Hitch and Bike Rack Installed

[antlind]

Hey,
I installed my hitch and bike rack this weekend. I went with the Curtis hitch and Sportrack bike rack. I'm now able to hold all four bikes out back. The rear suspension seems to be able to take to added weight without too much sag.
Regards,
Anthony

[eting_pro5]

wow, those things are way out there...i guess it keeps them from f'in up the paint

[Kid Red]

I commented on the other forum, looks cool :)

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Awesome!

Now I know what its going to be like - I ordered my hitch last week. Thanks for the pics!!

[dsulli37]

Where did you order them from?

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Where did you order them from?


I'm getting mine from U-Haul and having them do the install - $179CDN for the hitch and the install. All others I called wanted between $210 and $255 to install the Curtis hitch.

I'll post pics when its done.

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Here's the U-Haul hitch installed.

[Zoom5Zoom]

congrats mike nice pics

BTW LOSE THE U HAUL STICKER:)

[mazdaFIVEmike]

congrats mike nice pics

BTW LOSE THE U HAUL STICKER:)


Funny you say that - It was the first thing on my mind - but in the fine print it says warranty void if removed. You can't see the UHaul sticker unless you get down on the ground so I'll likely just leave it.

[Zoom5Zoom]

Ok so don't remove it just spray it with black paint... you didnt remove it HA HA

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Ok so don't remove it just spray it with black paint... you didnt remove it HA HA

And it just so happens I have a can of Gloss Black Tremclad in the garage!! I'll add that to one of my 1000 projects!! :)

[Zoom5Zoom]

99 bottles of beer on the wall 99 bottles of beer... knock one down pass it around etc good luck mike. BTW you wouldnt have that much to do if you had snow 60 % of the year (poke)

[mazdaFIVEmike]

99 bottles of beer on the wall 99 bottles of beer... knock one down pass it around etc good luck mike. BTW you wouldnt have that much to do if you had snow 60 % of the year (poke)


Kinda like in that Quebec vid on the 5?

Too Funny!!!

I visited Victoria for an afternoon in 1992 and moved here as soon as I got the chance - and I've never looked back!! That was nearly 13 years ago!!(2thumbs)

[dsulli37]

hey is that a class 1 hitch?

[mazdaFIVEmike]

hey is that a class 1 hitch?


Yes it is. I think that's all you can get for the Mazda 5... but I could be wrong.

[antlind]

I got a class II hitch installed for my bike rack.
I think the class II is the best you can get for the '5'.
Anthony

[Medicman]

Guys, just wondering, I can get a custom hitch for $179.00, but still concerned about the warranty on the tranny. I will haul a 4x8 trailer with cooler's and 4 bikes so not a heavy load., as well it will be a class II as my bike rack is a class II.

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Got my bike rack today - ordered from eBay - but the guy sent me a 2" instead of the 1-1/4" (yupnope)

I'll post some pics when I get the replacement part.

I got a Swagman XXX that carries 3 bikes for $81CDN including all taxes and shipping. Seller was HitchYourRide on eBay if anyone is interested. Just make sure you're specific with your hitch receiver size.

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Pics as promised for those interested.

Any thoughts on the rear brake lights being obscured? They aren't blocked so should still be visible.

[Zoom5Zoom]

Mike

I found a detachable bar which goes between the bike seat and handlebars to secure the bikes flat on the rack... you can buy em at your local bike shop for about 30 bux each.

Makes for easy transporting of the bikes and not so freaky balencing acts...

[antlind]

There's also something else I should mention about the bike racks.
I have a rack that carries 4 bikes and after using it a couple times I found that there was a lot of 'bounce' to the rack; given the weight of four bikes.
I ran into someone else with the same rack as mine and they had a strap that hooked the bike rack to the top of the rear hitch. This strap eliminated all of the 'bounce' I was getting with my rack.
So off I go to the rack dealer and true enough, they forgot to include the strap when they sold me the rack....Idiots.
So, I used the strap last weekend and there is no more bouncing of the bikes on the rack. The kit included a strap, u-clip to secure the strap to the top of the rear door, and a plate to attach the strap to the bike rack.
Anthony

[Zoom5Zoom]

Hell no eh.. can you supply a pic please ASAP as I am using my rack this weekend.... I also have a 4 bike rack set up and don't like the bounce. I thought I would have to put a wedge in the receiver to stop it??

Did you all know we have a supplied cargo strap in our spare tire compartment we could use to strap this puppy down then?

