Ergin

Hello everyone. First post although i have been lurking and have had a Q5 for a while.

I wanted to recap the choices on hitches, to see if i am missing anything. I plan to carry bicycles only for now. Possibly buy a camper next couple of years. As the kids grow would be towing a trailer with dirt bikes.

1. Dealer install: I have read varying prices from 1400 to 2200 (this last is what my dealer quoted me !!). Includes parts and labor.

2. Execuhitch: Got quoted:
Hitch with bike rack only will be $419.00 before shipping
Towing connection/ball and wiring harness is $548.00 before shipping
Shipping to me in LA $71
Installation by a "trusted vendor" - do not have a quote
The wiring harnes is of their own make. They do not offer OEM harness. It operates the trailer lights and draws current straight form a fused connection to the battery. It does not communicate with the vehicle for ESP.
Still need to cut bumper.

3. Curt: Cheap and sturdy but no electronics. Mainly if you are planning to just carry bikes. No need to cut bumper but lowers clearance.


Anything else i am missing ? Thoughts ?

Thank you

kj71109

In for results. I had been eyeing the execuhitch myself. I have about the same plan as you in the next couple years, minus the camper replaced with fishing boat.

DigitalBoy

I went through the same process recently. For purely aesthetic reasons, Execuhitch/Invisihitch wins no question. It does not hang down low (like Curt and similar) and does not protrude out the back like the OEM unit. It is completely hidden until used.

If price was the only concern, Curt is a good option. Execuhitch is only slightly behind.

I went with the Execuhitch and did the install myself. If you are handy, the install is not hard, but it did take the afternoon. It is not a 30-60min install. Basically the entire rear bumper is removed and much of the trunk floor. Product quality is top notch and heavy duty.

If you have the removable panel on the lower bumper valence, there is no need to cut anything (both Execuhitch and OEM). If not, you will need to cut it (again, both Execuhitch and OEM).

I'm very happy with the Execuhitch. Hope that helps.

db

koobah

+1 on Execuhitch. Had mine installed at a local shop for $300.

Ergin

Thank you for the info. Still not sure how i feel about cutting up the bumper. No way around it (except for Curt's).

So really the biggest (only?) difference from OEM to Execuhitch is the fact that the execuhitch does not connect with the car and ESP. I see it mention in some posts here that that is a must for towing.

Any input there ?

cheers

Yoshimura

You can buy the trailer module and wiring harness. This is what I did.

Module : 8K0 907 383 D
Harness : 8R0 971 541 C

You'll also need the bracket for the module and 2 M6 nuts to fix the bracket. This is needed also with the OEM hitch.

Bracket : 8R0 907 297 A
Nuts : N01 508 210

You can sometime find the module for cheap on eBay.

ParadigmDawg

I have had the Curt and the factory installed hitch on two different Q5s.

I only use the hitch for my bike rack so the wiring doesn't mean much to me.

The Curt was dirt cheap, looked fine since I leave my rack on 90% of the time and I installed myself in about an hour. I am not that "handy" but with a helper, I bet it would only take 30 minutes. It did bother me, when my rack was off, as a hitch hanging down looked a little Ghetto on a $60,000 car.

Curt hitch:





The stock hitch is cleaner and doesn't hang down as much:





The Execuhitch looks like a cool option

Ergin

thank you everybody

brian5s

I wish I would have taken this route, especially if it was $300! Well worth it, took me all day to do the hitch and wiring harness. Still not done. Getting the rear bumper back on is problematic with the 4 wobbly screws that have to all go into their respective holes. Overall, the install wasn't too difficult, just a lot more time consuming than I thought if you want it right and clean. Had some trouble with a few bolts lining up properly with the new hitch, but finally got them threaded. Was missing a bag of bolts also, but found some that worked. There are a LOT of cables for the wiring, and the doc on that is a bit rough, but, we shall see if it works when I plug a trailer in soon.