Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

by: Danner03/19/2024

This hitch has worked very well on my 2005 Jetta wagon, the install was pretty simple and it seems very solid with the minor towing I've done so far. It does seem a little bit sketchy to be reliant on the thin spare tire well as one side of the support, but the tow bar as the other side of the support is fairly solid. I weigh 180 lbs and I can bounce up and down on the ball, with zero play in the hitch. It seems very secure. If you stick to the 2k lb rating and don't overload the tongue, this hitch will work great on any mk4 Volkswagen1750141

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by: Aaron B.02/21/2020

Volkswagen Jetta

2003 VW Jetta Wagon TDI : This hitch is very well made and comes with everything you need for install. So far I’ve used it to haul lighter loads such as an engine but hoping to use it to haul my motorcycle. As for the design and how it bolts up to the car, it may seem a little sketchy because the driver side is bolted to the spare wheel hub in the trunk and is made of thin metal, not the frame. It’s a quick and simple install but a more sturdy attachment would be considerable more work. For what this car is capable of towing, I’d say it’s fine and I would buy it again.757001

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The installation was fairly simple, however I have three different ball mounts and none of them are long enough for the hitch receiver. So this is weird since this is the one that was recommended for my car (2005 Jetta Wagon)
The ball mount just barely reached outside the bumper. It is rubbing up against the bumper though which prevents me from being able to connect the tongue of a trailer to it.519163

Heather A.

6/14/2018

I recommend a longer ball mount such as part # 3593. This draw-tite ball mount fits a class 1 hitch and is 6-5/8 Long. If you need a longer length I recommend draw-tite part # 3592 that measures 9-3/4 Long and fits a Class 1 hitch.

Helpful Links

Ball-Mounts/Draw-Tite/3592.html

Ball-Mounts/Draw-Tite/3593.html

by: Will H.05/24/2016

2003 Volkswagen Jetta

The trailer hitch works okay for what I use it for, which is to haul my bicycle to greenways for riding. The garage that installed the hitch for me panned it pretty badly saying the the way it was designed for my 2003 VW Jetta wagon was a real problem, in that it attached on one side to only a thin piece of sheet metal. The mechanic advised me not to plan on hauling anything of any significant weight, i.e., anything over 200 lbs. This seems to be a significant drawback to the product. Fortunately, I'm only hauling my bicycle.251358

I initially thought that there were going to be fitment issues with this hitch system. That turned out NOT to be the case, and I was happy that the system sold through etrailer.com fit my car very well. The instructions ended up being a little light on information, but I'm happy to share what helped my install. There were several minor fitment issues associated with the undercoating applied by VW. It helped very much to trim away undercoating around the passenger side frame member to allow the angled part of the hitch mount point to sit closer/more flush to the frame member. Without trimming this away, I could not get good alignment to mount the first, 1/2" bolt. I tightened this more than what was suggested to help hold the assembly in place while I turned to the driver side of the car. I used a floor jack near the middle of the hitch to hold it firmly in place, before checking that the hitch was square in all directions to the vehicle. I did have to lower the muffler assembly, because getting a cordless drill into position was impossible without doing so. I do recommend removing all the plastic cargo assemblies in the rear interior of the car, as this gives you the best access and view of what you need to do there. All other drilling went as planned, but the hard part turned out to be the last 3/8" bolt on the passenger side. You can drill it just fine, but it appeared impossible to get the bolt and washer into the frame member on that side mount point. I ended up drilling the 3/8" hole where necessary, but drilled straight through into the cargo area. Using that hole as a pilot hole, I then used a 1-1/2" hole saw to drill an access hole, allowing me full access to the inside top of that passenger side frame member. It was then very easy to install the bolt and washer from above. I recommend using Flex Seal tape or Gorilla tape, to tape over that hole from the inside. The elements are not likely to make its way all the way up through the frame member, but it's good insurance anyway. All and all, Curt made the best of a tough situation in making a hitch for a vehicle wherein VW hadn't really thought any of that through. I have reservations about the entire driver side mounting point being along the side of the thin sheet metal spare compartment. Personally, I wouldn't actually tow anything substantial with this combination of hitch/vehicle, but that has more to do with VW than the efforts that Curt has put in to making something for those of us who need some kind of a system. I will only be using this for a bike rack, and carefully adhere to the manufacturers weight limits, etc...
Hope this has been helpful.1117620

Very good hitch quality made. trailer was excellent, got a confirmation same day of shipping and arrived about 3 days later. Install was easy although the instructions are sparse. I take my time so I'd say I spent 2 hours total. Used some of the tips in a previous review such as using a hole saw to cut right through the plastic bin inside the car. You may elect not to do this if you want your 04 pristine but mine is covered anyway. Haven't hitched anything up but it seems quite sturdy and well designed for my bike rack or a very light utility trailer.792916

It fits like "SOCKS ON A ROOSTER!" ...Precision engineered to fit my '02 V W Jetta Wagon perfectly. This hitch is solid. I am impressed. That "handle nut" is the coolest thing since sliced bread. This is my first encounter with such a thing.

