Built B16A

before this 06.. i had a 97 GSR.. and it pulled my single jet skii WITHOUT A PROBLEM.



HIDDEN HITCH

my question.. has anyone ever seen a hitch kit out for our cars?

Built B16A

oooooooh!

i just ordered my hidden hitch online.. i'll have pics in 2 weeks!

Alin10123

Dont think our TSX shouhld have any problems. The jet skis arent' that heavy.

Built B16A

i did it. the bolts that mount are meaty! im impressed.

Monk302

How much did the setup run you?

Xtremespeed2102

oh wow its a bolt on setup? i was thinking about getting one to haul my bike (mtn bike). it keeps scratching the hell outa my trunk and bumper, and the trunk mounted rack sucks.

what size did u get put on?

man i was thinking i would have to weld it up there

Built B16A

WELD..... no no no.. even the one of my old integra was bolt on.

the bolt ons are stout.. the towing capacity is 2K lbs.. with a 200 LB tounge gross. so you should be good with a little cargo rack, for your bike man.

and i shopped around.. the best deal i found was etrailer.com, anything over $150, they give you .99 shipping. so my bill was like 152.. hehe..

other places, i found the hitch and wirring harness for like 130.. but then shipping killed the deal.. so etrailer got my business.

Xtremespeed2102

hmph well that sounds a bit more reassureing. my other concern would be driving. when im going with my bike its ususaly further than usual and mainly highway. this wont have too much adverse effects to gas milege and stability and what not.... will it?

jihan3

I drove from Illinois to Texas and back last summer with 3 bikes on a hitch mounted bike rack in an RSX.

The RSX usually gets about 33mpg highway. On that trip with the bikes, we averaged 18. The bikes would catch crosswinds and move the car a bit side-to-side, but it wasn't a big deal.

After that, I got a Yakima roof rack for my TSX. My mpg went from about 27 to 25 with just the rack on top (too lazy to remove it when not using it). No fairing. With bikes on top, I got around 20 with a mountain bike on top and a little higher with a road bike (these figures are estimated because I never drove a full tank). As for stability, with bikes on top, when passing semi's, you can feel the car shake a bit. More stable than the RSX with hitch mounted bikes though.

After just finding out that the 06 Hidden-Hitch/Draw-Tite hitch fits the 04 (https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28296), I ordered one ($100 shipped for the Draw-Tite hitch) and installed it on Wednesday. I'm driving 150 miles next weekend with a bike in back (assuming the bike rack I ordered comes in soon), so I'll report back with mpg and stability observations afterwards.

Xtremespeed2102

hmmm see thats what im afraid of. tho i would have it mounted lower becuase id get the yak rack that fits two bikes that latch down and not hang them.

33 to 18 is a HUGE jump. if i was going to get 18 i would borrow my mothers SUV. Again with that i was swaying all over the highway fully loaded. granted i had that truck loaded to the roof (and a rack on the roof aswell).

But my concern was loosing large MPG numbers on the highway averaging 70 to 80.
my other option would be to throw the bike in the trunk, which isnt always fun and limits hauling capacity.

Built B16A

thats a big loss in MPG.. but look at what your doing.. car manufactures wind test vehicals, and improve for arodynamics.. and im sure to a degree.. would limit some for taste of style..

but a bike rack with a bunch of bikes, cutting down your MPG is GOING to happen.. its like pulling a kite, and wondering what happen.

lol.. anyways.. i get 27 ave.. town and highway.. and next weekend, i'll be making a 3 hour 1 way trip to the river.. so i'll post my readings, and a pic of my loaded setup.

i have a 1 ski trailer.. pushed back on the frame and a modidfied rack for a couple of huge ice chests.. lol

i wonder what my pulling capacity weight of the actual trailer is.. lol it can't be good.

