 7-pin. See the link below, isn't this just the coolest thing!

http://www.freedomteardrop.com/gallery.htm

 

[ftwildernessguy]

My hitch was directly from Ford, too, but the instructions involved removing the rear bumper and bolting the hitch between the bumper and frame. It gave a really clean look after installation, since only the opening to the receiver was visible under the bumper. The guys in the service department wouldn't touch the installation. So I figured, the body shop has to know how to install a bumper, so they did it for me for a hundred bucks.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Unknown to me when I purchased my truck, the dealership took it to uhaul to install the brake controller. An 80 dollar controller with plug in installation cost me over 250 bucks.

250 wow is that ever a markup jumpin jiminy I would have told them to keep it after that our brake controller that we didn't end up needing was only going to be 135 install and taxes included.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Yeah, they thought they were doing me a favor by getting it set up for me before I took delivery. It's something I normally do myself.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Sometimes the lessons that hurt the most ($$$) are the ones that you remember for a long time.
We had our 02 Suburban set up by the RV dealer. It already had the tow pkg so the brake controller was a plug in and mount. They ended up screwing it into the lower dash panel instead of removing the panel (4 screws) and mounting it in a much better position. I had to pull it off and put it in the right place after we got the trailer home. Since it was our first trailer they made it sound like it was some big deal to setup the hitch. Turns out they ha da bunch of students that worked nights do all their setups. Knowing what I do now it would have taken me about 15 mins and saved me a bunch of $$$
I can put a brake controller in a GM truck in about 10 mins.

On another note, whoever wires your trailer plug should try to use plug in type wiring, several manufacturers make pigtails that "T" into your existing wiring and have the same type of weatherproof connectors that the vehicle mfg uses. Whatever you do dont let them use "line taps" or "scotchloks" they wont last and will be a nightmare in the future.

Scott

 

[F4disneyfan]

Yep you usually remember it when it involves money LOL.

 

[Hyonlyf]

My husband owns a hitch place and that hitch, a class 3, is $200 installed and wiring is $115, it is on the higher side compared to some hitches but I determine my price by what Hidden Hitch, Drawtite etc charge me which is over $100 for that hitch

The wiring calls for a specific Ford relays and plug, much more costly and labor intensive than usual 4 way universal wiring that we only charge 39-49 dollars for. The Freestar is one of the most expensive wiring jobs we have.

We are very competive and price shop to make sure we are comparable to other places in our area. Uhaul is usually way more than we are!

Good luck to you! I hope you shop around and find something reasonable.

 

[F4disneyfan]

My husband owns a hitch place and that hitch, a class 3, is $200 installed and wiring is $115, it is on the higher side compared to some hitches but I determine my price by what Hidden Hitch, Drawtite etc charge me which is over $100 for that hitch

The wiring calls for a specific Ford relays and plug, much more costly and labor intensive than usual 4 way universal wiring that we only charge 39-49 dollars for. The Freestar is one of the most expensive wiring jobs we have.

We are very competive and price shop to make sure we are comparable to other places in our area. Uhaul is usually way more than we are!

Good luck to you! I hope you shop around and find something reasonable.

I have a question for you sorry but since you own a hitch centre I figured you would be the best to ask.

Why is there such a huge difference in prices at Uhaul between Canada and the US for hitches our hitch from U Haul was less than the price you quoted above and in CDN dollars also with tax and install. Why the difference if you happen to know it just seems wierd to me that there is such a difference between the 2 places.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I have a question for you sorry but since you own a hitch centre I figured you would be the best to ask.

Why is there such a huge difference in prices at Uhaul between Canada and the US for hitches our hitch from U Haul was less than the price you quoted above and in CDN dollars also with tax and install. Why the difference if you happen to know it just seems wierd to me that there is such a difference between the 2 places.

I think its that whole metric vs fractional thing again

 

[F4disneyfan]

I think its that whole metric vs fractional thing again

Yep that must be it LOL.....

 

[Hyonlyf]

I don't know why CDN and US Uhaul prices would be different. I am a Uhaul dealer as well but my hitch, truck accessory and exhaust business is not affiliated with them in any way. My primary hitch supplier is Cequent Towing which is home to Hidden Hitch, Reese and Drawtite, I also get Curt and Valley; Reese for our goosenecks and B & W for 5th wheels, Roadmaster for tow bars.

Perhaps the vendors set the prices differently for each area, determining what each market will bear? I know my hitch costs go up about 5% every year, they cite steel price increases as the reason. Also, the bigger the hitch, the more it costs. A little FYI, the most expensive hitch I carry is $229 for the 1979-2006 Crown Vic, Gr Marquis and Lincoln Towncar. that thing is huge

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on the pricing issue, are there maybe tariffs for bringing into Canada? Being waaaay down in south, I have no idea on the Canada issue LOL

Edited to add, are you sure you were pricing class 3 and not class 2 which is less money AND comes with a draw bar whereas it's additional on a class 3. Happens a lot when customers are price shopping me.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I don't know why CDN and US Uhaul prices would be different. I am a Uhaul dealer as well but my hitch, truck accessory and exhaust business is not affiliated with them in any way. My primary hitch supplier is Cequent Towing which is home to Hidden Hitch, Reese and Drawtite, I also get Curt and Valley; Reese for our goosenecks and B & W for 5th wheels, Roadmaster for tow bars.

Perhaps the vendors set the prices differently for each area, determining what each market will bear? I know my hitch costs go up about 5% every year, they cite steel price increases as the reason. Also, the bigger the hitch, the more it costs. A little FYI, the most expensive hitch I carry is $229 for the 1979-2006 Crown Vic, Gr Marquis and Lincoln Towncar. that thing is huge

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on the pricing issue, are there maybe tariffs for bringing into Canada? Being waaaay down in south, I have no idea on the Canada issue LOL

Edited to add, are you sure you were pricing class 3 and not class 2 which is less money AND comes with a draw bar whereas it's additional on a class 3. Happens a lot when customers are price shopping me.

Nope it was a class 2 and we didn't get the draw bar and ball it was only an additional 45 bucks for the drawbar and ball. We have a class 3 hitch and if we have the propper ball and draw bar it will haul 6000 plus pounds or so it states. Our trailer is only 1600 pounds dry and 2300 fully loaded so the hitch is way overkill for the trailer but oh well LOL.

 

[Hyonlyf]

Well, a class 2 for that vehicle at my shop, would cost 189 and that comes with the draw bar. the ball would be an additional 8.70 and the wiring would still be 115, assuming it is not wired from the factory.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Well, a class 2 for that vehicle at my shop, would cost 189 and that comes with the draw bar. the ball would be an additional 8.70 and the wiring would still be 115, assuming it is not wired from the factory.

Hmm ours was wired with the cost of the hitch and the class 3 was 231 tax and install and wiring they threw in the wiring because they were a day late on getting the hitch and getting it installed LOL. The wiring was only 49.00 installed if I had to pay for it.

 

[jima53]

I bought my hitch at Sam's club for my 99 Astro van years ago and spent a couple of hours to put it on. Had two bolts that I had to drill but the instructions with the hitch explained everything. The other bolts matched up to holes there. The wiring of the brake controller and the other wiring I had done at a really good price at my neighborhood u-haul dealer. Haven't had a problem at all over the years.

Jim