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My hitch and bike carrier setup


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I wanted to go with the EcoHitch as it's a straight bolt in design but couldn't justify spending triple the amount the Curt hitch would cost to get it to my door. I'm really pleased with the quality of the hitch itself, and the install itself is either EXTREMELY DIFFICULT or pretty easy depending on one thing, drill bits.  Regular drill bits will have you sweating and swearing and accomplishing nothing.  I switched to a titanium nitrate coated step bit, and it cut through like butter.  

 

The bike rack I have is a SportRack 2 bike platform hitch rack I've had for over a year now.  It can be converted for use with either a 1.25" or a 2" receiver. Anyhow, here are a couple of pics of the result all loaded up:

 

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I went with the EcoHitch. No drilling, just bolt on with existing holes using longer bolts supplied with the hitch.

 

I went with the Advantage glide away bike rack. It can carry up to 4 bikes. The glide away design makes it easy to access the back hatch without having to lay the bikes down. I have had it since I purchased my C Max in 2013. Still do not have any complaints about the rack I chose.

 

 

 

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Bugbindr can you tell me where you got your drill bit? Home Depot didn't have any 15/32 bits.

 

I just had my brand new 1.25" Curt hitch modified by a welder to 2" and hope to repaint and install this weekend. I need the 2" plus the extra capacity of the Curt to carry a very heavy electric wheelchair.

 

Thanks,

 

jim

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I originally tried a regular 15/32 bit and was getting nowhere fast.  Then I brought out my step bits I had from Canadian Tire http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-step-drill-set-3-pc-0540698p.html That won't help you out too much though.

 

Searching Home Depot shows the following which look similar:  http://www.homedepot.com/s/step%2520bit%2520titanium?NCNI-5

Amazon also has a bunch of them:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=titanium+step+drill+bit&sprefix=titanium+step+drill+bit%2Caps%2C155

 

They seemed to cut through like butter.  You do need to be sure you don't go too big though.

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Yeah, it's pretty obvious and is really not that difficult, as long as you widen the holes enough to get both through.   Somehow I made an idiotic move on the one side and pushed the bolt back into the frame rail.  I panicked for a minute but it was actually really easy to get it back out and start over.  The other side I wasn't worried about and things went flawlessly.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

hey, in anyone out there? Im looking for a trailer hitch for my bike, probably an eco hitch i cant find it easily online do you have a specific website?  I might get the swivel from thule but its $400, plus im not sure what to do because i do not have the trailer hitch...

Edited by KashmirSwimsuit
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the one hitch i put one my other vehicle, pretty much the same.  you tie a piece of string on the threads of the bolt and put it thru the hole in the plate push all up thru the frame and slowly pull the string down thru the plate and the hole and it lines up perfectly, no loosing the bolt in the frame rail. :)

Edited by WNY
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I put in one of these.

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/1422-installing-the-torklift-central-hitch/?hl=hitch

 

It costs more, but there's no drilling, and I like the idea of the third mounting location at the hitch. Never know what might get installed. This was for a cargo platform. It does desensitize with the kick tailgate, but that's not a bad thing.

 

Frank

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