juice13

Would love to hear if anyone had the OE hitch installed or know of a third party hitch company that makes a direct bolt on.

This would be used for very light utility trailers, bike racks or hitch-hauls.

hawkeye62

You probably already know this, but the dealer installs all or most all accessories including the OE hitch. My dealer said I could have any accessories I wanted installed weeks or months after delivery.

Regards, Jim

wrestrepo

Have you tried etrailer.com?

weather

....and the cost of any "accessories" also includes the cost of installation. At least in Canada anyway. I would highly recommend to any prospect buyers to have all factory accessories installed on the day you buy your RDX (or any Acura model) because the accessories are then covered under the original warranty....4 year/80 000 km in Canada for example.

Obviously, things like cargo tray don't really matter but anything like "block heaters (for Canadian climate), TPMS for steel rims etc would be agreat idea to have included on the sales contract to make sure you get the best warranty on the items. I always try and anticipate what I will need prior to buying my Acura's for this purpose.

Just my 2 cents.... (which in the US would be worth one and a half cent)

gbrucken

I had the OEM hitch installed about 3 weeks ago when I bought my RDX for the same reasons you mention in your post. It looks good. Cost quoted was $687 installed, but I bundled it in with several other things (splash guards, mats and cargo cover) for $850. Not sure how they broke that all out as to what the hitch cost by itself.

juice13

I'm really hoping to save a few bucks and install it myself. I guess I'll wait a bit for a real hidden style hitch or just buy one from the dealer.

Good point about the warranty though.

Pics?

Thanks

juice13

Email from Hidden Hitch made it sound like it will be a while before they offer one.

Rocketsfan

Can anybody take a pic of the OEM hitch if they've had it installed?

espo711

I just completed the installation of the OEM Hitch on my 2013 RDX. $278 + shipping from Bernardi Acura parts. The install is relatively simple as long as you are comfortable with removing the rear bumper cover. No drilling is required - the hitch bolts in to two threaded holes in the frame and four bolts which are inserted from within the spare tire compartment. A small cutout on the underside of the bumper cover is required and nicely done with a lubricated hacksaw blade.

espo711

Sorry about the picture quality. It was late and getting dark
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31518039@N05/7255516326/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31518039@N05/7255516874/

juice13

Thanks for the information.

Did you install the hitch wiring harness? I'm not sure I would need this for the very limited towing I would do. More precisely, the very limited towing the RDX can do.

http://acura.bernardiparts.com/Image...s_BII13528.pdf

espo711

No, I didn't purchase or install the wiring harness since I only intend to mount a bike rack.

eekflyer

CURT doesn't yet carry one. I learned this via email with them.

eekflyer

U-haul says the 2012 hitch will fit, when I asked for a 2013 hitch. I cannot confirm. CURT makes a decent looking round tube model.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitc...eid=2012306817
Again, I cannot confirm.

wrestrepo

Huh? the 2012 and 2013 are two completely different vehicles. I would be very surprised if they have the same attachment points. If they did, they would have added that information in to etrailer in my opinion.

juice13

Looks like three attachment points in the 2013 and only two in the picture from the CURT link.

I also doubt it would fit

eekflyer

Understood. Looking at the 2012 and 2013 OE hitch instructions, they look quite similar. Then again, these are install instructions, not CAD drawings. I also don't assume that CURT would use all three mount holes, maybe only two. Better to wait until CURT and other aftermarket companies can test and verify. I don't want to create a diversion here any more than I already have.

espo711

There are indeed 3 attachment points (on each side). One is threaded to the frame, the other two are thru-bolted from above in the spare tire compartment. The Acura hitch tucks up nicely under the bumper (hence bumper removal is required). Based on past experience, I doubt the Curt or other aftermarket hitches would be as "hidden", but that's just my guess. The downside to the Acura hitch is that it is Class I (1-1/4") only, which is appropriate since the vehicle is not designed to tow more than 1500 lbs, but a pain since many bike racks (including mine) have a 2" fitting.

espo711

By the way, the Acura part numbers for the 2012 and 2013 hitches are different. I would be suspicious of the info you received from U-Haul. Etrailer and another online retailer both told me that had not examined the 2013 yet.

wrestrepo

And just so you don't go buying something thinking that you can return it later, once the hitch has been installed/mounted, it cannot be returned....they can probably argue that you did, just because.

eekflyer

Totally agree. It is nicely hidden, but I have a small cargo rack with the 2" fitting I want to use and don't prefer the Class 1 adapter arrangement. I suppose the Class I is properly suitable to the vehicle, anyhow.

Rocketsfan

Stupid question here as I've never owned a bike rack or had the need to transport a bike, but : I'll probably be transporting a bike around to ride should I get the new RDX. Is it possible to fit a men's mountain bike in the cargo area of the RDX with the front tire removed (and with the rear seats folded down, of course)?

espo711

Yes, a mountain bike will fit in the rear cargo area (with seats down) with no problem as long as you remove the front wheel.

weather

Rocketsfan...although I never tried myself, I'd be very surprised if it would not fit. When the seats are down, the cargo area is quite large....When the seats are not down, the cargo area is smaller than my Rav4 but the seats of the RDX are static in that they don't slide forward and backward as they did on the RAV4. The static rear seat configuration is designed to give maximum leg room for the rear passengers at the expense of the cargo area....but when down, that whole area opens up quite nicely!

wrestrepo

If you are doing real mountain biking, not just "off-roading" on a trail, your bike can get pretty dirty, and you don't really want to bring all that dirt inside the car...but in theory, it should fit.

