Looking for a good trailer hitch

[z122643]

2" not that I'm aware of.

[z122643]

oh, and this is the first thing that came to mind when i saw the install pics.....

nice!

[bmwman91]

Oh, and this is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the install pics.....

[bmwman91]

This thread is super relevant to my interests.

I was looking at rooftop bike racks. Yakima makes some decent options, but I don't want to be driving around with that stuff on there all the time. An E30 with a roof rack is sexy IMO, but car break-ins and vandalism are becoming an increasingly big problem around here. Even with the locks, someone could fuck up my car pretty good trying to pry things off.

Anyway, friends I ride with have a Kuat rack system that is super nice and it mounts to a hitch receiver (1.25" and 2" options). I am digging that AUTO-HAK Euro setup since it looks like a copy of the OEM hitch accessory and it looks like it uses the frame rails as the mount points (which seems a lot more legit than the Curt aftermarket accessory that just bolts through body sheetmetal). My question is...is there an adapter out there for the AUTO-HAK mount that allows you to use a 1.25" or 2" square receiver tube? I assume that the E30 frame is only rated for Class-I hitches, so there's no "legal" way to run a 2" receiver?

Are there other options out there for a square receiver tube on the E30? The only other thing I have seen is someone's FS thread on here where they had a 2" receiver welded onto the Curt fixed drawbar setup.

[z122643]

Pics? Please prove me wrong. Cause the way the curt hitch is - is that the spare tire well is there for longitudinal axis. Would have nothing to do with an over loaded hitch, or fatigue.

(and I don't care what one is better - it's not like I own stock in the company or anything)

Here it is installed on an E36, but the design and installation is similar.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=239923

In my case the hitch must have been overloaded the spare tire well "was" bent up into the trunk area, while the metal attached to the vertical plate was bent out toward the rear.

[george graves]

Yeah, this E30's previous owner had the curt hitch installed. It deformed the spare tire well.

Pics? Please prove me wrong. Cause the way the curt hitch is - is that the spare tire well is there for longitudinal axis. Would have nothing to do with an over loaded hitch, or fatigue.

(and I don't care what one is better - it's not like I own stock in the company or anything)

[z122643]

I like that it ties directly into the bumper shocks - that's great! If you combine it with something that would prevent the TQ that it puts on with that 6-7" lever it would be great. I think the name of the game is "how not to bend sheet metal of your e30 while towing" - and for that, I think the award goes to the curt hitch - IMHO.

Yeah, this E30's previous owner had the curt hitch installed. It deformed the spare tire well.

[george graves]

Progress…

I like that it ties directly into the bumper shocks - that's great! If you combine it with something that would prevent the TQ that it puts on with that 6-7" lever it would be great. I think the name of the game is "how not to bend sheet metal of your e30 while towing" - and for that, I think the award goes to the curt hitch - IMHO.

[z122643]

http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/z1...g.html?filters[user]=114838346&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=7

[theycallmebrown]

so... what about a reciever? i want one for a bike rack, not to tow something. anyone know what would work on the 1991 318i sedan?

[z122643]

By the way, they do make this lovely adaptor from EU 13pin to 4pin US. http://www.eurohitches.com/adapter-1...tib4l20p4ts1e0

[AndrewBird]

It's 50mm which works out to 1.9685", more than close enough to use with a 2" hitch.

[LJ851]

Looks Great !

I was under the impression the the ball of the euro hitch was metric and didn't match our US size trailers. Is this not an issue?

[RedReplicant]

It's was
$290 for the hitch from Germany
$175 for the OEM wiring harness
$75 for adapter from 13pin EU to 4pin US

That's very reasonable. Hrm.

I've been looking for a way to tow my trackbike(s) on a small HF trailer because gas sucks in my 1500.

[z122643]

I never realized the euro hitches had a detachable ball, I also think they look way batter then the u.s. hitches and probably stronger. One day I'll pick one up for the ix

The euro hitches are MUCH stronger. There are 8 true connection points to the frame or chasis of the car. Where as the US made hitch attaches to the spare tire well.
As a side note the previous owner had the US hitch on the car, and it deformed the spare tire well.