Curt Hitch Installation Tips and Pictures

[bimmerFanatic]

I’ve been thinking of installing a hitch for my bikes for a long time and pretty much all the threads advocated going with the OEM hitch and lighting connectors. Since this was really only for my bikes and carrying sod on a tiny 4x6 open trailer, I went with a Curt hitch instead. I got it for $142 shipped from http://www.truckxpressions.com/ . It took me an entire day to do this job (I’m NOT technically inclined) and I couldn’t have done it without the hitch installation guides from the x5world front page. Here are points I’d like to add.

• Get the OEM hitch if you will be doing any type of medium or serious towing. The Curt hitch is very strong but there is no way it attaches to the body of the car as reliably as the OEM hitch.
• If you go with the Curt hitch, I recommend you get new Bumper Brackets (Those T shaped things that stick out and hold the bumper). The ones in my ’04 model has fixed screws that don’t come out so I couldn’t use all the reinforced bolts that came with the Curt hitch. You will not be able to tow anything serious unless you reinforce those!!!
• Da’lan (or Dalan) was acquired by Curt so they are the same model.
• You can remove the bumper by yourself. I only needed help to put it back on.
• Lower the rubber hanger if you can’t reach the T55 screws. There are several posts on how to do that.

I’m very happy with the Curt hitch but I will not be doing any serious towing. Here are some pics.