Just got my "draw tight" trailer hitch today (to tow my dirt bike) and was wondering if anyone had any tips on the install. The directions are pretty basic and easy to follow but I'd like to hear any "look out for" or "I did this and it helped" As always, THANKS in advance to all.

 

make sure you torque everything properly, and after your first tow -- retorque it again.

Other than that, the hardest part of installing my hidden hitch (that I've only used ONCE) was threading those pesky bolts through the frame.

Once these things are on....they are not coming-off without significant effort!

gr

 

Thanks for the info.... are there access holes for the bolts?

 

Yes and no.

You have to slide them in through holes in the frame, but then position them with these coat-hanger-like gizmos that thread to the end of the bolts.

It's simple, but a bit tricky.

I was doing it in the dark, and it was not fun. Just don't lose the bolt in the frame, cause it doesn't come-out!!!!

PRetty simple install.

 

Yeah I know posting in a thread that is 3 years old, would have started a new thread but I don't have enough post yet.

Anyway I have an 01 SE and bought this draw-tite hitch here: http://search.cartserver.com/search/...t0272&GO=GO%21

If anyone has installed a hitch please give me some help. Looking at the directions(on that webpage) I can't figure out how to get the bolts into the bumper. My bumper doesn't having any kind of access hole like the directions show and my hitch didn't come with those "coat hanger" things like they said above. Is the only option is to drill an access hole like it shows for the 97-99 Maxs?

 

a maxima isnt for towing








<----- for towing

 

My 01 GLE cam with a hidden hitch. Was that ever an option?

 

i would NEVER do anything like that to my maxima..............................

 

um no

 

I used to have a hitch on my old miata , used it to haul the race tires to the auto-x FTW....

 

Tiretail FTW...

 

It's been several years since I installed my hidden hitch, and as I recall it was a b!tch to get those bolts threaded properly in the frame....even WITH those coat-hanger thingies!

NOt sure about drilling new holes - or the diff. between the 01 and my 02....but I can tell you that trying to get those bolts into the existing holes in the frames required sliding them thru the frame itself -- and then pulling them thru the holes for threading WITH the little wire guides.
I can't imagine being able to do it without those!
Sorry man.

perahps somebody other than Sooner can provide with a better answer....

And the Max tows JUST fine you naysayers....just don't overload it, or you'll mess up your frame, tranny, and god KNOWS what else!!
keep it under 2000lbs for trailer AND load, and you should be fine.

gr

**Keep in mind, TARE weight is the unladen gross of the trailer WITHOUT a load. RENTAL trailer such as uhauls, are made of steel - and even a small 5x8 non-enclosed version, can weigh up to 900lbs. empty!!**

 

yes you CAN tow with a maxima...doesnt mean its a good idea

 

....oh HELL! --I've made IT angry--

 

when i bought mine it had a tow hitch, first thing i had the dealer do was take that s*** off....maximas are not for towing, like sooner said....got an xterra for that

 

Guys calm down...its just for a bike rack!! I'm just going to pay someone my drill is too long and won't work unless I jack the car up which I don't feel like doing.

 

haha well in that case I guess its okay... Still...hate
to see a max carrying anything but if its just a bike its alright

 

I just transferred a U-Haul trailer hitch (1.25 inch) to my third Maxima, originally a 97 then 00 now 02. U-Haul's been good to work with, plenty of stores around, knowledgable. The hitch itself appears to be a Draw-Tite model 24686. Draw bar and ball are removable. I've sandblasted and painted each time and it's holding up very well.

Install uses M10 fine thread 17mm head bolts. Driver side uses the bolt holes from the now removed metal tie down loop bracket (also used by big 4 wheelers with chains to yank sorry butt out of snow banks in Sams Gap). The passenger side on the 97 and 00 had holes thru the frame rails with threaded nuts just on the other side of the muffler. Also had a vertical mount which used a smaller bolt.

The 02 had the holes on the muffler side, but no threaded nuts and no vertical mount. Installer used a long wire coiled on the end to pull a carriage bolt thru a slot farther up on the frame to the hole, pulled the carriage bolt thru and nut on the bottom.

Wiring harness just taps into one tailite harness and ground.

I've pulled a jetski and trailer (about 1000 lbs) for years, including some long interstate hauls. Only problem was a "overdrive fail-safe" one time due to my fault for running 70 up one of the steepest interstate grades in the eastern US. Reset and all's fine. I do however change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles.