[antlind]

Here are two images of the changes I made to my bike rack to prevent the bouncing.
The first image is the plate I attached to the first bike mount. This plate has a slot in it to which I have attached the strap.
The second image shows the end of the strap that fits to the top of the rear hatch.
I plan to mount the rack the weekend for a trip to BC. I'll send you some more pics with the strap attached and let you know how it feels with the rack strapped to the car.
Anthony

[Zoom5Zoom]

Great and thanks look forward to the pics

[soulnette]

Here are two images of the changes I made to my bike rack to prevent the bouncing.
The first image is the plate I attached to the first bike mount. This plate has a slot in it to which I have attached the strap.
The second image shows the end of the strap that fits to the top of the rear hatch.
I plan to mount the rack the weekend for a trip to BC. I'll send you some more pics with the strap attached and let you know how it feels with the rack strapped to the car.
Anthony

Be carefull, the hole door is made of plastic!

[antlind]

Be carefull, the hole door is made of plastic!


Are you saying that the entire rear hatch is made of plastic? I didn't know that.
Anyway, I plan to attach the strap to the top of the rear hatch, so I'm thinking that the frame for the door will take most of the stress....Hopefully the frame is not made of plastic....
Hell, if it cracks I'll take it back to the dealer....It's under warranty anyway.

[jmcglynn]

Here's the U-Haul hitch installed.
Thanks for posting the pics of the U-Haul hitch! Great help for those of us looking at what hitch to buy. So, you really can't see anything but the receiver? That's cool!

If anyone else has put on a hitch other than the U-Haul, lets see those pictures too!

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Thanks for posting the pics of the U-Haul hitch! Great help for those of us looking at what hitch to buy. So, you really can't see anything but the receiver? That's cool!

If anyone else has put on a hitch other than the U-Haul, lets see those pictures too!

No problem.... check out

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123630071&page=4

for pics of the hitch cover I got.

[5-4-fighting]

Ok I may have missed where you got the bike rack from?

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Ok I may have missed where you got the bike rack from?

I got mine off eBay from HITCHYOURRIDE. Its a Swagman XXX.

[soulnette]

I would like to know what kind of electrical installation you have with your hitch?
Was it included in your price?
Is it a special module with extra wiring?

I just got myself installed a hitch (class II recommended by my dealer!), but an issue was brought up for the electrical harness, according to the hitch installer, a special module is needed to power the trailer lights! Wire gage to small to take the load!

Have any comments.

Thank you all.

[was98strat]

I would like to know what kind of electrical installation you have with your hitch?
Was it included in your price?
Is it a special module with extra wiring?

I just got myself installed a hitch (class II recommended by my dealer!), but an issue was brought up for the electrical harness, according to the hitch installer, a special module is needed to power the trailer lights! Wire gage to small to take the load!

Have any comments.

Thank you all.

You might want to double check with the dealer (and get it in writing) that the wiring won't void the warranty. The manual(actually sectio 4-12) specifically says "Never tow a trailer with your Mazda" I'd hate to see you void your warranty!!

[mazdaFIVEmike]

We had a discussion about warranty - I thought it was this thread but now I can't seem to find it.

My dealer said if I wired the hitch I could potentially void my warranty on powertrain - which could basically include everything if they want to get nasty with you.

I did encounter some mixed opinions on the wiring though. Everything from you can't do it - to - its going to be tricky. And because towing is not recommended with the 5 - my dealer wouldn't even talk to me about wiring. They just said it couldn't be done. IMO I think it can be done and I may explore that later on but for now its just a bike rack hitch.

[was98strat]

We had a discussion about warranty - I thought it was this thread but now I can't seem to find it.

My dealer said if I wired the hitch I could potentially void my warranty on powertrain - which could basically include everything if they want to get nasty with you.

I did encounter some mixed opinions on the wiring though. Everything from you can't do it - to - its going to be tricky. And because towing is not recommended with the 5 - my dealer wouldn't even talk to me about wiring. They just said it couldn't be done. IMO I think it can be done and I may explore that later on but for now its just a bike rack hitch.

Absolutely it can be done, it's just wiring! . I've seen kits (not specifically for Mazda) that allow you to add trailer wiring without any tapping of the existing wiring. I think it has connectors that go in between the socket and the bulb

That said I think the wiring in the 5 is just about as small as yu can get away with!

[airman_slacker]

U-haul said they won't install a hitch on my Mazda because their service center said that it would void the warranty and that they won't install on any mazda's for 04 on.

[mazdaFIVEmike]

U-haul said they won't install a hitch on my Mazda because their service center said that it would void the warranty and that they won't install on any mazda's for 04 on.

U-Haul installed my hitch but said the dealer would have to do the wiring.

[Apple Guy]

Mazda will void the trans warranty if a hitch is installed. They have weak trannies if pushed and they know it. That is why the 04 and later no hitch rule. If you want to carry bikes you need a roof rack bike kit. I am pissed too. I had the dealer call the district manager about this to make sure. This all happened on the same day I bought it. So I knew going into this that I can't have a hitch till the warranty is up or near up.