Xtremespeed2102

hmph idk, the bike isnt heavy, acutally the rack should be about twice the weight of the bike... say about 40 pounds? hopefulyl less.
im looking at the yak hook up but im sorta leary about gettining the 1 and 1/4 inch hitch. is it possible to put the 2 inch on the car?

Built B16A

the only hitch hidden hitch lists is the one i bought.. which is a 1 1/4" reciver.. thats the size of the square block for the ball. the actual size of the ball doen'st matter.. its for the connection at the trailer. totally different.

so.. i doubt anyone but hidden hitch, and drawtite even make a hitch for a TSX.. and on top of that.. im 90% sure the only one avail is the one i have.. a 1 1/4" reciver.

which is plenty strong from what i hear you want to use it for.

just wait 1 week. i'll have pics of my setup.. a loaded tool box with crap. 2 loaded and iced up ice chest's.. a tank of gas in the ski.. and 20 gallons of petro in jugs.. ide be currious to see what that weighs..

well, maybe i dont' want to know.. lol

Xtremespeed2102

well no the reason why i wanted the 2 inch was incase i wanted to sell the bike rack.

i sell the racks at my shop so it really doesnt matter, but if i got a two inch i could sell it to someone with a truck, so its a bonus i guess, also not really a REAL reason to not get it which it by far wouldnt be.

i guess its just the want to be able to carry a wider variety of stuff, while now i dont carry anything... oh well

definately take pics and where it attaches and whatnot.

im assuming the 06 is the same as the 04?

Built B16A

yeah.. all year TSX's are the same.. but i don't think you'll ever see a 2" reciver on a TSX.. i think thats a CLASS II hitch.. and our car's arn't rated for them.

now.. if you wanted.. im sure you could have someone weld an adapter.. that wouldn't be hard at all.. i could even do it for you, for a small, small fee. 10-15 bucks at most.

Xtremespeed2102

well thats not really the problem, i work at a robotics lab with mig and tig welders on hand. i kinda wanted to avoid adapters. thanks for the offer tho.
hmph i would be curious to see where i would be able to get raw material for it tho...
tho again fabrication isnt something i wanna start doing just yet... im still getting over the fact of considering a hitch for my car!
lol

Built B16A

i work for a utlitliy here in socal that has a decent welding shop, and i have alot of material redily avail. im sure i have that square tubing laying around.. so let me know if you need some help.

Xtremespeed2102

oh sweet. ill keep that in mind!

Built B16A

im back..

QUITE impressed! even better than my Integra GSR from last year.

i'll have pics of my setup tomorrow since im dead beat, and tired... about it to hit the sack. but before.. i had to check my 36 emails.. lol, at report my progress to AZ.

ok.. so from the info on the HID.. i got an elapsed time of 4 1/2 hours.. i drove behind my parents, and they lag. can't remember actuall milage off the top of my head, but i do remember my average speed was 60.. and i had a 27.2 ave MPG! thats amazing!

it felt great! other than alittle expected bouncing when i hit a dip.. the car and trailer felt awsome! 5th gear felt alittle doggy.. but in 4th.. the tourqe kicked it in the ass..

i'll have pics of the HID, and setup tomorrow.. i can't wait to hear what you guys think.. haha

97AcuraCL

pics of it with the ski on it? :x:

Built B16A

as promiced...

ave. MPG and trip meter.. 111 degrees!!!!!




i have a full trunk, with a tent.. another loaded ice chest and some other crap. the tool box on the trailer is moderatly loaded, and the blue ice chest in front of the ski was PACKED! however, AZ gas prices are cheaper than CA's taxes, so i drove out with all 4 gas cans empty. i had 4 folding chairs bungied down to the rear fenders, i managed to strap on 2 rakes.. and 2 tiki tourches! my 2 dogs relaxed in comfort in the back seat.. they loved it. (i of course put down a blanket )





and some pics of happy campers!





my doggies..


and a quick one of the storm that totally fucked up the beach, 60 MPH winds, blew sand from across the river into your face.. it was horrible... i don't even want to show pics of the TSX.