Interior/Exterior Curt Trailer Hitch
Curt Trailer Hitch
Ordered the Curt Trailer Hitch from thehitchstore.com today. It is made in the USA, powder coated and has an all inclusive package for $241 shipped. That includes a hitch, receiver, ball, hitch cover for when it is not in use and wiring harness (made in USA as well). I was going to go with a MINI Do More but theirs, with these options was over $450 bucks! This seems like the way to go. Pictures and reviews yet to come!
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Thinking about a hitch for my Clubman, so I will be interested to read your comments. I am also looking for info about whether anyone has had overheating or other problems with a hitch.
Ordered the Curt Trailer Hitch from thehitchstore.com today. It is made in the USA, powder coated and has an all inclusive package for $241 shipped. That includes a hitch, receiver, ball, hitch cover for when it is not in use and wiring harness (made in USA as well). I was going to go with a MINI Do More but theirs, with these options was over $450 bucks! This seems like the way to go. Pictures and reviews yet to come!
You may want to check your pricing again. Because Curt hitches were a rip off from Minidomore, Brent lowered his prices.
There's a post on here somewhere with some really good prices. I'll see if I can find it.
Mark
EDIT: Here's the link Hitches as low as 140 bucks!!!
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Well, you might be interested to know that the Curt hitch fouls the bumper so you have to cut about 3/16 off the flange on the bottom. Also, it is not in the center of the car, so when I bored the hole for hitch access, it doen not line up. Yes, I can make it bigger, it is just sloppy. Last, the wiring module has short wires, so you have to add on to all of them. More sloppy. The hitch lead is about 18" longer than it needs to be, and no, you can't move the box and make the wires work out unless you want them to run across the floor of the trunk.
Well, you might be interested to know that the Curt hitch fouls the bumper so you have to cut about 3/16 off the flange on the bottom. Also, it is not in the center of the car, so when I bored the hole for hitch access, it doen not line up. Yes, I can make it bigger, it is just sloppy. Last, the wiring module has short wires, so you have to add on to all of them. More sloppy. The hitch lead is about 18" longer than it needs to be, and no, you can't move the box and make the wires work out unless you want them to run across the floor of the trunk.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I'm on my second Minidomore hitch and I guess now it's apparent that the quality of the knock-off is just that... a knock-off.
I had ZERO complaints about my minidomore hitch. It fit perfect, everything lines up, easy to install and works perfectly.
Mark
The rest of the story on the Curt hitches...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...82-post28.html
Curt Manufacturing Mini Cooper Hitch is a DEAD RIP OFF of the Mini Do More unit
After seeing the hitch on Curt's website today and looking at the photos and installation instructions, the hitch is a DEAD RIP OFF!! It is so bad that their installation instructions are basically a copy of ours. They actually stole a photo from our instructions with my hand in the photo and put it into their instructions. Total copyright infringement!
So, it got me wondering if they actually purchased a Mini Do More hitch to copy or if they at least did the engineering themselves.
Looked today at where Curt is located. They are in Eu Claire Wisconsin. Did a search on past orders from Eu Claire Wisconsin.
Phil Seidl, the Senior Buyer of Manufacturing Materials at Curt Manufacturing, over the period of 8 months (March 2009 - August 2009) has purchased all 5 models we sell. And, to make it worse, they had the damn hitches shipped to the Curt Manufacturing facility. Obviously, when they ordered, they didn't put Curt Manufacturing on the order, just Phil's name. And, they were somewhat sneaky, they purchased each one separately spread out by about 5 weeks each.
So, I guess it makes sense why they look SO MUCH like our hitches.
Very disappointing, now we will have to get our attorneys involved. Not going to go down without a fight.
REMEMBER WHO HAS BEEN A PAYING ADVERTISER ON THIS SITE, ON MC2, ON MOTORINGFILE.COM FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND HAS GIVEN AWAY DOZENS OF HITCHES FOR CHARITY AT MOTD, MOT, MITM, AMVIV, etc. WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT PURCHASE.
