Trailer hitch for Niro EV?

[EVA 1]

I just installed the 36600 and I'm going to have to take it off and modify it. The receiver tube sits at a significant downward angle. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Draw-Tite/36600.html You can see on that page there's a review showing the installed hitch and you can see the angle. The rear mounting bolt holes on the hitch need to be slightly higher than they are in order for it to angle correctly. I'm going to try to correct mine this weekend, but might have to find a fabrication shop to fill and redrill the hole for me.

Yes. From what I have learned the Curt 13329 (class 3), the Curt 12171 (class 2), and the DrawTite 36600 (Class 2) all need some modification to have them sit a bit higher, sit up against the frame of the car, and sit level. I think I prefer to have the hitch, DrawTite, sitting higher into the fascia than risk having it scrap the asphalt over a speed bump or something.
Sorry to hear you have to modify. I looking at the DrawTite or the Curt 12171 but will go to a shop to have them mount it for me. Just trying to get educated so I know what to ask for when I finally get the job done.

 

[snowy2020]

Yes. From what I have learned the Curt 13329 (class 3), the Curt 12171 (class 2), and the DrawTite 36600 (Class 2) all need some modification to have them sit a bit higher, sit up against the frame of the car, and sit level. I think I prefer to have the hitch, DrawTite, sitting higher into the fascia than risk having it scrap the asphalt over a speed bump or something.
Sorry to hear you have to modify. I looking at the DrawTite or the Curt 12171 but will go to a shop to have them mount it for me. Just trying to get educated so I know what to ask for when I finally get the job done.

Even at the unmodified angle I’m not worried about it scraping. It’s pretty high up. It just needs to be level to the road surface.

 

[EVA 1]

Even at the unmodified angle I’m not worried about it scraping. It’s pretty high up. It just needs to be level to the road surface.

I appreciate the input. Thanks.

 

[BtNero]

Did anyone take a before / after photo for the modifications to the Drawtight class II hitch PN 36600? If you are using it for 2 electric bikes (~100lb total) would it work unmodified? How out of level is it? Does it looks like the bikes are falling off? Great thread - Thanks

 

[JesusLover]

I'm looking for a hitch for my Niro EV to support a Thule bike rack. I checked with Curt and Draw-Time, and both said they do not make a compatible hitch. Has anyone mounted a hitch to this car?

Updated walkaround of our full towing setup here

Torklift Central designed and built a couple hitches exclusively for the 2019-2022 Niro EV's; rated at 525 pounds tongue weight at the trailer ball and 3,500 pounds towing, and is a 100 percent bolt-on installation - no drilling required! Check them out: https://torkliftcentral.com/kia-niro-trailer-hitch-ev-model-by-ecohitchtm-stainless-steel

 

[ENirogus]

Ooh,and stainless steel, sexy!

 

[peter_in_cali]

Yes. From what I have learned the Curt 13329 (class 3), the Curt 12171 (class 2), and the DrawTite 36600 (Class 2) all need some modification to have them sit a bit higher, sit up against the frame of the car, and sit level. I think I prefer to have the hitch, DrawTite, sitting higher into the fascia than risk having it scrap the asphalt over a speed bump or something.
Sorry to hear you have to modify. I looking at the DrawTite or the Curt 12171 but will go to a shop to have them mount it for me. Just trying to get educated so I know what to ask for when I finally get the job done.

I just (mostly) installed a DrawTite 36600. Like yours, it angles down. More troubling to me is the fact that I've tightened things down enough that the bolts are squeezing the two plates on the rack, and there are gaps on both sides between the plates and the car's frame rails.

I can keep tightening, but it seems as if the best possible outcome is that the two plates will be angled inwards, pinching the frame rails. Has anyone else seen this problem? Should I put a spacer between the plates and the car frame? There's probably a total of 3/8" or so at this point.

By the way, I can imagine that DrawTite might be concerned with what the rack might do to the battery in an accident. Not that they necessarily know what it would do, just that it's a situation that they haven't thought about or tested. But I assume the spacing between the frame pieces is the same for the various models.

 

[JesusLover]

I'm looking for a hitch for my Niro EV to support a Thule bike rack. I checked with Curt and Draw-Time, and both said they do not make a compatible hitch. Has anyone mounted a hitch to this car?

Go to https://torkliftcentral.com/kia-niro-trailer-hitch-ev-model-by-ecohitchtm-stainless-steel the hitch bolts right up, no mods except trimming of dirt shield panel.
They use to have 3 variants selections: https://torkliftcentral.com/select-ecohitch-style?vid=6584 But now just the one. Probably because of inventory or time to mfg when order is placed.

 

[peter_in_cali]

View attachment 18401
Go to https://torkliftcentral.com/kia-niro-trailer-hitch-ev-model-by-ecohitchtm-stainless-steel the hitch bolts right up, no mods except trimming of dirt shield panel.
They use to have 3 variants selections: https://torkliftcentral.com/select-ecohitch-style?vid=6584 But now just the one. Probably because of inventory or time to mfg when order is placed.

I have to say that I'm quite confused by the picture in their ad. It doesn't look as if it would mate up to anything under my car (2019 Niro EV). In my particular case, I was also put off by the delivery time because of an upcoming trip, but it looks as if I won't have any way to put a rack on my car for that.

 

[peter_in_cali]

I just (mostly) installed a DrawTite 36600. Like yours, it angles down. More troubling to me is the fact that I've tightened things down enough that the bolts are squeezing the two plates on the rack, and there are gaps on both sides between the plates and the car's frame rails.

I can keep tightening, but it seems as if the best possible outcome is that the two plates will be angled inwards, pinching the frame rails. Has anyone else seen this problem? Should I put a spacer between the plates and the car frame? There's probably a total of 3/8" or so at this point.

By the way, I can imagine that DrawTite might be concerned with what the rack might do to the battery in an accident. Not that they necessarily know what it would do, just that it's a situation that they haven't thought about or tested. But I assume the spacing between the frame pieces is the same for the various models.

I took it to my mechanic for a look. He basically laughed at it. This hitch does not fit. Does it fit the hybrid model? I doubt it, but I don't know. The other options that people talked about look like they're also kludges, so I don't know what to do next, but I certainly won't order anything off the internet.

Peter

 

[peter_in_cali]

Upon more inspection, I realized that the two plates on the sides were not even close to parallel. The welds looked insubstantial. I believe that they sent me a hitch that had only been tack-welded.

I returned it and got another one. The welds look good. The plates are parallel and fit nicely around the frame members. It has the downward-sloping issue that I'm addressing partially by bumping out the holes with a round file and a dremel-with-a-little-carbide-drum.

 

[Texas Niro EV]

I have over 44k miles on my 2019 Niro EV and I’m only 16k miles from running out my powertrain warranty. As I mentioned in a previous post, when my powertrain warranty expires I want to start using the Niro EV to tow my 3,000 pound boat. Before I start towing the boat with the Niro EV I plan to install surge brakes with manual lock out on the boat so I will have brakes on the boat and I won't have to install a 7-pin trailer connector on the Niro EV.


I plan to buy the custom hitch from torkliftcentral.com. I am really glad I waited until the torkliftcentral.com hitch became available because I really didn’t like the idea of having to modify the hitch or the car to install the hitch. I still have reservations for a F150 Lightning and a Silverado EV but, if I can get the Niro EV to pull my boat without damaging the Niro EV, I can cancel my reservations and avoid spending $100k+ at least for a few years on something that is actually designed to tow.