Any interest in hidden bike hitch/carrier??
 

Would anyone be interested in a hidden bike hitch/carrier? The shop that built my hitch wants to know if there is a market for sales opportunity. I know I didn't get many responses the last time I checked, but he had packaged it as a towing kit. If he builds it as a bike hitch, he can keep the price lower as there are less parts and labor involved.

If there is enough interest, he can do the hitch for $260 + shipping. The $260 price includes the hitch, instructions, 4 SS bolts, 8 SS spacers and 4 SS nuts only. The hitch DOES NOT REQUIRE any cutting of the bumper skin and the only part that you will lose is the rear fog light (see more below) and a small cut to the foam behind the bumper skin.

Total weight is <13lbs and you will have to shave the very end of your bike carrier as there is no clearance at the exit of the hitch. This won't work for Nismo cars and it won't fit cars with a muffler that is bigger than stock due to the extreme tight clearance. That was the price we had to pay to keep the hitch hidden.

Here are the items that are not included, but can be added for additional price.

#1 Hooks for chains on the hitch
#2 Bumper bracket reinforcement + longer bolts
#3 Wiring harness adapter
#4 Rear fog light hitch cover (Basically he takes your fog light, disassemble it and turn it into a hitch cover. Once he is done, you can slide it back into the hole and lock it with the pin)


Here are some pictures

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6380/dscf2374w.jpg
Shot at 2011-08-09

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5463/dsc00459yf.jpg
Shot at 2011-08-21

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3083/dscf2338g.jpg
Shot at 2011-08-09

How much does the hitch stick out? Can't stick on the evo-r fog light either?

wow!! nice!!!

cossie- wat are you doing?!!!

Hitch is completely hidden, but the rear fog light no longer fits.

My friends shop is looking to do a few projects, he just wants to expand his revenue source to minimize his expense. One of them is elinimate fuel starve

Still interested in Nismo solution, could pay custom pricing.

Does the nismo have a rear dampener? If not, you have two options.

A: cut the bottom of the bumper like the g37 guys

b: extend the hitch down about 2 inch so it can clear the bumper. He can do it if he has a nismo here to test fit.

Also how much more does the nismo bumper flare out vs. the regular?

That is nice. Thanks for sharing. I would consider this after a couple of other mods I am planning on.

Thanks. Unfortunately there is not enough interest, so this project is dead.

How much weight or towing capacity?

Unit weights 10-15lbs, with the accessories 20lbs at the tops. I tow up to 750lbs, it seems fine. For liability reason, he would sell it as a bike hitch, probably rate it somewhere between 50-100lbs. You should upgrade your hardware on your bumper for towing. Curt sells theirs in pretty much the same setup with a rating of 100 tongue and 2000 towing.

So this is dead correct? I'm getting ready to purchase a SeaSucker.

:( bummer

Yeah, not enough buyers. The shop isn't going to do it for two hitches, he needs a minimum of 10 to be able to sell at that price.

If you guys can get 10 together, let me know and I will work with him to make a batch. I use mine a lot and it is great. I am mad that someone stole my rear fog light, now I have to leave the ball hitch on all the time arggg..

http://www.the370z.com/members/fuct-...ure32153-a.jpg

yea i did this maybe 4 times........... too much trouble.

Sorry, No, and here's why:
 

I just finished installing an EVO-R fog light. I also have the Stillen cat-back exhaust, which is way bigger than the OEM muffler.

Since either one of those items will not work with the hitch, I can't be a customer. If you designed a hitch that would work with both those items, that would be a different story. And here's the critical part: I don't care if the hitch is hidden or not. Sure, hiding the hitch is a more elegant solution...except you lose customers because of the restrictions (assuming I'm not the only one that feels this way :) ). Just my $0.02. Good luck.

I would be interested if it weren't for my Stillen CBE. Too bad I need a way to get an extra set of wheels with race tires to and from an event.

Very cool. Will he do one offs? What would be the price?

I have spent the last two weeks studying the design of our rear bumper cover, bumper beam, and existing trailer hitches for other vehicles. I think that I have found a solution that will fit for around $60.

The hitch will be completely hidden and the receiver extension tube will exit through the hole where the fog light was. Although, I believe that it will extend out farther than Cossie’s. This design will easily clear the stock exhaust and leave plenty of room for aftermarket models.

One caveat, my design attaches with only two bolts (but theoretically you could add additional bolts if you have a drill that can cut hardened steel) and I don’t plan on adding any additional bracing at this time.

The hitch arrives on the 15th. If it fits, I will create a DIY.

He would only do it if the price is right. I can ask him, but it will probably be higher than what people are willing to pay. I am guessing about 500 each. I paid around that myself.

There are definitely existing hitches you can use, but you will have to cut your bumper or at least the bottom of the fog light frame. Remember you have to also leave enough room fpr the hitch pin. Lastly, dont just use two bolts if you plan to mount it to the bumper, use 4

Actually, I think I found one that will require no cutting of the hitch, bumper, or bumper cover. I will not know for sure until it arrives.

And it is not a G35/G37/350Z hitch. Hint. It is not even a hitch designed for a car.

Wow this is great news! I was just about to clunck down the $$$ for the SeaSucker mount. I'll be watching.:cool:

All my preliminary measurements show that the hitch will fit. I have even fabricated the hitch out of card board and it fits. The only potential issue is the width of the rear bumper beam. I have measured it at exactly 2 inches which would make this hitch a perfect fit.

However, if the bumper beam is actually wider than 2 inches I may have a problem. Remember: no obstacles…only challenges

Nice, good luck

Worth the $ if no cutting involved. I will follow this. Would like to do something at by the end of the month. Thanks, d.

I should have the hitch on the 15th of this month ($56 w/ free shipping!). I will let you know if it fits or not.

Well the hitch receiver arrived and it did not fit as I hoped. It turns out that the bumper bar is a little over 2 inches.:mad:

With that said, I am going to make it fit. However, it is going to require some considerable work.

Thank you for pursuing this and going the extra mile. I'm sure you'll get it right and the rest of us will be in debt to you, I know I will be. :tiphat: Staying tuned.

Don't go too crazy modifying an existing one. You can do a new one with about $75 of material and a few hours of work. We were going to modify a 350z hitch, it ended up being more expensive than building one from scratch.

btw, the g37 or even the 350 hitch should fit if you are willing to cut your rear bumper. You have to cut the bottom portion of the fog light off in order for the hitch to come out properly

I would be very interested in a hitch.

370 t/s with invidia gemini

I have done one better… Or so I hope…

I am in the process of modifying the bumper bar to make my receiver hitch fit. At this point I am past the point of no return…

I will post a DDIY (don’t do this yourself) if it works. Pray for me…

Good luck. Cheap alternate is always good. Now we need one foe fuel starve and brake ducts

Success! It was a hell of a lot of work. But I did it.

http://www.the370z.com/members/resip...76-t-hitch.jpg

My solution involves some major cutting of the rear bumper bar. If you only have a Dremel tool or a cutting wheel on a drill it will take serious time and commitment. Also, don’t let your wife see you hacking up your rear bumper…


http://www.the370z.com/members/resip...bumper-cut.jpg

I will post a DIY with complete details later this week.

About the Brake ducts. I posted a DIY on brake ducts almost a year ago. Just as good as the Stillen ones IMO. I just don’t know what it takes to get Sticky around this place.