RE: Hitches, Can you believe it?

[Watchman]

 

 I went out to price a hitch for my new tow vehicle today. I went to the local Trailer/RV sales and service center, A pick-up specialty shop and U-Haul. I asked for the entire set up (class III) from front to rear: Hitch, drawbar/ball mount, hitch ball, and wiring.
 I could not believe the difference in prices.
 
 The RV places wanted $360.00 (He said it could be more)for a draw-Tite
 
 The pick-up place wanted $255.00 for a hidden hitch
 
 U-Haul wanted $131.00 for theirs. $5.00 more for a lifetime replacement guarantee that covers most anything, even if I damage it.
 
 
 They guy at the pick-up shop told me that the truth was that all three hitches are equally as good.
 
 Even if you eliminate the U-Haul hitch there is still over $100.00 between the RV shop and the pick-up place.
 
 
 Is U-Haul just junk or are the others way over priced?
 
 Anyone pull with a U-haul hitch?   Ever heard any horror stories about them in particular?
 
 
 
 
 

[tlhdoc]

 Watchman
I had a U-Hall receiver on my first TV.  I didn t have any problems.  The also wired it and again no problems.  I have heard of some people having wiring problems from U-Hall and other places.  It seems to all depend on the individual location as to the quality.  One thing I liked about the ball that I got from U-Hall is that there was a hole for a cotter pin in the end of the neck of the ball.  The nut could not loosen with a cotter pin in place.

[notrailends]

 Watchman
I dont think u-haul makes there own hitchs, I think they are draw tite
 and thats a good hitch. Try    www.etrailer.com  
 You can get the hitch and the wiring for a good price
 

[C. Hains]

 Watchman
I just had a hitch put on a new TV today -- a Draw-tite Class III -- it included the ball and everything for $205 plus tax.  An independent RV dealership put it on -- it wasn t the Coleman dealership that s for sure.  The Coleman dealership here is a rip-off.
 I had a Prodigy brake controller installed today as well -- now I have to figure out what to do with the darn thing!!!
 Good luck with your hitch.

[Gone-Camping]

 Watchman
U-Haul installed a Drawtite on my old Bronco, it was just fine! Some horror stories on U-Haul intallations, but that depends on the mechanic and how well he knows his stuff. You didn t say what kind of vehicle you re putting it on?!?! I sell used hitches for $50, install them yourself, just add bolts and elbow grease!!! I have a couple right now to fit late model Caravan & Voyager....

[mike4947]

 Watchman
Had several weld on ones done in the olden days and at least 4 bolt on ones since then, and if you include the extended camping family it s at least 50-60. Prices anywhere from DIY in the box for under $75 to just over a grand, yes a $1000 for a totally polished stainless steel hitch, didn t buy it but it was gourgeous.
 All of them rusted after 2-3 years, none of them ever failed although we have had a ball nut come loose once or twice. (vise grips make an emergency sub on the road).
 As for the pricing you found it falls in line with what we see around here. U-Haul s always the cheapest, Muffler shops come in second, Auto accessory dealers next and RV dealers seem to always hit the bell on price.
 The U-Haul near me sells DrawTite & Reese and from what I can figure they just charge for the hitch. Installing it seems to be " free" .  A local RV dealer known for " list pricing"  wanted over 3 times as much for the exact same Reese hitch as U-Haul.
 The manager of the U-Haul actually sat down with me for at least an hour and went over at least a dozen catalogs and explained everything in real detail. A real lesson in hitches and accesories. So you can say I ll be buying anything that they sell over even the " experts"  at the RV and Accessory places.

[wahoonc]

 Watchman
Our local Uhaul dealer sells drawtite, I have always installed my own but the people that have gone to Uhaul that I know have been satisfied. We have a local truck accessory dealer that sends people that want hitches to U-haul, rather than messing with them himself.[]
 
 Aaron[]

[AustinBoston]

 Watchman
Although there can be a wide variety in pricing, and a class III is a class III, since you included wiring, there may be some who are also including a brake controller while others are not (or they are including different controllers).
 