[opus]

I called Mazda and they would not commit one way or the other. They did say that there would have to be proof of abuse, and a hitch would not be proof of abuse. I talked to my dealer and he put in writing in the system that the hitch was being used only for the bike rack. The way this is backed up is the lack of wiring. Trying to get a bike on the roof of a 5 is a pain in the backside unless you are 6'3" and up. This is really true if you are trying to get more than 2 bikes on the roof, the middle ones would be a complete pain. I would like to think that they would be reasonable, but if you want to be totally safe, don't put the hitch on the 5.

[bulwnkl]

Mazda will void the trans warranty if a hitch is installed.

Incorrect. Your individual dealer may say your warranty is void, but:
A) They (the dealer) don't have the authority to do that,
and
B) Moss-Magnusson doesn't allow them or Mazda to do any such thing.

You may have to have a good local attorney who was genuinely willing to work the case if they told you to buzz off, though.

[monsta]

Agreed. The addition of a hitch doesn't automatically assume that a trailer will be on the other end.

I know of a number of lawyers who would love that lawsuit against the dealer!

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Hey everyone - I'm still looking into wiring my 5 for trailer lights.

I talked to a guy at Canadian Tire and he gave me a part number for a clip on harness for the 5. Cost is $79.99 CDN. He said it clips into where the wiring breaks off from one side to go to the other side.

Does anyone know where this might be? Left or right side???

Canadian Tire Part Number 409157.

[Apple Guy]

The U-Haul hitch looks like a Curtis

[Rocket]

I did the wiring myself. I just bought a generic kit from Wal Mart. It required a source of power. Rather than run a wire from the battery I tapped the lighter plug in the rear. The lights work fine.

[Wytchdctr]

Incorrect. Your individual dealer may say your warranty is void, but:
A) They (the dealer) don't have the authority to do that,
and
B) Moss-Magnusson doesn't allow them or Mazda to do any such thing.

You may have to have a good local attorney who was genuinely willing to work the case if they told you to buzz off, though.


The only problem with that is in your owners manual it says the car is not designed to tow. That would be the same as putting 15w40 in it in alaska then going back, telling the dealership that you put it in there and expecting them to replace it. If your transmission goes and you have a hitch, they are not going to fix it and they will get away with it. If your cam phaser for the cvt stuff goes out then you have a fighting chance because even if you where towing it wouldn't have damaged that part of the car. IMO it also falls along the same lines (as far as transmission damage) as you putting a turbo on the car. You pushed it harder than what it was designed to do, your fault.

[mazdaFIVEmike]

I did the wiring myself. I just bought a generic kit from Wal Mart. It required a source of power. Rather than run a wire from the battery I tapped the lighter plug in the rear. The lights work fine.


How does this hook up to the signal and brakes? I'm not the best at do-it-yourself stuff so its got to be real simple otherwise I tend to shy away. Call me a wuss but... it is a new car...

[Rocket]

How does this hook up to the signal and brakes? I'm not the best at do-it-yourself stuff so its got to be real simple otherwise I tend to shy away. Call me a wuss but... it is a new car...

You have to use a tester to see which wire is which. I removed the panel on the left side and removed the left tail light assembly. Then I inserted the tester probe into the light plug to determine which wire was hot. From there you simply use the wiring taps to hook up the wires from the adapter. I used the cigarette lighter plug power wire for my power source and there was a threaded nut welded to the side of the car that I used for the ground.

On the subject of towing and warranty, here is how I see it. If you are only going to tow the occasional trailer or boat that is less than say 1,000 pounds, you are likely to never have a problem. If you do have a problem, it is likely to occur well after the warranty expires. If you have a problem, it is unlikely to be catastrophic, leaving you at the side of the road. You will have some warning signs that a problem is coming. If that happens, remove the hitch and take the car to the dealer for warranty work! :)

The five is capable of towing a small trailer. The lawyers are the ones that put the no towing clause in the manual!

[Rotus]

And it just so happens I have a can of Gloss Black Tremclad in the garage!! I'll add that to one of my 1000 projects!! :)

Why not just cover it with a strip of black duct tape?

Also, I think that is a class II hitch. It just looks beefier than the class I I have seen.

[was98strat]

The only problem with that is in your owners manual it says the car is not designed to tow. That would be the same as putting 15w40 in it in alaska then going back, telling the dealership that you put it in there and expecting them to replace it. If your transmission goes and you have a hitch, they are not going to fix it and they will get away with it. If your cam phaser for the cvt stuff goes out then you have a fighting chance because even if you where towing it wouldn't have damaged that part of the car. IMO it also falls along the same lines (as far as transmission damage) as you putting a turbo on the car. You pushed it harder than what it was designed to do, your fault.

