Ground Clearance on Available Trailer Hitches for a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta

Question:

I am looking for a trailer hitch for my 2006 VW Jetta. I have seen several other cars in my area that have Draw Tite and Hidden Hitch pretty much the same thing as far as I can tell. They seem to hang down below the bumper quite far and I have read some reviews on VW forums that mention they scrape the ground when going up driveways. Which trailer hitch will give me the most ground clearance: Curt, Draw Tite, Hidden Hitch, or Valley?

asked by: Dave H

Expert Reply:

On all of the available trailer hitches for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, the receiver and cross tubing will be fairly low. This is because of the attachment point placement on the VW frame. By design, the hitches have to be that low. On all the models, the top of the receiver tube will be just below the rear fascia.

We have several videos you can view (linked below) on the Draw-Tite, Valley, and Hidden Hitch models that show the hitches installed to give you a better idea of the kind of clearance you can expect.

From the models we have tested, the one with the most ground clearance is the Curt Trailer Hitch, # C11474. It is entirely possible with any hitch on just about any vehicle for it to make contact with the ground when going over dips or up or down driveways.

This Class I trailer hitch comes with the required ball mount and you can use ball # 19256 (1-7/8 inch diameter) or # 19258 (2 inch diameter). For wiring, you will need Upgraded Circuit Protected Modulite, # 118667 I have included a link to the installation details. If using the hitch for any non-trailer load, such as a bike rack or cargo carrier, you must use a support strap, # 18050, per Curt warranty requirements.