Trailer hitch info?

[Bugsi]

Can anyone with info and experience on adding a lightweight trailer hitch to a Bonneville (92-99) provide some info about how they attach (is there welding involved?), what brands to look for, what to watch out for, etc?

I'm interested in adding a lightweight hitch for use with a bicycle carrier. I use a trunk-mounted bike carrier currently, and while that works fine, you can't open the trunk when it's attached. I've been admiring some of the Thule bike carriers on trailer hitches that I see on some of the cars here at work.

And are they heavy? Is this going to hurt my quarter-mile times?
Info on hitches might make a nice techinfo article, too.

[agrazela]

I've got a class 1 hitch on my 1998 LeSabre. I use it for a small utility trailer or for a Bell brand 4-bike carrier. It's been so long since I installed, I can't remember the Mfr or p/n of the hitch.

I do recall maybe having to drill a few holes, but definitely no welding or anything. I also wired in a 4-flat light connector, but it sounds like you don't care about that part.

I'll take some pics this weekend and post 'em up.

[threshold]

I have a '95 SE that's all stock & have had a Class 1 hitch for years. I towed a Harley on a trailer 2500 miles and pulled an open U-haul trailer w/a small generator about 900 miles. The only problem I had was that the headlight switch kept burning out but I finally upgraded to the later twilight model & haven't had any issues.

Mine is bolted on through the trunk floor via 2 bolts just outside ea. frame rail and also to the rear support.

[spydog]

wy would u put a trailed hitch on a front wheel drive car? thit is a dumb idea get your self a older truck for towing.

[threshold]

Bonneville is a 3400+ lb. vehicle. I'm confident it can handle a 20 lb. bicycle.

Hmm-Why would someone put a trailer hitch on a front wheel drive car? I guess it's easier to see while driving. I suspect you would prefer to mount it to the front of the car, keeping in step w/your predilection for mounting close to the drive wheels.

[BlackHawk99]

Easy there, spydog. Everyone here has different preferences for their cars. I, for one, have always had a trailer hitch on my Bonnies.

[Bugsi]

wy would u put a trailed hitch on a front wheel drive car? thit is a dumb idea get your self a older truck for towing.

Perhaps you didn't read beyond the subject line?

I'm interested in adding a lightweight hitch for use with a bicycle carrier.

[Bugsi]

Got my Class A hitch all installed! It looks great. It's tucked pretty far under the car, you have to stand about six feet or more behind the car before you can see it. I correctly predicted that hangers for my aftermarket Magnaflow dual outlet muffler would get in the way. As it happened, only one hangar on the driver's side was in the way, and we disconnected it and temporarily hung it with a hose clamp. Today I had my exhaust shop fix it. They simply cut the hanger off with a sawzall, then installed a relocated hangar. They didn't even have to re-do any of the exhaust piping, it all fit around the hitch perfectly.

There were two hitch models listed, one for SE and another for SSE/SSEi. I presume the only difference is some design change to work around exhaust hangars? In any case, we ordered the one for the SE and it fit perfectly, with the single exception of moving that one aftermarket exhaust hangar.

It's really sturdy too, and it will make jacking up the back end of the car much easier!
Now I have to get a bike carrier.