 If U-Haul is including a brake controller, thell them to drive a truck over it.  U-Haul uses a Draw-Tite time activated controller and it is junk at best, dangerous at worst.
 
 Austin

[Turn Key]

 Watchman
U-Haul put the hitch on our last TV ( 95 S-10).  Like you, I wondered why they were so much cheaper then all the others.  I sure found nothing wrong with what they did and would have no problems recomending them.  A " plus"  is that $5 lifetime warrenty that is good at any U-Haul shop nation wide.

[Watchman]

 Watchman
I have a 2003 Ford explorer sport trac.  Several people have mentioned the quick connect plug for the wiring. Is that in the front or rear?  I might install it myself if I thought I didn t have to run wiring throught the body and bed.  The bolt on part doesn t sound too difficult.  They want about $52.00 for the labor and 1 to 1 1/2 hours to put it on.  I am not having a brake controller attached now.  The trailer I am pulling is a Starcraft 10ft pop-up camper#2106.  It is pretty light. I am borrowing it until we can deside what we want.  The present owners pull it with Ford escape without trailer brakes.

[jaycocamprs]

 Watchman
I had a U-Haul hitch on a truck I used to have. When the U-Haul label came off it said Drawtite underneath!
 
 Many of the newer vehicles have a set of wires taped up some where just for trailer lights. Our Blazer did. Most parts places have " T" s that fit into the vehicles wiring harness. This is what I used on my pickup. Unplug the taillights from the wiring harness, plug in the " T" , and plug the taillights back into the " T" . You can then buy a " flat 4"  or a 7-way that will plug into the " T" . The 7-way I bought also had a blue lead for the brakes and a black lead for the 12V-charge line. If your vehicle isn t prewired or doesn t have plugs, then the job gets a lot harder, and workmen ship becomes a bigger issue. You don t want to cut and skin the wires underneath if at all possible, if they are cut and not sealed up watertight (black tape won t do it) you will have problems.
 
 

[Watchman]

 Watchman
I went out and crawled under under my truck. It is wired all the way to the rear bumper with a 4 prong plug (" flat 4" ) attached to the rear bumper. I backed it up to my utility trailer and plugged it in and the trailer lights came on. DUH!
 
 All I need is the hitch. I might just buy the hitch and install it myself. I was more concerned about figuring out the wiring than attaching the hitch. I ll let you know how it goes.
 
 When I add electric brakes do I need to add another power line?
 

The 7-way I bought also had a blue lead for the brakes and a black lead for the 12V-charge line.

 Thanks for all the help.
 
 
 

[TheWallRocks]

 Watchman
Bolt-on hitches are a breeze to install these days... at least the ones I have done.  I picked up all my stuff on the web.... hitch, receiver, ball, sway control, wire adapter, brake controller, etc.
 
 It sounds like you may need to install a 7-pin connector for the TV.  The flat 4-prong will plug into it, then you need to run a ground wire to the vehicle frame, and run your brake control line from the battery/brake controller.  Running the wire for the brake controller was probably the most time consuming part of the job for me.  I also installed an aux 12v line from the battery to the 7-pin connector.

[Gamecock Camper]

 Watchman
I think I d be ok with installing a hitch receiver, but not the wiring.  I just don t feel comfortable with electrical stuff / wiring.  I agree that installing a bolt on receiver shouldn t really be that big a deal.   If you don t feel comfortable with that, the U-haul deal sounds pretty good.  I think it shows that if you shop around that you can still get good quality at a decent price..... that s been my experience.

[Watchman]

 Watchman
Went to U-haul today and had them install the hitch.  It cost me $35.00 to have it installed (and $45.00 for the draw-Tite hitch) It took the guy almost an hour and he had ramps for my truck, a winch to hold the hitch in place while he bolted it on, and air tools.  He said that he does about  4 a day at U-haul. I watched him install it and feel that I could have done it...  However,  I really don t want to tackle a job like that for $35.00.  That s just me, I am sure that others would consider it fun or a challenge...  not me.  I am very satisfied to get the hitch and have it installed for $80.00+tax. The best part was that I was able to peal the U-Haul sticker off the hitch before driving off the lot []
 Thanks to all of you who helped with my hitch drama!