After seeing the hitch on Curt's website today and looking at the photos and installation instructions, the hitch is a DEAD RIP OFF!! It is so bad that their installation instructions are basically a copy of ours. They actually stole a photo from our instructions with my hand in the photo and put it into their instructions. Total copyright infringement!
So, it got me wondering if they actually purchased a Mini Do More hitch to copy or if they at least did the engineering themselves.
Looked today at where Curt is located. They are in Eu Claire Wisconsin. Did a search on past orders from Eu Claire Wisconsin.
Phil Seidl, the Senior Buyer of Manufacturing Materials at Curt Manufacturing, over the period of 8 months (March 2009 - August 2009) has purchased all 5 models we sell. And, to make it worse, they had the damn hitches shipped to the Curt Manufacturing facility. Obviously, when they ordered, they didn't put Curt Manufacturing on the order, just Phil's name. And, they were somewhat sneaky, they purchased each one separately spread out by about 5 weeks each.
So, I guess it makes sense why they look SO MUCH like our hitches.
Very disappointing, now we will have to get our attorneys involved. Not going to go down without a fight.
REMEMBER WHO HAS BEEN A PAYING ADVERTISER ON THIS SITE, ON MC2, ON MOTORINGFILE.COM FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND HAS GIVEN AWAY DOZENS OF HITCHES FOR CHARITY AT MOTD, MOT, MITM, AMVIV, etc. WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT PURCHASE.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Camas, WA
You may want to check your pricing again. Because Curt hitches were a rip off from Minidomore, Brent lowered his prices.
There's a post on here somewhere with some really good prices. I'll see if I can find it.
Mark
EDIT: Here's the link Hitches as low as 140 bucks!!!
There's a post on here somewhere with some really good prices. I'll see if I can find it.
Mark
EDIT: Here's the link Hitches as low as 140 bucks!!!
Trending Topics
Looking at the pics, the Curt hitch looks nothing like the Minidomore, and has no similarity in how it mounts, at all. Curt has been making a hitches for all variety of vehicles for quite some time. I would hardly call them a rip off. Besides that, by looking at the Mini Do More website, I think they can stand on their own as a quality product, no need to bad mouth the competition.
My quote of Brent above kinda says differently.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Camas, WA
Your post wasn't up yet when I started my post above. Still, as far as I can tell there is no similarity between the Mini Do More, and the Curt, at all. Maybe some consider it sneaky of them to scope out the competition. I would love some explanation to the allegation that it is a rip off, though. Kind of just a curiosity, as I don't need a hitch for the MINI, I have the LX450 for that.
Considering on what it is mounting to....the safe mounting options are very minimal...
That said, there is bound to be some similarities.
What also doesn't make much sense is why they had to allegedly purchase five of them to make theirs as purported. Seems like one would have been enough to do the trick
Here are a few examples of that:
One by Valley and another by Draw Tite...
UHaul
Hidden Hitch Inc.
That said, there is bound to be some similarities.
What also doesn't make much sense is why they had to allegedly purchase five of them to make theirs as purported. Seems like one would have been enough to do the trick
Here are a few examples of that:
One by Valley and another by Draw Tite...
UHaul
Hidden Hitch Inc.
Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; Feb 28, 2010 at 06:32 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Camas, WA
:doh: just realized I was in the 2nd gen section. Indeed, the Curt hitch for the 2nd gen mounts similar to the MDM hitch. I had been looking at the first gen hitches, which do not seem to share any similarity.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
I'm sorry to hear that.
I'm on my second Minidomore hitch and I guess now it's apparent that the quality of the knock-off is just that... a knock-off.
I had ZERO complaints about my minidomore hitch. It fit perfect, everything lines up, easy to install and works perfectly.
Mark
I'm on my second Minidomore hitch and I guess now it's apparent that the quality of the knock-off is just that... a knock-off.
I had ZERO complaints about my minidomore hitch. It fit perfect, everything lines up, easy to install and works perfectly.
Mark
It occurred to me, after my post, that I might have been able to push the hitch over to the right in the slotted bolt holes enough to make the receiver line up with the hole in the bumper cover. Unfortunately, I did not think of that in time. The comments about the wiring module stand.
