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Bolt EV hitch options

40K views 71 replies 17 participants last post by  tk1971 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
http://www.etrailer.com/p-C11457.html

$111 bucks plus free shipping for a Curt, 1.25" hitch. Says it's rated for 200# tongue weight too! Nice!

Q: I need a trailer hitch for a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV for a bike rack, will this fit?

asked by: Lisa

Expert Reply:

Yes, the Curt hitch part # C11457 is a confirmed fit for your 2017 Chevy Bolt and would do a great job carrying a bike rack.

The most popular bike rack we carry that has been confirmed to fit this vehicle is the Thule Roadway 2 part # TH912XTR. 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.

Curt requires the use of their stabilizer strap part # 18050 when using their hitch to carry a non-supported load like a bike rack. I attached a review video for you to check for the strap as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C


edit: Reading the installation details, it's only rated at 100 pounds tongue weight....but another part of the instructions say 200 pounds....along with the website description. So is it 200 or 100 pounds tongue weight?

Found the same hitch for sale on 2 other auto accessories sites (including a Canadian one), so this seems to be legit.
 
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#3 · (Edited)
#4 ·
GM may post the towing weight later. That all depends how strong are the bolts holding the rear together anyway.
 
#11 ·
Since the Bolt will be sold in Europe (where towing capability is almost a must for a hatchback/CUV), I bet the Ampera-e will be rated for towing there.

If so, we can pretty much use the Euro towing numbers for the Ampera-e and apply them to the Bolt, even if the Bolt ends up not being rated for towing in the US.
 
#7 ·
Great to hear a hitch may be available already. I didn't see a dimension for ground clearance and have had issues with hitch/rack drag on other cars. Is it standard for the rack mounting hole to be threaded? The install instructions just show a pin.

The install instructions also indicate trimming is needed. Will this impact leases?
 
#10 ·
Whelp, my Bolt hitch has shipped. I'll find out in a few days for sure.

Now I just need a Bolt to go along with my hitch. :p
 
#13 · (Edited)
Hold the phones: I got done chatting with someone at etrailer, and after they dug around for info, it turns out the listing for the Bolt's hitch was posted on their website by mistake! He said they get a master list from CURT with updates for new products, and somehow the Bolt's hitch ended up on that list mistakenly and was posted automatically by their systems.

So the hitch isn't actually available for sale yet. In fact, they don't even know the final ratings, since I guess CURT is still finalizing those numbers.

It seems that Curt WILL have a Bolt hitch for sale...just not quite yet. What a mess!

edit: after chatting more with the etrailer guys, they said if I got a shipping notice, something definitely shipped. I guess I'll find out what exactly got shipped to me in a few days. Lol

They also said Curt is not making a 2" receiver version due to manufacturer specs, and that 1.25" is all we will get.
 
#14 ·
Hopefully that 100 lb tongue weight limit rises when final specs are set. That's not enough to even put a cargo carrier back there and one big suitcase. The instructions mention using a strap. I'm also not thrilled with that, it's an annoyance that limits easy access inside the hatch during trips.

200 lbs on the tongue and no strap requirement would be useful. You could then put 2 generous suitcases back there. Or, 4 bikes for my family on a bike carrier. Or bring home a good sized pile of topsoil or mulch bags. A small tree from the garden center. Etc.
 
#15 ·
I'm a big fan of the Torklift hitch I bought for my Prius C. I got the 2" receiver for flexibility with a 200lb rating. I use it with a 2-bike carrier, no straps needed. If they don't have an equivalent for the Bolt when I plan to get one mid next year then I'm going to drive down to Washington State so they can measure it and manufacture one for me.
 
#16 ·
So I got my Bolt hitch yesterday. :)

According to the instructions that came with it, it will be rated for 100 # tongue/1,000# towing. Makes sense, since it's just a 1.25" receiver.
Seems to be a Bolt-on (pun intended) installation, though the bumper cover will need to be popped off. Also may need to trim some cover piece as well.....probably a piece similar to the one on the Volt.

Electronics Technology Electronic device Gadget
 
#19 ·
Because I confirmed with etrailer Curt made it specifically for the Bolt. And that I got a version not officially available for sale. :
 
#21 ·
So I sent an inquiry directly to Curt about the Bolt's hitch and final load ratings, and they responded to me:

"Mr. bro1999,

Thank you for contacting CURT Manufacturing with your inquiry. The gross trailer weight rating is 2,000 lbs. and the tongue weight rating is 200 lbs. From who did you purchase this hitch?

Best Regards,
Richard Martin
Technical Services Associate
Curt Manufacturing"


I side-stepped the "How did you get this hitch when it's not for sale yet" question. :p
But the Bolt's hitch is officially 200# tongue/2000# towing! Of course that's the hitch itself, the Bolt is officially rated for 0 pounds towing. Buyer beware I guess. ;)

But 200/2000# for a 1.25" hitch....pretty good!
 
#22 ·
So do you risk your warranty by bolting on an aftermarket trailer hitch?
Even if you 'swear' it was only used with your bike rack?

BTW, look into that aspect of 1.25" Curt hitches. Most specify using their 'Saftety Strap' to stabilize the bike rack load.
Which means you have one of those rubber coated S-hook things digging into thepaint at the top of the hatch. (Just like a strap-on bike rack)

I have a funny story about that safety strap on my Volt near the end of ownership.
 
#23 ·
I don't believe I've ever read about someone having a warranty denied for having a hitch on a car that was never used for towing (it'd be just bike racks/cargo box for me). If someone can prove me wrong, please do so!