Rocketsfan

I'm barely a real biker much less a real mountain biker. LOL. I forgot we have some real ones on the forum. I'll probably be tearing up pavement in suburbia or some open road. The dirt is the only thing stopping me from throwing it in the back. Thanks!

juice13

Ordered the OE hitch from Bernardi. Hope to install it this weekend.

Now to find a bike rack and a hitch-haul that fit the 1.25" receiver.

juice13

Oops forgot to update this. Installed the hitch in about 2 hours. Hardest part was removing the rubber muffler hangers.

Looks great and two trips with the Yakima Double Down (specific to the 1.25 receiver) without issues.

Next item is a hitch haul:

http://www.discountramps.com/receive...FQ8KKgodIVNGVw

TranPlanner

Looks like etrailer has a couple hitches for the 2013; however, they may be the same that they sell for the 2012 (instructions are dated 2010).
http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2013_Acura_RDX.htm

Also, I cannot find a wiring kit for the 2013.

Anyone tried one of these hitches?

TranPlanner

Review from etrailer on hitch installation on a 2013 - not very encouraging:

Rated good since etrailer did a great job expediting my order and getting it to me quickly. And, the hitch itself is heavy duty and good quality. However, installation was very difficult. This hitch must not have been tested on a 2013 Acura RDX. To say that the rear fascia may need to be slightly pulled down is a gross understatement (at least for the 2013 RDX). The holes would not line up by about 3/4 of an inch. The hitch was pushed directly against the fascia support brackets, which do not give easily. It took one person pulling very hard on the fascia while another person struggled to push the hitch in place so the holes would line up. Then, while struggling to do that, you have to hold the weight of the hitch and thread the screws. We eventually enlisted a third person to help. Would not rate this installation difficulty a 3. I eventually succeeded in installing the hitch, but a better design would have made it much easier.

juice13

Just picked up a 1 1/4 receiver hitch haul at Walmart. Got good reviews on Amazon (and the best review mentioned the deep discounted price at Walmart).

According to the reviews I may have to grind down a tab to fit into the Class 1 hitch. I'll update later.

Seeing how low the hitch is I wonder if I'll need one with a step up:
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo-...Tite/6500.html

juice13

So without even taking the cheap Walmart hitch haul out of the box I think it will hang too low. The Acura hitch is mounted pretty low on the vehicle and I don't feel comfortable backing on any sort of driveway with this thing poking straight back. I couldn't find a 1 1/4 to 1 1/4 extension/riser so I just ordered the Drawtite hitch haul above. Gotta love $4 next day shipping from Amazon for a 50 lb package. More than twice the price but it raises the cargo tray 3 inches AND is adjustable forward or backwards to bring the furtherest rear edge in even more. It also fits Class 1 hitches without modification (according to some of the reviews on etrailer).

I'll keep the thread alive with impressions when it comes in.

jpw94

I had a Curt 2" trailer hitch installed by the dealer. The money that I saved over the OEM version is incredible. The OEM hitch is only a class I which eliminates a lot of options. I had the class III installed. Dealer did it for free (new purchase.) I bought it so that I could attach a cargo carrier so I could carry more when we travel. They did a great job on the hitch but I think they forgot the light package! Getting that straightened out as I write.

wrestrepo

With the 1500lb towing capacity that the RDX has, how important or what difference does it make to have a class I or II hitch?

jpw94

Indeed, towing is one metric. But hitch class will also dictate "tongue weight" which is the weight you can "hang" on the hitch. In my case, I want to use a cargo carrier. Class I limits the weight it can handle to something like 200lbs.I need more. Class III will support 300-500 lbs. I hope that's clear.

wrestrepo

I know what the tongue weight is, but I though that it was also limited by the car's rating/capacity.

jpw94

I think you are right about that. But I think that's the rating of the hitch they put on (which is class I.)

As far as I know, your hitch class determines the amount you can pull, tongue weight the weight on the trailer coupler. So, Class I is typically rated to tow a trailer up to 2000 lbs and 200lbs of load weight. Class II 3500/350 and Class III 8000/6\800. When I bought my carrier, it was rated for 500 lbs tongue weight and it's a class III hitch si I guess I can attach something up to 8k lbs (never happen for me.)

I got all of this info from etrailer. they have a massive amount of info.

wrestrepo

I just realize that we are talking about a 2013....I was still in 2007 mode.

Stump

This is not true. Received an email today from Curt, along with photos, of a 2013 they installed theirs on. Part #12083. Had Curt on an MDX and a VW TDI and they are excellent and less than $300...

wrestrepo

That post is from may last year when the new gen RDX just came out.