PS, are you the Orangecrush that I see on the AdvRider site? If so, KTM forever!! (Mini too. I really like it)
I would agree that the Curt hitch is well made. I also agree that they have been in business making hitches for a long time..look at their website.
It occurred to me, after my post, that I might have been able to push the hitch over to the right in the slotted bolt holes enough to make the receiver line up with the hole in the bumper cover. Unfortunately, I did not think of that in time. The comments about the wiring module stand.
PS, are you the Orangecrush that I see on the AdvRider site? If so, KTM forever!! (Mini too. I really like it)
It occurred to me, after my post, that I might have been able to push the hitch over to the right in the slotted bolt holes enough to make the receiver line up with the hole in the bumper cover. Unfortunately, I did not think of that in time. The comments about the wiring module stand.
PS, are you the Orangecrush that I see on the AdvRider site? If so, KTM forever!! (Mini too. I really like it)
WHAT!!! There's another Orangecrush???
No, not me... sorry.I do like KTM's though.
Mark
Neutral
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
We have a Mini Cooper 2007 (non S hard top). We would like to put a Hitch ..mostly for the Bike rack and to two a small "mini" trailer.
First, I am very confused with what I should pick between MiniFini and Mini Do More. Any guidance / reviews would be appreciated.
Second, Since I do not have the sports version would it be okay to tow with my mini? I am trying to find a tow rating chart for my specific model. Any suggestions or advise?
Finally, some reviews here on NAM say it is 1400 lb and 100 tong(?) what are these numbers and how do I make sure I am within them.
Thank you for helping me in advance!
First, I am very confused with what I should pick between MiniFini and Mini Do More. Any guidance / reviews would be appreciated.
Second, Since I do not have the sports version would it be okay to tow with my mini? I am trying to find a tow rating chart for my specific model. Any suggestions or advise?
Finally, some reviews here on NAM say it is 1400 lb and 100 tong(?) what are these numbers and how do I make sure I am within them.
Thank you for helping me in advance!
Tow rating is in your owners manual. The first number in the rating is the gross weight limit of what you can tow and the second number is how much weight can be put on the hitch by the trailer & load. As for which hitch to choose, I don't think you can go wrong with either of them.
BTW, The "S" model does not refer to "sport". It's just a model designation like Chevy Camaro SS. There are MINI Coopers & MINI Cooper S's. The Cooper will tow just fine, but it will have to work harder and may not be up to the task depending on what the load is. Don't forget to factor in the elevation & other environmental factors as well when towing.
BTW, The "S" model does not refer to "sport". It's just a model designation like Chevy Camaro SS. There are MINI Coopers & MINI Cooper S's. The Cooper will tow just fine, but it will have to work harder and may not be up to the task depending on what the load is. Don't forget to factor in the elevation & other environmental factors as well when towing.
Neutral
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks Mini Fireman. I understand the first number which is simply the load weight; which probably is related to how much the engine can pull ..?
however, i am a bit unclear about the second number (tong?) .. i think I should may be read up about this a bit online.
Anyways thanks again.
however, i am a bit unclear about the second number (tong?) .. i think I should may be read up about this a bit online.
Anyways thanks again.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Camas, WA
Tongue weight, is the weight that actually rests on the tongue of the trailer and transfers to the hitch ball. For example, your trailer may weigh a total of 1200lbs, and if loaded evenly (front to back), you may have virtually all the weight on the trailer axle and only a few pounds of tongue weight, if the load is shifted forward a bunch, it may have a tongue weight of 500lbs, if the weight is shifted to the rear of the trailer you could actually have "negative" tongue weight.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Tongue weight, is the weight that actually rests on the tongue of the trailer and transfers to the hitch ball. For example, your trailer may weigh a total of 1200lbs, and if loaded evenly (front to back), you may have virtually all the weight on the trailer axle and only a few pounds of tongue weight, if the load is shifted forward a bunch, it may have a tongue weight of 500lbs, if the weight is shifted to the rear of the trailer you could actually have "negative" tongue weight.
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