Funny thing about all this is the 5 is rated to tow 600kg Without trailer brakes and up to 1400kg with trailer brakes. Look at page 4 of the brochure below

http://www.mazda.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B25C334-9D55-43C0-A4B6-905262B0B005/0/Mazda5_Specifications.pdf

that's 3000lbs MAX on euro spec models with smaller engines with only 135 ft/lbs (The Diesel has 265ft/lbs...Oh I wish I had the diesel!)

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Funny thing about all this is the 5 is rated to tow 600kg Without trailer brakes and up to 1400kg with trailer brakes. Look at page 4 of the brochure below

http://www.mazda.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B25C334-9D55-43C0-A4B6-905262B0B005/0/Mazda5_Specifications.pdf

that's 3000lbs MAX on euro spec models with smaller engines with only 135 ft/lbs (The Diesel has 265ft/lbs...Oh I wish I had the diesel!)


That's just it - the 5 CAN tow - IMO here in North America they just figured people would think this is a van and decide to tow their tent trailer over the mountains if they even allowed a class 1 hitch. Which we - smart people - know, but for all the "not so smart" people they decided to eliminate it completely. Sucks for us "smart people"

[babelbox]

Been watching this post for quite some time and decided to go with the U-Haul hitch. I bought Hitch # 24754 (Class I, In the instructions that came with it, it says the hitch is a Curt Manufacturing Hitch #11338). Price was $119.95 at a local u-haul store. The store was asking for $70 extra for installation but decided to just install it myself.

Installation was easy. Just needed an extra hand to lift the hitch while positioning the screws. The hitch weighed 24lbs according to the instructions. I had to enlarge the existing 3/8" inch hole in the bumper beam to a 7/16" hole.

There were two U-Haul stickers which were visible. It said not to remove it for warranty purposes. So I peeled it off and sticked it the back so it will not be visible.

Now with the $70 I saved, I'm going to buy a nice bike rack.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. The information was really helpful.

Picture of the hitch (front)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/3.JPG

Picture of the hitch (back)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/4.JPG

Installed (rear view)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/5.JPG

Installed (bottom view)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/6.JPG

Instructions
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/7.JPG

[Wytchdctr]

Funny thing about all this is the 5 is rated to tow 600kg Without trailer brakes and up to 1400kg with trailer brakes. Look at page 4 of the brochure below

http://www.mazda.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B25C334-9D55-43C0-A4B6-905262B0B005/0/Mazda5_Specifications.pdf

that's 3000lbs MAX on euro spec models with smaller engines with only 135 ft/lbs (The Diesel has 265ft/lbs...Oh I wish I had the diesel!)

The book I have says do not tow. I have no doubt the 2.3 is capable of pulling a little extra weight behind it. Especially when its rated to carry so much weight IN the car. With the owners manual saying no I will not put a hitch on the back of my 5 to keep its trans warranty intact. Id trust it to pull a jet ski or something along those lines, but that wont happen until after the warranty period is over. At that point any defects from Mazda would have shown themselfs anyway. Trust me I'm not one of the "the skys falling" people when it comes to doing stuff to your car and warranty work. Ive got more than a few things done to my hyundai and would have no issue getting work done if I needed it because I know the laws behind it. Book says no towing, you add a trailer hitch.... hmmm. Maybe if you had pics of that bike rack thing you may... may have a leg to stand on. Just show up with a hitch. I don't see it going over very well. Then again, it all depends on what broke.

[07MZ5SA]

http://www.mazda.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B25C334-9D55-43C0-A4B6-905262B0B005/0/Mazda5_Specifications.pdf
The Diesel has 265ft/lbs...Oh I wish I had the diesel!
Not to mention < 2K RPM @ 70 MPH and 40 MPG hwy.

[Zoom5Zoom]

Been watching this post for quite some time and decided to go with the U-Haul hitch. I bought Hitch # 24754 (Class I, In the instructions that came with it, it says the hitch is a Curt Manufacturing Hitch #11338). Price was $119.95 at a local u-haul store. The store was asking for $70 extra for installation but decided to just install it myself.

Installation was easy. Just needed an extra hand to lift the hitch while positioning the screws. The hitch weighed 24lbs according to the instructions. I had to enlarge the existing 3/8" inch hole in the bumper beam to a 7/16" hole.

There were two U-Haul stickers which were visible. It said not to remove it for warranty purposes. So I peeled it off and sticked it the back so it will not be visible.

Now with the $70 I saved, I'm going to buy a nice bike rack.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. The information was really helpful.

Picture of the hitch (front)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/3.JPG

Picture of the hitch (back)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/4.JPG

Installed (rear view)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/5.JPG

Installed (bottom view)
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/6.JPG

Instructions
http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450017888/7.JPG

I added a bumper guard for my curtis hitch you may want to invest that addition. I went to my local trim shop for the trim.... I have attached a pic