I plan to use this hitch primarily with the #63120 2-bike folding bicycle carrier which I also purchased etrailer.com.

To install, I allowed myself a block of time after a good breakfast (way more than the forty minutes for a "pro"). I backed my car up on steel ramps, got out the milk-crates, a 12" dia stump of firewood, a small hydraulic jack, an antique scissors jack, short blocks of 2x4s, and the required wrenches and drilling equipment. Expecting the worst--moving the muffler out of the way--I was loaded for bear! I did watch your informative video tutorials. Is that guy is a magician?

I positioned the hitch atop the milk-crates, stumps, 2x4s, etc. Then I positioned the two jacks under the hitch and lifted the whole apparatus up and into place. I used a C-clamp to persuade the alignment of the first hole to be used (as per your instructions) by the towing loop on the North-West corner of the Volkswagen. A word of caution here: DO NOT use your pinkie-finger to test the alignment of that hole; use the bolt so kindly provided. ( If anything shifts, you will leave behind 0.75" of said pinkie!) Also, do that hole FIRST. It becomes the keystone and pivot point to get this done correctly. This is where you use that handle-thing-a-ma-jig nut. (Again, just like the instructions say! So...read 'em, people!)

Well what-do-you-know! The left mounting-plate was well far North of the muffler! (My car-port sits North & South.) My corded 3/8" electric drill (no bulky battery pack) was easy enough to jockey around above the two little, short factory-bent tailpipes that exited the North end of the muffler. (Usually it's the "South-End," but I backed in today, remember?) Drilling the four holes was a breeze.

One thing I did NOT do, purposefully, was that I left all the plastic tray storage bin in place. I drilled all the way through and into the inside space, then used a hole-saw (same O.D. as the fender washers) and cut away beautiful, round ports to easily insert the bolts with washers. I put some clear silicone sealant / adhesive under each bolt and washer then inserted through the holes to nut-up on the outside. The sealant prevents rust, noise, dirt, exhaust fumes, red ants and spiders from getting inside the car.

The last bolt I did was back over by the tow-loop. As everything else was snug, not yet torqued to specs (...Instructions!), and I had to drill this, I waited 'till last, as I knew perfect alignment had been achieved. (No endangerment to even a dummy's pinkie!)

I drilled the hole, again all the way into the inside of the car, and used the hole-saw. The little space of approximately 3/16" between the tin floor and the solid tow-loop bracket was easily and neatly scrunched together when properly torqued to the specs. The tin floor pan yielded and became as one with the tow-loop bracket without out me fishing around for nut in a dark tunnel.

I properly torqued the remaining fasteners and shot some BBQ-black spray-paint on the bolt heads and washers inside the car just for esthetics. I'm the only one in there anyway.

To end a rather satisfying and pleasurable morning I would suggest that anyone installing one of your excellent products remember to remove all the crates, firewood, jacks, etc. before driving away.

Good products from a good company!

--Paul from New Mexico19369

by: Brian 12/22/2021

Great product! Fairly easy to install without too many tools.1229354

Brian

12/23/2022

After having the product for a year, it’s still working great. I use it solely for a 1Up bike rack 2 bikes.

Got the hitch yesterday and it installed like a champ. Quick review on it would be it was pretty damn simple to install! Hardest part was getting the spare tire kit out of the Jetta. All in all took about an hour to install and it's rocking my bike rack with no problem. 87789

Well built product. I really liked that the nut for the first hole came attached to a handle that allowed it to get into a tight area. Only problem I ran into was the plastic of the bumper was in the way. Had to cut off about 1/2" on both sides to allow the hitch to fit all the way up.342573

by: Eric A05/13/2017

2001 Volkswagen Jetta

Installed this hitch on my 2001 Jetta GLS wagon. Excellent fit and quality, not too difficult to install.

Hitch does scrape on bumps etc but that is because the car rides very low already.379823

Arrived in two days, fit perfectly. Easy shopping and install, thank phyliss at etrailer.675359

Outstanding service! Incredibly fast delivery and excellent customer support.1376885

by: Gordon06/25/2018

Best price and got it with super fast shipping..... had it on my car in half an hour in my garage! Great quality and fits like a glove... could not be better! Completely eliminates the need for a pick-up! 526380

Works great! Easy to install and doesn't take long at all! I was worried that it might not work but it went right on without any problems! Great product and service!445931

Excellent install. Just as described and went very smooth. Heavy and rugged. We are very pleased and highly recommend. Great product.700236

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Brad

8/29/2022

Works well. No issues.

by: elizamae 09/23/2019

great, sturdy rack for my VW Jetta. 706650

Product arrived promptly on time before I though it would 484546

Wow, arrived the next day. Easy install. 804005

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