Yeah, a safety strap will be needed. If that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do. Please share your funny story though.

And now the Bolt hitch is now officially available for sale! For real this time. Lol
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Chevrolet/Bolt+EV/2017/C11457.html?vehicleid=201751562
 
#26 · (Edited)
So anyone install this thing yet? I checked the Curt/etrailer websites, but the only link I found to the PDF for the instructions is broken. :confused:

From the incomplete instructions I have, it looks like you just pop off the bumper cover, bolt the Bolt hitch in, then pop the cover back on?
 
#30 ·
I think we can all agree this guy would have had his warranty claim denied. Lol

 
#39 ·
Bolt EV hitch already available for sale!







Seems too low.



My hitch shows 100 lbs / 1000 lbs on the sticker.

I'm hoping I got a prototype and they'll give me a replacement with the correct height.

As it is, I think I'll be scraping stuff.

Even my Prius C is more than 10 inches from the ground.

Anyone else's hitch looks like mine?


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#41 ·


Seems too low.

My hitch shows 100 lbs / 1000 lbs on the sticker.
I'm hoping I got a prototype and they'll give me a replacement with the correct height.
Anyone else's hitch looks like mine?
I agree. Way too LOW. What were they thinking? It looks like it could easily be 2" higher.
I'm certain they spec 'Safety Straps' for bike racks, which means rubber coated S-hooks on the hatch paint.
100 lbs. = 1 bike and one bike rack,, if you're lucky.
Good luck with your 'hope'.

I had a Curt hitch on my Volt. I was backing out of a friend's driveway. There was an angle and a ~1" ridge up to the street level asphalt. My hitch caught it with a loud bang and it damaged the car on one side where the mount was just the body sheet metal sandwiched between the hitch and a small, thick reinforcement plate on the inside. The hitch was now at a downward angle. I removed it and patched the holes before selling the Volt.
 
#40 ·
I agree that seems low. However, with the Bolt's short length and also short rear overhang (from rear wheel to bumper), you may not scrape.

The 100 lb rating bothers me more. Does the manual say if a support strap is required for non-towing loads?

The cargo carrier I own from eTrailer weighs 64 pounds on its own. That means I couldn't even put one large suitcase back there.

Typical Thule 2 bike rack is around 33 lbs itself, so maybe you could do a bike rack and two bikes, if they are a lightweight design. A regular bike, cruiser style, approaches 50 lbs.

Let us know what Curt says please.
 
#47 ·
I did a chat session with an Accessories Specialist on the Chevy site. I requested an installation or owners manual, and she indicated they did not have access to them yet.

At any rate, this is good news. At least it will be officially supported by Chevy. Hopefully at the 200 lb tongue weight level, but, even at 110 lb it's something. The lightest cargo carriers are 30 lbs. That would allow for 80 lbs of gear. One very large heavy suitcase, or two average ones. Certainly would help for weekend getaways.

Still need validation regarding the support strap requirement. The picture of the hitch on the chevrolet accessory site is NOT what we see above installed on tk1971's Bolt. So I am still hopeful that 110 lbs won't require a strap.

Our previous crossover had a 350 lb tongue rating and I loaded it to its limit for a few very long vacation road trips (1,200 miles, each way). No strap, never had a problem, very secure. I used a locking and threaded pin of course to keep it from moving around.
 
#48 ·
According to the Curt installation instructions:
Weight capacity when used as a weight carrying hitch: 1,000 lbs. trailer weight and 100 lbs tongue weight.
Warning: All non-trailer loads applied to this product must be supported by stabilizing straps.
That would leave some difference for non trailer applications, but no weight ratings are given. Perhaps that's why the difference?

http://www.electricvehiclewiki.com/File:2017-chevrolet-bolt-curt-trailer-hitch-installation.JPG
 
#49 · (Edited)
Curt responded to my inquiry (like I said, my past inquiries never made it through because it kept bouncing me back to the same page). Once I got the website acknowledgement that the message was successfully sent, someone got back to me in about a day. They asked me to send pictures, so I sent the one with the tape measure showing 7" of ground clearance and the side view. I expressed concern over the low ground clearance. Here is the response:

"I TALK WITH THE ENGINEERING ABOUT THIS HITCH. THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE NO ISSUE USENG THE HITCH. BUT DUE TO THE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS HITCH ON HOW IT LOOKS WHEN INSTALLED. THEY ARE WORKING ON A TIGHTER CLEAN FITTED ONE"

So basically, the hitch is safe to use. Just funny looking but have no fear, they are working an version 2 for those who have not yet bought one. I then state that I'm still concerned over the perceived lack of ground clearance with my bike rack and asked their opinion as to what my options were if the 7" doesn't work for me. I asked about modifying the hitch by cutting those vertical plates and re-welding the receiver. Here was the response:

"If it’s a curt bike rack there should be no problem with it working for ground clearance. It should sit the same height as were the hitch is. But I would be careful when pulling in and out of sharp driveways. I can’t confirm by removing and cutting the hitch. Then welded back on if fitment will be there or not and have enough ground clearance."

I have a Thule T2 and the hitch shank does not elevate to give me additional ground clearance. Being "careful pulling in and out of sharp driveways" is not a option if I'm driving through a mountain road to reach a mountain bike trail.

So I guess Bro1999 and I are hosed, meaning stuck with this less-than-ideal hitch. I wonder if eTrailer.com will take it back? I guess Plan B would be to get a welder to cut and shorten the extension for the receiver.

The price to pay to be an early adopter...
 
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