Installing a Trailer Hitch?

My Draw-Tite installed has 10.75 inches from the ground to the bottom of the hitch receiver. It also does not project past the back of the bumper if you drop a vertical line.

 

On my 2020 Ultimate Kona it is 9 ¼ off the ground and does not project past the bumper either.

 

Thanks.. that's the same as mine. Do you have any issues with it hitting the ground on steep slopes?

Oh.. also, for those wondering, I was able to get a 2" hitch installed. They are available now from U-Haul.

 

Thanks.. that's the same as mine. Do you have any issues with it hitting the ground on steep slopes?

Oh.. also, for those wondering, I was able to get a 2" hitch installed. They are available now from U-Haul.

 

I have the 2019 Kona and a Draw Tite hitch, tires are 215/55 17". Ground clearance for my hitch is 10.5 inches. Hope this helps.

 

Mine is 10". I love saying that.

What I mean is: there is 10" clearance between the pavement and the bottom of my receiver hitch. It's the Hyundai OEM "accessory frame". Never had it scrape the ground, even with two bikes on a hitch rack and lots of junk in the car. Worked fine in downtown Seattle which has steep hills and abrupt grade transitions, similar to SanFran. My bike lock and chain hung just below the receiver and it never dragged on the ground either so I suspect you will be fine with your 9".

 

IIRC ours is about 10" off the ground. Have never had a problem with clearance on steep hills and we have encountered some.

 

2019 Kona Ultimate - Installed a Curtis hitch procured from the UHaul website (part # CMF11529, $200CAD shipped, was back ordered about a month). Use it with a Thule two-bike bike carrier and a strap connected to the rear door to keep the bike rack from bouncing around.

Had to cut the plastic cover underneath the Kona and it was a tight fit, but otherwise, it worked fine.

 

Sharing my experience with the 2023 Kona EV in Montreal. I had some trouble finding a place where they could do the install, everywhere I called they had never worked on a Kona 2023 before. Even though I was telling them it is the same as the 2022, 2021, whatever, they did not want to take the chance, they were telling me that the part did not exist. I ended-up calling U-Haul. For them, it seemed like Kona EVs were business as usual, no fuss about it. Went for the install, class 1, 200/2000 pounds. Clean install and works like a charm.

 

With a 2-inch hitch receiver?! That's great! Is it the Draw-Tite, part # 76599 ?

 

I believe so.. this is what was on Uhaul's site: Part number: CQT76599

 

Thank you for this info. I currently have the Curt hitch with the 1 1/4 inch receiver on my 2019, as that was the only thing available at the time. But I wish it was a 2-inch receiver instead. Better bike rack options for 2-inch receiver.

 

The local Hyundai dealer installed an accessory frame Hyundai Part number J9H03 AP000 on our 2023 Kona EV. Cost $400 cdn installation labour and taxes included.

 

I've had the same one for two years and I am happy with it. I just use it for bikes.

 

Thank you very much for the pictures of the installation. I was told by "U-Haul" that the gas Kona hitch would fit our 2021 Kona ev by trimming "some plastic".

Your pictures show me what parts need trimming! Btw, I bought the hitch with a 2" receiver because my bike carrier is 2"

 

I had mine installed by a local U-Haul shop, they were puzzled for a few minutes when they called their dealer tech support and they didn't know what to do either. They eventually figured it out, sometimes they have to do similar trimming for other makes/models to get hitches to fit.

I'm going back this week to add tail light wiring, I didn't think I'd need it but the bikes on the rack do a pretty good job of blocking the lights so I'm adding light bars to the rack.

 

If you are going to buy the wiring, make sure you get a guarantee of return in case your car's computer is incompatible.

Our Konas have what's called a canbus that is very sensitive to the electrical usage of a circuit, which allows it to tell if there is a problem.

There are cheap trailer lighting cables that are not canbus and I've been told they don't work properly.

Here's a link to what's available. Btw, Uhaul hads the best price that I could find

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Wiring-Lights/Tow-Vehicle-Wiring/ZCI-Zero-Contact-Interface-Universal-ModuLite/?id=18203

 

Here is a down and dirty on what is involved installing a trailer hitch on Kona EV by a DYI guy. You can do it yourself but as you will see it is a bit of a pain. At least find buddy who is willing to help. Read the comments to get more ideas with the pull wires and which hole to start with so you wont get stuck.

 

After earlier successfully having a 2 inch hitch installed at the local U-Haul on my '23 Kona Electric (US) I went back to attempt to get the wiring installed as I wanted to attach lights to my bike rack. They started work but gave up with the assessment that the whole rear end would have to be disassembled including removing the bumper. Slight damage resulted to one of the lights which they offered to pay to repair.

I instead installed LED marker lights hooked up through an extension cord to the 12 volt outlet up front. Visibility of the vehicle tail lights is obstructed, particularly when throwing a bag over the bikes for long trips, partially at night which I thought would be safer with lights of some kind on the back of the bag.

As I understand it the Curt module that U-Haul installs is designed to avoid the canbus compatibility issue.

 

I installed the Curt part 56409 trailer wiring kit on my 2021 Kona EV using the following instructions:

It went well with the toughest part being to run the +12v wiring from the back to the front of the car. Works great.

Contrary to some installations, I left the connector for the trailer inside the trunk and only run it outside when I'm towing something. Avoids corrosion.