SkiingInABlueDream

I'm hoping to get a hitch for a bike rack if I eventually get an A4. I don't ever intend to tow anything, I just want a single-bike bike rack and don't want to do a roof rack (ruins the sunroof experience, and too easy to drive into the garage with the bike on the roof) and a trunk rack is a complete non-starter (boogers the paint).
Does anyone have experience using a hitch and bike rack with the A4? Any specific complications I should be aware? Thanks!

mplsbrian

Trunk hitch mounts exist. Here is one: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...leid=201746147

The specific complications to be aware of are:
1) Most importantly, all of them require cutting the bumper which is a showstopping no-no for me on a car like this.
2) They leverage factory frame holes so no drilling, but you do have to cut out some factory-installed frame seals which are there to fill those holes and seal off the frame to the environment.
3) you will block your backup camera
4) your rear pre-sense and parking sensors will freak out, you'll need to disable in MMI too.

You can read the instruction manual at the above link for more details. If you can stomach the above, a class 1 hitch is a good option and the A4 is a capable vehicle that can tow with very little drama if needed.

I would strongly recommend you go roof rack. By far the cleanest solution, and if needed you can fashion a lanyard to hang on the mirror to remind yourself that something is on the roof. (Also IMHO if you can't remember that you're hauling a bike on your roof, you have no business hauling a bike on your trunk/hitch/etc either: it is my informed assumption that the same people who are at risk for forgetting about overhead clearance limitations to be aware of, are also at risk of forgetting to properly lash their bikes to their trunk, or properly set a cotter pin in their hitch rack, or any other potentially catastrophic-for-others mistake. I understand accidents happen but there is zero room to F around when hauling objects on the road, regardless of your chosen method of doing so. A bike flying away can kill someone and you need to remain aware of your load at all times.)

Roof mount.... btw the sunroof works 100% with this setup, but you are correct that the experience is hampered by whistling/wind noise from the bars/bike.

SDakota

busydiver

I placed a call into Stealth to inquire about a hitch for a 2018 A4 Quattro (non Allroad) and the lady I spoke with said "we are getting a lot of calls for that car" but at this time they don't have a released version. I am hoping it will be coming soon as I prefer not to put a roof rack for both the ease of loading and unloading the bikes and the noise etc. Everything I have seen on the Stealth for the Allroad looks really clean and uses the bumper reinforcement bolts to connect to the vehicle. It does appear the fascia (underneath) needs to be trimmed.

SkiingInABlueDream

Did they offer an estimate of how soon they expect to have one available? Or at least indicate that they're working on one?

I'd rather not have to trim the bumper but I'm not sure it's a deal breaker for me. It looks like the trimmed section is not visible unless you specifically look under the car, no? Are there any other downsides I'm missing?
I definitely want to go with a hitch rack. My current car is an Impreza wagon which can swallow my mtn bike with the front wheel off. After the first couple months of traveling that way this season I got tired of loading the bike into the car and mounted the trunk rack I used with my previous car (a WRX sedan).

mplsbrian

I researched this topic heavily and yes, the cut section will be visible from the typical vantage point of the driver's seat of another car following behind you on the highway. You would not, however, notice it from the higher-up vantage point of walking past it in a parking lot. There was, at least at one point, a thread on this forum with pictures.

I am not aware of a hitch mount solution currently available for this car that doesn't require trimming, but if anyone finds one be sure to report back and post about it! Future reference and all as maybe one day I'll need to tow a light trailer with my S4.

SkiingInABlueDream

I appreciate the information in your post, thank you.
But I absolutely disagree with your statement of: "if you can't remember that you're hauling a bike on your roof, you have no business hauling a bike on your trunk/hitch/etc either:"
Forgetting about the bike that you put on your roof, let's say an hour prior to driving home and pulling into your driveway and garage probably on autopilot, is very different from forgetting to perform a specific set of steps in the moment (ie securing the bike to the rack.) Those are very different failure modes. I'm personally worried I might forget about a bike on my roof, sooner or later. (Maybe I'd successfully employ reminder tricks, IDK.) But I am not worried about losing a bike on my trunk or hitch. I've been using a trunk rack for years. I have never once forgotten to ensure my bike is correctly strapped to the rack. I have never had an "oh s--t good thing I didnt lose the bike" moment.
But if I still make you nervous then don't follow me. <wink>

SkiingInABlueDream

Thanks for the info. But crap! ...disappointed to read that.

Followup question then. Does trimming the bumper cause significant new exposure of the car's frame to road salt?

mplsbrian

I doubt it. Go read the instructions at the etrailer link I posted, there are pictures. It's a 5.5" x 2" cut.

SkiingInABlueDream

I did, and that's why I was surprised that it's visible from directly behind (seating position in a following car, as you described). I guess the trimmed portion must be more back-facing than down-facing than I thought. Hmmm, that makes me less excited about the prospect.
Alright, thanks again.