Here's a picture of the final product. For my use, I bought a hitch with a 2" rise to make my trailer level. I took it around the block to see how it tows, but I was afraid to go very far because the plates aren't on the trailer yet, and I haven't got the lights working yet. It feels like there is nothing being towed which is not surprising as the trailer only weights a couple of hundred lbs. The hitch really does rattle around in the reciever. It definately needs something to stop the rattle. I plan to go to Florida with the trailer.
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That Dethleffs “Coco” electrically powered trailer with integrated 80kWh battery is being discussed in this thread
RV trailer with 80kWh battery and motors
Daniel in SD
(supervised)
I also emailed them. Hopefully someone will make a cheaper fixed hitch soon. Draw-tite said they have no plans to. If any hitch manufacturers are listening please make the receiver higher than the tork lift one. Here:
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
ruralectric
Member
This video, posted by JerryRigEverything, shows how to install an aftermarket trailer hitch (and that deserves it's own thread). But in the process they remove the rear bumper, and maybe a pound of gravel is seem to have collected in the rear bumper (4:30). Then they remove a bracket that holds the crash plate to the rear of the car and again, a bunch of crud (looks like sand and small rocks) is seen to have collected in the rear of the bracket.
WTF? I haven't taken delivery of my car yet, but this seems like a serious design flaw, and no wonder rear bumpers are falling off the cars.
WTF? I haven't taken delivery of my car yet, but this seems like a serious design flaw, and no wonder rear bumpers are falling off the cars.
ruralectric
Member
Maybe, but the fact remains that there is apparently a gap under there that allows debris to collect over time, pounds of it, and water as well. It explains the bumper detachments in the cars that drove thru standing water. Even if you only ever drive on pavement it appears the present design would require periodic bumper removal to clean out the pan.
And your theory doesn't explain the large amount of crud discovered under the crash bar mounting brackets in the video. And to clean that requires crash bar removal for access.
Do the Model S and/or Model X have similar bumper designs? Does anyone know of similar bumper designs on other vehicles EV or otherwise?
The Model X comes with a removable receiver. There’s a removable hatch on the bottom panel of the vehicle. Tesla provides guidance to owners that the cover should be in place at all times except when towing.
I replaced my stock hitch with an aftermarket hitch, and while removing the bottom panel for the process, found a lot of gravel trapped in that panel. I'm assuming that's why Tesla's guidance is to keep the cover on. I wound up cutting my panel to fit tightly around the aftermarket receiver as seen in this post, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's still some penetration.
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
When I got my car it was raining. When I removed my crashbar it was full of water. With the bumper off you can see the rain is guided to the top of the crashbar and in my case the sealant had slid down, puddled at the bottom, allowing the top to be open and holding anything that intruded.
And when I took off the front bumper recently it was full of baby spiders. Yikes!
-Randy
SageBrush
REJECT Fascism
Please clarify 'the sealant had slid down.'
Is this a gasket that had moved out of position ?
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
No gasket, seems like some sealant was sprayed inside the mount, looks like it settled to the bottom and acted to create a cup that can fill with water and such. This is it just after removal on my almost brand new car when I installed the hitch:
-Randy
-Randy
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Well, it's been 4 more months and there are still no Tesla-approved towing components. At least the roof rack is here, but I really want to tow my other car or a motorcycle trailer already. Can't put those on the roof.
-Randy
there are some rumours in the Dutch tesla stores about the airsuspension.
This will be revealed the same day as that the reserveration will be open for europe (some websites say that will be today)
Tesla Model 3 vanaf nu te configureren
A lot are expecting that the airsuspension will be in the same packages as the towhitch.
Because the towhitch need airsuspension.
so fingers crossed today and this week.
This will be revealed the same day as that the reserveration will be open for europe (some websites say that will be today)
Tesla Model 3 vanaf nu te configureren
A lot are expecting that the airsuspension will be in the same packages as the towhitch.
Because the towhitch need airsuspension.
so fingers crossed today and this week.
Daniel in SD
(supervised)
Well I finally gave up and ordered the Stealth hitch. Beautifully machined latching mechanism which I’m not going to use. I spent the whole day making a custom receiver that will stay on the car and not hang so low. Here’s a preview, please excuse my poor welding skills.
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Yeah, I do tend to scrape going into the driveway. But I know the second I take the hitch off I will want to put the bike rack on.
-Randy
-Randy
Daniel in SD
(supervised)
Here are a few more pictures of my setup. I ordered a Curt weld on receiver and fabricated a bracket to bolt to the Stealth hitch. Only downside is now when I drive with a bike on it there is some creepy dude following me around (Maybe a Tesla ranger trying to void my warranty? 
).
).