 

Yea getting those bolts through the frame can be tricky. I tow a 16' skiff, and it handles it just fine. I used a hidden hitch brand hitch.

 

Does anyone have pictures of them installed? I am looking for one as well and I don't want to get stuck with one that will interfere with the bumper cover. Aside from the links already posted, I was also looking at this one. http://www.suspensionconnection.com/.../CT12224N.html

 

wow! i thought this thread was a joke but nope! people actually use their maxima to tow??

 

I've towed quite a bit with mine in the past three years.

The max does a great job, as long as you don't get stupid and overload it.

I've towed open and closed trailers, my motorcycle - lawn tractor, and god knows what else.

Pretty damned useful i'd say....NO JOKE. The Maxima will tow just fine....PLENTY of power, i'd say you're only limited by traction and Load weights.

This AIN'T no Super-Duty Ford Truck!!

gr

 

Can you show me a picture of your hitch? I am thinking about going with the hiddenhitch.

Everyone else,
It doesn't really take much horsepower to tow. Back in the 80's my parents had a '86 Dodge Caravan that had a 2.6l 100hp mitsu 4 banger under the hood. We drove that thing all over creation with 2 adults, 3 kids, a weeks worth of luggage for all, while towing a 2500 pound coleman pop up camper. Yes it was uber slow accelerating but once up to speed it didn't matter. As previously mentioned before it's all about where you put the weight and to make sure you do not overload the reese hitch and trailer axle. So for me to tow a 1500 pound pop up with my 3200 pound car (before driver, passenger and luggage), is not an issue at all.

 

Ok - just took some.
Look under my user cp, and it's in PhotoAlbums (GR's Pics), or just click on PHOTOGALLERY on the page header above. should be one of the first ones.

There's several closeups and eyelevels.
Even found two of my lawn tractor on a 5x8 flatbed hooked-up to the car from last fall!

enjoy!

gr

 

Matt let me know when you get this. I've been contemplating towing a couple jet skis around. I know my motor is more then capable, wasn't sure about everything else.

 

Bringing this back to life...

I moving from Oklahoma to California in a month, and need to figure out how to transport my motorcycle. One thought was to get a hitch installed on my 2011 Maxima and trailer the bike. I'm hearing this isn't a good idea, it could burn out the tranny. Anybody tailored about 800lbs long distance with the Maxima? Should I just ship the bike...

 

From what I've read, the Maxima with cvt is able to tow about 1000 lbs with no problem. I personally wouldn't do it with my 2010 as I currently live in CA and on the slight hills between Fort Irwin and L.A., I think the car would struggle with the extra weight while trying to maintain a constant speed.

If anything you would definitely need to add an additional trans cooler to the system. And the cost of that and having the hitch installed might make the idea not worth the expense.

 

As an owner of a 2013 Pathfinder with a CVT, I can confirm that a CVT works better for towing than a traditional automatic.

The Pathfinder + luggage + occupants + popup camper equals around 8200 pounds of total weight and it has essentially the same VQ35 that is in the 2006 Maxima. The VQ35/CVT combo does not care if it's long flat roads, hills or steep mountain climbs.

 

When I think of the Pathfinder I automatically think towing, as they come equipped with a tow package and the advertising for them boasts that fact. Not so when it comes to the Maxima, I'm sure the Maxima can tow but I personally would take the extra precaution of the trans cooler if I were to do it.

 

 

This was the topic of which I was trying to address.


And for a measly 1000 temporary pounds I'm not sure I would spend the time or money on an extra cooler.

People often overlook the fact that trans temps that are too low also cause problems and you do not want to oversize the cooling capacity.

http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/231

 

Anyone has pics on where you install them?

I need to tow a go kart...

 

Here's a few pics on my 00 SE.







I think it's either a Reese or the same style as this one:



Let me know if you need some more pics. Happy to help.

 

Thanks!

Did you have to drill new holes or existing..


BTW, I answered your questions on the the headlight retrofit. Let me know if you need more info. I'm doing 5.5 at the moment also.

 

Sure thing, bud. I did this myself quite a few years back. Drilling is required. I think the hardest part was fishing the bolts in the bumper.

That thin silver fork-looking thing wedged between the nut and the hitch brace (in the 1st pic) is the "tool" I used to get the bolts into the bumper. I figured I would leave it there in case I ever needed to uninstall it and I would never be able to find it in the tool chest. lol. You can also use some steel wire to fish the bolts in the bumper.

I think Curt, Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch also make them for our vehicle, but some drilling is required for them, too.