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Discussion starter · #1 ·
For those of you that are like me and are not afraid to go under your car and save some money installing your own trailer hitch "THINK TWICE"...Not as easy as the video I saw for the Honda Pilot,The Honda Pilot has a lower bumper and you can reach all the screws and bolts from under the car to remove the little panel that needs to be changed.The passports bumper is higher and you cannot reach the two top 10mm bolts on top of the panel unless you remove the complete bumper off the car.The trailer hitch itself is very easy to put on but I couldn't get my self to start pulling the bumper off and take a chance of scratching or breaking some plastic tabs because I pulled it the wrong way.I did save over a 150.00 ordering the parts from Bernardi Honda and I took the car to my local body shop this morning and getting the whole job done for 100.00.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
That was very easy and the first thing I did when I ordered the parts,I cut the new bracket in half and attached it to the new panel.It doesn't get moved you have to buy the new shorter sensor to replace the long one that's behind the old panel.If you have a hands free tailgate and are planning on doing this job and are not afraid to pull off the rear wheel trims,tail lights and rear bumper you have to order the shorter hands free sensor with the hitch,it will not work with the original one its to long.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Turtle71,I don't know ….I wouldn't try putting a after market hitch on a touring for three reasons #1 is it might throw your hands free sensor out of whack since its always going to be right in front of the sensor,(unless they found a way around that to make it work or disabled it) #2 your going to lose ground clearance ,and #3 is they look so ugly!!!!!!!! for me nothing looks better than a oem set up...
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
I agree,,he must have loosened the side clips and have done some pulling on the panel to fit his small hands in there to get to the bolts ,,or the sport model may not have the same metal structure in the way as the touring or elite because it doesn't have hands free tailgate???
 
#14 ·
izzym said:
I agree,,he must have loosened the side clips and have done some pulling on the panel to fit his small hands in there to get to the bolts ,,or the sport model may not have the same metal structure in the way as the touring or elite because it doesn't have hands free tailgate???
Click to expand...
The large metal structure is also on the right side of the Sport model. It is visible in the early part of the video. Without the hands-free tailgate sensor and electronics, it provides additional space but not nearly enough.
 
#16 ·
Hey. Any updates on the trailer hitch sitch? Honda seems to want an obscene amount for a hitch installation. Like the person above, I only need it for a bike rack. Is this something any local repair shop can do? I am thinking about buying online and having someone install it. My only hang up is that I want it done right. My bike is not cheap and I would die if something happened. I would also be pissed if the installation was shoddy or jerry rigged. Installing a Thule T2xt if that makes a difference.
 
#17 ·
Hey. Any updates on the trailer hitch sitch? Honda seems to want an obscene amount for a hitch installation. Like the person above, I only need it for a bike rack. Is this something any local repair shop can do? I am thinking about buying online and having someone install it. My only hang up is that I want it done right. My bike is not cheap and I would die if something happened. I would also be pissed if the installation was shoddy or jerry rigged. Installing a Thule T2xt if that makes a difference.
 
#18 ·
@Igotsoul4u ... Like @izzym, you may want to try a good auto body shop for a quote? The tricky part is releasing the clips in the body panel between the rear quarter panels and the bumper. Print off the install instructions from one of the online sellers for the hitch and the tailgate sensor (if applicable) and bring it along.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Igotsoul4u..all is good with my trailer hitch and I know what you mean about bikes not being cheap.I went the cheap way with the trailer hitch install but it didn't make it any less safer than doing the work thru the dealer, Ive been hauling my bikes with out any issues for the last 3 months..I bought all the parts for my Touring edition thru Bernardi honda(I would call to get all the parts you need for your model ,Touring and elite cost more)and I took all the parts to my local body shop and they called me back in about a hour and a half and did it for a hundred bucks.This topic was started in another thread with a little more info and pics of my bikes and hitch and might help you decide on what to do..Its in the same category as this tread but on page 2 under HITCH BIKE RACK by DavidcsmithDp
 
#20 ·
Put on my trailer hitch. I’m not pulling a boat so I didn’t get the engine cooler or wiring done. I ended up going through the dealer and paid for it. $775 out the door with the kick sensor adapter. I decided I wanted it to be done 100% by the manufacturer so everything is done correctly. The OEM hitch fits very flush and neat. Didn’t want anything extra sticking out.
3297
3298
Thule T2 xt pro. Seems like good quality. There are some plastic pieces that I guess I wish were aluminum. It tilts back enough for the gate to open.
 
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