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Who wants a trailer hitch? There is now another option available.
As some of you know, I designed and built my own trailer hitch last year (this thread). I wasn't totally happy with the first version from a manufacturability standpoint, so I made a few changes and built another one, which is currently on my car. I tweaked the design many more times to increase strength, decrease weight, and make manufacturing it simpler by reducing the number of parts and materials needed, with the overall goal of lowering the cost to produce.
Here are the hitch specs:
Similar in design to the NA OEM hitch, mounts in the same locations
Uses a 2" vertical hidden receiver
Rated at 3300 lbs towing weight, 330 lbs tongue weight as I can't recommend towing more than the 3300 lbs Audi states in the owners manual
Hidden, swing down electrical connector bracket
Loops for safety chains
Mounts for bumper crossmember
Powdercoated finish
I would like to get a list going of who is interested in a hitch, so we can come up with a number for an initial production run. Please reply to this thread if you are interested. Also if you have any questions, comments, or feedback please let me know that as well.
Ball mount
<img src="https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/200266_876905367608_8191583_n.jpg?oh=3aca508b1465f 93a9374a5c464a309a1&oe=58197FD6">
The discontinued North American OEM hitch was 3300 lbs towing and 330 lbs tongue weight. The European (Bosal, Westfalia) OEM style hitches are 5000 lbs towing and 200 lbs tongue weight.
My hitch is rated at max 3300 lbs towing and 330 lbs tongue weight, as I can't recommend towing more than 3300 lbs as Audi states in the owner's manual.
My hitch can also accept bike racks, where the Euro hitches do not.
Last edited by JustMtnB44; 10-13-2011 at 02:20 PM.
How does your hitch get a towing/tongue weight rating? (I presume it's some method other than testing it until it fails?) To be fair, I don't know how commercial/OEM hitches get their ratings either.
Is the install identical to the OEM? will it come with necessary hardware?
What time frame are you thinking of?
What does it weigh and where will it ship from? Or better yet - how do I get one in Colorado?
My vote would be for the full package, but I'll have to get over my reservations about homemade pieces being responsible for 5000 pounds of moving trailer before jumping in.
I think he is an engineer and it was designed on CAD with some weight anlysis first. I would trust him.
I'm inclined to. I know that I couldn't even accurately trace the drawing up above, much less come up with it, build one, discard it for it's inadequacies, and build a second one better. so it's probably just me. I am curious how these things get an official rating though.
I'm certainly interested in a hitch that will do better than the aftermarket ones easily available, and find this an intriguing option.
And in review, my "homemade pieces" phrase probably sounds derogatory, which was in no way the intent. My apologies to Justin and Mark.
Great, sorry it has taken so long. Yes the electrical plug swings up under the bumper when not in use so it stays hidden.
Originally Posted by Stealth Beige
How does your hitch get a towing/tongue weight rating? (I presume it's some method other than testing it until it fails?) To be fair, I don't know how commercial/OEM hitches get their ratings either.
I wanted it to be comparable to the Euro hitches. I used their weight ratings as my goal and then did FEA (finite element analysis - computer simulation) to test the strength of the part. I'm still not entirely sure if commercial hitches do anything other than FEA on their designs either as it would be impractical to physically test the hitches for every car. The tricky part is that when towing, only a small part of the full weight of the trailer is carried by the hitch, but I used what I figure to be the worst case scenario for loading. Also I know the weight of my hitch is on par with the OEM/Westfalia hitch, and the geometry is very similar, so I can't imagine there being a large difference in strength.
Originally Posted by Stealth Beige
Is the install identical to the OEM? will it come with necessary hardware?
Yes and yes. The only other thing is on my car I had to cut a small notch in the plastic on the removable rear "skid plate" part, but it is on the bottom and not visible.
Originally Posted by Stealth Beige
What time frame are you thinking of?
What does it weigh and where will it ship from? Or better yet - how do I get one in Colorado?
Hopefully the first batch will be available in the next month or two at the latest. The total package will probably weigh about 75 lbs boxed up. They will ship from Pittsburgh, PA.
Originally Posted by Stealth Beige
My vote would be for the full package, but I'll have to get over my reservations about homemade pieces being responsible for 5000 pounds of moving trailer before jumping in.
I understand. To clarify I am a mechanical engineer with a Master's Degree. I have thought about this design a lot, and probably have 100 hours of time into it. I have consulted with some of my co-workers and other forum members as well to get second opinions on things. I have more confidence in this design then I would in a local hitch shop building one.
Last edited by JustMtnB44; 10-25-2011 at 04:31 AM.
I'm on the fence. I can get a European one for about $800. Yours looks great, but I know shipping up to Canada would kill any cost savings (and possibly then some). I don't mind spending the money but I've to actually buy something I need to tow. lol. That'll hopefully change soon though as i'm considering a seadoo or a couple sleds.
05-18-2011, 03:30 PM
Who wants a trailer hitch? There is now another option available.
