danderson

Hi All,

Been a lurker for a while, finally decided to post.

Just picked up my wife's new '02 A4 Avant 1.8T (Atlas Gray, Sport Package, Premium Package, Xenon, Bose) yesterday. I'd like to install a trailer hitch on it. I've searched the archives, and there are a few posts about hitches, but nothing definitive. DaLan now makes a hitch for the '02 A4, but I don't like the way it attaches. (I have a DrawTite hitch on my Jetta GLX, and I bought it instead of the DaLan because of the way they attach to the car.) However, it appears that DaLan might be my only choice. (Does anybody know if U-Haul makes a hitch for the A4?)

Secondly, following my wife home from the dealer yesterday, I was thinking to myself what an incredible looking automobile the Avant is -- it'd be ashame to mess up its lines with a hitch poking out of the rear! Does anybody have a picture of their Avant (or sedan) with a hitch? I'd like to see it.

Basically, I want a hitch for (1) my hitch-mounted bike rack, and (2) my small utility trailer (VERY useful!). I plan to install it myself, as I trust noone to service my cars.

Finally, if I decide to forego the trailer-hitch, I'd like to get a bike rack for the roof-rails instead. Has anybody used the cross-members from Audi, or is Thule/Yakima the best solution? Again, I'd love to see pictures!

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,
Dave
'02 A4 Avant 1.8T (for the wife)
'95 VW Jetta GLX (for everyday)
'89 Porsche 911 (for the track)

Oaktree

I have a Yakima and the problem I have is it howls when you go down the road. I have resorted to putting their fins on the round bars. Overall I think it has cost me $500. It helps but it is still noise and it hurts fuel economy big time. I do like the look of it over a hitch on the back of my car though. I assume U-haul doesn't make the hitch but someone like Draw-tite or Reese does. You might want to check with them.

boarderX

Thinking of installing one on my sedan, haven't done my homework yet.

danderson

Thanks for the info on the Yakima rack -- good to know.

As for DrawTite or Reese -- neither one makes a hitch for the A4. As I mentioned, DaLan is the only one I know of. (And, U-Haul I'm unsure of, but I doubt it.)

Thanks again!
Dave

Steve66

I don't know if this will help you or not, but here are some pics of the Da'Lan hitch on my '01 sedan. I use it with a hitch-mounted bike rack and it works very well. It is fairly visible but not what I would call ugly; I really didn't want the look and noise of a roof rack plus all the other problems (potential water leaks, etc) that can come with roof racks when you don't have factory rails.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/7764/rear_left.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/7764/hitch_low.jpg">

eh-4Q1.8

The hitch looks good. Was the install difficult (i.e

Wagoneer

I hate the noise of my Yakima Too! Where can you buy the DaLan? Is it bolted on??

danderson

Where can you buy the DaLan, you ask?

You can buy the DaLan trailer hitch at www.hitch-web.com. I bought the hitch for my Jetta there, as well as the trailer light wiring kit. Very helpful website.

There's also a PDF file showing how it attaches. Yes, it bolts on.

Dave

Steve66

You could probably do the install yourself if you wanted to. You'd have to remove the bumper, drill a few holes into the trunk for the bolts, and then attach it, making sure you torque the bolts correctly. I don't know how a self-install would affect the warrantee, but you could call Da'Lan Hitch in Shirley Massachusetts for more info (978-425-9585).