[Bob118]

I've been seeing alot of comments on here as to people complaining about the price of the OEM hitch that
Chevy offers for the Trailblazer. I have to admit that $265.00 us is quite alot of cash for a hitch as well as another $135.00 for a bezel cover plate. Well we know that we will not be towing anything of great value with this SUV, but mine will be used only for a bike rack. As I did not install the wiring harness. But after talking to my salesman at my dealer I was getting a price of $400.00 to purchase and install the hitch as well as another $295.00 to purchase and install the bezel. $695.00 for a hitch just to cart bikes around is an expensive avenue to go down. So I did some looking around my local area. I live in New England so there's a few place around here to say the least. Well I looked on Amazon for a Curt hitch to do the old DYI but after looking at there great detailed instructions I though otherwise then to be taking off my back bumper. I'm sure if I had a couple of beers beforehand I'd have no problems LOL but anyways I found a local place that is a dealer for curt hitches. Well for the price he quoted me I couldn't have givien him my money any faster then I could take it out. I got the hitch purchased and installed for $248.00 Why the install price was only $60.00 bucks. I would have been a fool not to have taken him up on it. Well I have some pictures here posted and I inspected my body work 100% afterwards and could not even tell that the whole bumper was even taken off. Everything was put back into its place with no complaints. So don't hand all your money over to your dealer, do some shopping around it may just save you a ton of money. I'm glad that I did and I hope that this topic will help a few people out there contemplating on installing a hitch. Personally as well I like it that my bumper in the center there did not need to be cut or trimmed. Plenty of ground clearance but if I'm short on my bike rack for inserting it into the hitch I can always purchase a 7" extension from Curt. I do believe that I had it all thought out or at least I think I did?

 

[TrashPandaPerformance]

Not bad the oem one is quite a bit higher off the road. And you live in Bakerchusetts where the roads are horrid at best. Guy did a clean install though and prolly be fine for a bike rack but you'd need some kind of setup for safe towing in Bakerchusetts with the road conditions.

 

[Milk Man2828]

We did something similar with my wife's Renegade with the aftermarket Curt hitch because Jeep wants you to buy an entire bumper for the OEM hitch 🙄

It works fine, and is great when there's no bike rack attached, but when the rack is on it sticks aft about another 2 feet, so you're left with a departure angle of like a half degree... We scrape EVERYTHING with that bike rack attached.

Pulling into a business on a slight incline, scrape. Coming out the driveway, scrape. Speed bump... Scrape.

Hope yours isn't as bad as ours, it gets old lol

 

[Bob118]

Well got the bike rack on and I see no problems with it being to short in length or to close to the car. Ground clearance looks to be ok as well so just hope that it works out as good as it looks. Well hoping for an early spring arrival can’t wait to hit up the trails

 

[kjg48359]

As an FYI, I did a write up so you can see what's involved with the OEM hitch: OEM Trailer Hitch

 

[DJB]

I am looking into a non-OEM solution as well for the trailer hitch receiver in order to use it for a couple of bikes. Could you snap a pic or two of the actual mount points you used on the frame of the vehicle?

 

[Bob118]

I am looking into a non-OEM solution as well for the trailer hitch receiver in order to use it for a couple of bikes. Could you snap a pic or two of the actual mount points you used on the frame of the vehicle?

Here is the installation instructions that were with the hitch I choose . It mounts to the frame of the car by taking off the rear end bumper and the steel bumper frame. I had a local hitch company install it for me. Hope this helps
Click on the link below
Installation Instructions

 

[DJB]

Here is the installation instructions that were with the hitch I choose . It mounts to the frame of the car by taking off the rear end bumper and the steel bumper frame. I had a local hitch company install it for me. Hope this helps
Click on the link below
Installation Instructions

Thanks for the link. Pretty good instructions. I think I will go this route.

 

[Bob118]

If you do, you sure will save yourself a boatload of $$$

 

[TrashPandaPerformance]

Generally I'd jump on the aftermarket hitch but I hate how low the ground clearance is off these under diffuser hitches. I went with the overpriced GM hitch but atleast it's under warranty.