How to Determine if Trailer Hitch on 2014 Hyundai Accent was Damaged in Accident

Question:

Hi, I own the Draw Tight Hitch for the 2014 Hyundai Accent Hatchback. I was rear ended yesterday with the bike rack attached. Should the hitch be replaced even if there is no visible damage? The bike rack was damaged and will need replacing. I will have the vehicle inspected too by the body shop. Thanks.

asked by: Paul N

Expert Reply:

What you would want to do is thoroughly inspect the trailer hitch to determine if it was damaged. You'll want to look for bent metal or anything similar that would indicate the integrity has been compromised.

If you see bent metal with paint flaking then it's definitely in need of being replaced. At that point you'd want to also inspect to make sure the rear chassis of the vehicle hasn't been damaged either.

The replacement hitch you'd need is the part # 24884.

The most popular bike rack we carry that has been confirmed to fit this vehicle is the Thule Camber 2 part # TH9958. We asked our demo and install guys to name their favorite, most easy-to-use bike racks and this one showed up in nearly everyone's top three. Check out the review video I attached for more info.

If you plan on carrying any womens or alternative framed bikes without horizontal top tubes you may also be interested in purchasing a Kuat Bike Frame Adapter Bar # UB01 to provide a horizontal top tube on your bikes to provide an attachment point. I attached a review video for this product also. This will allow the bikes to be carried more level and will provide more ground clearance.

expert reply by: Jameson C