Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

Installed a hitch and wiring harness on my M3

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.
7A2DD8A8-2378-4BF7-8DB2-8DA46E0162F1.jpeg


Installed an Eco Hitch on my M3. I also wired a 4 prong harness for about $25 in parts. The wiring is also completely hidden. It accelerates like I’m not pulling anything. The trailer has standard bulbs and works fine but I’m going to switch them out for LED.
 
I didn’t really want to get into the fray here after reading the links posted. However since in was initially interested in the EcoHitch being a road biker I will. Now I’m not so sure unless proper measure are taken.

(1) I feel I would feel safer with the FULL pad barrier between the stop bar mounts and the aluminum frame as opposed to just 8 tiny nylon washers on each of 8 steel studs. I realize there’s a tiny gap now between the steel hitch and the aluminum frame but I’d still be nervous about no barrier and pass through. May be sufficient but who knows and no way to check on a recurring basis to make sure all is well without an hours long breakdown and pull apart of the rear bumper setup.

(2) As someone mentioned what about the OEM Factory steel studs Tesla has protruding from the aluminum frame/body? According to TorkLift it’s just a very thin coating on the studs that hey says ‘wears away relatively quickly’. I don’t know if there’s any credence to that statement but hopefully someone could tweet Elon/Tesla this issue to make sure afew years down the road we don’t all have some kind of corrosion issues on the bumper end of the vehicle. I haven’t researched the varied steel/aluminum diagram breakdown of the 3 but I know they’re out there.

Just a few of the issues I thought about while reading the ofrementined links and problems.

Ski
 
  • Helpful
Reactions: Snerruc
I'll be following your lead in a few weeks. Thanks for being the Guinea pig.

I'm interested to hear if you have any errors due to the higher current load on the brake/tail lights. No idea if this is monitored by the software. I'm sure LED lights on the trailer will reduce the chance of any problems.
 
I would feel safer with the FULL pad barrier between the stop bar mounts and the aluminum frame as opposed to just 8 tiny nylon washers on each of 8 steel studs.
Ski

Um, this thread is about the Eco Hitch for the Model 3. The model 3 is made of steel, not aluminum, so the dissimilar metal issue on the article about the Model S is not relevant to the new hitch. They did include the nylon washers, but it should not be of concern on this model.

This is the first I have read of someone wiring up the hitch but there are otherwise full writeups about this product:

Torklift Central Stealth EcoHitch for Model 3
What about the tow hitch?
Tow hitch bike rack?

-Randy
 
I didn’t really want to get into the fray here after reading the links posted. However since in was initially interested in the EcoHitch being a road biker I will. Now I’m not so sure unless proper measure are taken.

(1) I feel I would feel safer with the FULL pad barrier between the stop bar mounts and the aluminum frame as opposed to just 8 tiny nylon washers on each of 8 steel studs. I realize there’s a tiny gap now between the steel hitch and the aluminum frame but I’d still be nervous about no barrier and pass through. May be sufficient but who knows and no way to check on a recurring basis to make sure all is well without an hours long breakdown and pull apart of the rear bumper setup.

(2) As someone mentioned what about the OEM Factory steel studs Tesla has protruding from the aluminum frame/body? According to TorkLift it’s just a very thin coating on the studs that hey says ‘wears away relatively quickly’. I don’t know if there’s any credence to that statement but hopefully someone could tweet Elon/Tesla this issue to make sure afew years down the road we don’t all have some kind of corrosion issues on the bumper end of the vehicle. I haven’t researched the varied steel/aluminum diagram breakdown of the 3 but I know they’re out there.

Just a few of the issues I thought about while reading the ofrementined links and problems.

Ski
I assume the very thin washers are to ensure there is no galvanizing corrosion between the Al and Steel. I have seen some bad examples of this on the Roadster and Steel bolts.
 
Um, this thread is about the Eco Hitch for the Model 3. The model 3 is made of steel, not aluminum, so the dissimilar metal issue on the article about the Model S is not relevant to the new hitch. They did include the nylon washers, but it should not be of concern on this model.

This is the first I have read of someone wiring up the hitch but there are otherwise full writeups about this product:

Torklift Central Stealth EcoHitch for Model 3
What about the tow hitch?
Tow hitch bike rack?

-Randy
The rear bumper is definitely Al. I put the washers between the hitch and the bumper.
 
Um, this thread is about the Eco Hitch for the Model 3. The model 3 is made of steel, not aluminum, so the dissimilar metal issue on the article about the Model S is not relevant to the new hitch. They did include the nylon washers, but it should not be of concern on this model.

This is the first I have read of someone wiring up the hitch but there are otherwise full writeups about this product:

Torklift Central Stealth EcoHitch for Model 3
What about the tow hitch?
Tow hitch bike rack?

-Randy
Randy no, the rear of the model 3 is AL... see image
 

Attachments

  • Tesla-Model-3-structures_front.png
    Tesla-Model-3-structures_front.png
    277.1 KB · Views: 192
CB2AC5D2-0B57-4023-95BB-980C5D77FD4C.jpeg
Any problems with this so far? I think I'm going to copy you soon.

No issues at all. Pulls my ATV and trailer like it’s not even there (1050 lbs). I was careful to make secure connections when I wired the harness. Everything is performing perfectly. I’ve recently changed the bulbs on the trailer to LED to reduce the load even thought the incandescent bulbs worked fine while they were still being used.

I do recommend getting a hitch mount with a d-ring to fasten your safety chains. My previous setup on my Dodge Challenger has the hook rings on the hitch’s main body.
 
Last edited: