I have a 2007 3 hatchback. I'd like to add a tow hitch, but only for a bike rack. Which tow hitches have you used and do you like it? Why did you buy that one vs. others? And which hitch mount bike rack do you have?

Sorry for the barrage of questions and thanks in advance for your advice.

 

i have a hidden hitch brand on my 06 hatch. i love it because it truly is hidden except for the receiver. and it comes with a nice little plastic cover for when nothing's plugged into it. i don't have a hitch mount bike rack... i use my hitch for towing. it actually is more hidden than it seems in the pic, because the camera is really low in that pic.

 

thanks southpawboston. How long did it take you to install the hitch?

 

let's just say that even for this DIYer, it was a b*tch. it bolts up to four existing holes in the frame which need to be drilled out to 1/2". if you have high quality high-speed steel drill bits then this is not the hard part. the hard part is that you have to snake the bolts in through the hollow frame members from the frame ends, and out through the holes you drilled. then you bolt up the receiver to those bolts. the hitch comes with a diagram, all the hardwire and the snaking wire, but honestly i almost gave up after a while and took the car to u-haul to install. but eventually with flashlights, mirrors, some patience and perhaps good luck, i finally got them. you also need a 1/2" drive ratchet, 18mm 1/2" drive socket and one or two wobble extensions to tighten the bolts. space is kind of tight with the receiver mounted, hence the need for the wobble extension for the ratchet. i would say 1/2 hour for the drilling, 2 hours for the snaking unless your technique is better than mine, and 15 minutes for tightening and clean-up. so less than 3 hours total. i did the whole job with the rear wheels up on ramps. i also realized after everything that if i had taken the back bumper skin off (1/2 hour?) it would have saved me a lot of time and frustration with the snaking. hope this helps!

 

In my 07 manual it says you can't tow with the 3.

 

see the opening post - I intend to only use it for a bike rack, no towing involved.

 

I know you are not towing, the other guy is towing with the "Hidden Hitch"

 

I have a Curt Hitch, lifetime warranty and very inexpensive from this site:
www.hitchsource.com/

It took me all of an hour to install taking my time with pictures. Just need to use another wire to help with the fish wire - not a big deal. When drilling out the four holes - use eye protection. Ramps help. I use it for a bike rack - Thule T2 from:
www.agees.com/thule/Thule2.htm
use special code AG20 for a 20% discount