I went to my local UHAUL store here in omaha and got myself a hitch for 235.00 installed. That includes the 10.00 military rebate. It came with the hitch, 7 pin hookup which plugged right into the factory harness and they also threw in a 7 to 4 pin converter for my 5x10 ATV hauler. Kere are some pictures.

Chris - I can't tell from your pics, but does the receiver extend at all beyond the rear bumper? I garage my RL and I don't have any spare front/rear room (the garage door misses by about 1/2 inch)

Thanks
Kevin

Chris - what's the load rating of that bar? The tube diameter seems to be signficantly less than the oem hitch or Hidden Hitch's offering.

No it does not extend past the bumper, that was my mailn concern.Not exactly sure about the load rating, but I was sure to tell the agent that I wanted to be able to tow at least 5000lbs and he said now problem. I do know that it is a class 3 hitch..

nice foot.

It came with the hitch, 7 pin hookup which plugged right into the factory harness...

I suspect this means it plugged into the lighting harness (ie runs off the regular lighting circuits) rather than the trailering/towinig harness like the OEM one does.

Better than quick-splice into the wires, but not as good as the OEM harness.

nice foot.

He's using that as a example for comparison of how big the hitch is:rolleyes:

WOW!! I am glad you saved some money.:D

BUT, that looks like crap to me. Honda does fit better and can hardly be seen at all.

Proves my point, somtimes cheaper is not better................:eek:

I have no idea what a "good looking" Hitch is but this looks as good as the hidden Hitch at least and our hero got one helluva deal at 235 (245 for regular folks?). Quite frankly its so out of the way it looked awkward to photograph.

Did the aftermarket harness connect directly to the honda pre wired connector or they did they require some adaptation? Would bringing the U-haul folks the Honda part (at extra expense) be helpful?

I may have to bring them the $175 Honda part to have my local U-haul install this "ugly" thing.


--jjf

Here's mine....installed 7/17/06

Did the aftermarket harness connect directly to the honda pre wired connector or they did they require some adaptation? Would bringing the U-haul folks the Honda part (at extra expense) be helpful?

--jjf

I wish it was as easy as hooking up a pigtail to the 10 pin connector up in the rear fender. "Prewired" in the case of the RL means there is a harness in place between the rear fender to the dash and there is a kit available to fully integrate the trailer power system. I doubt anyone short of a Honda dealer would install the OEM harness. It's not that hard but beyond what most hitch places would look to do IMO. Installing the hitch and harness is a few hour job with a few hand tools and a buddy to hold one end of the hitch up. You can review the installation instructions at the HandA Website. I think the consensus to date is that the hitch is manufacturer neutral but there is some benefit to using the Honda wiring kit.

Here's mine....installed 7/17/06


You Honda OEM whore...

I installed the OEM unit too. :D

You Honda OEM whore...

I installed the OEM unit too. :D

You know it!!!! I highly suggest going OEM with the harness at least. I'll be towing between 3000 and 5500 lbs on a regular basis. There is one relay on the OEM harness that tells the cooling fans and transmission how much load is being pulled and regulates the cooling fans accordingly. (come on at lower temps) I could have went aftermarket with the hitch but as long as i was having my dealer do the harness i figured i'd go with the OEM hitch as well for the "clean" install look. Every relay has a purpose! i.e. another of the relays steps up the power to your lights so you don't draw to many amps and bog the electrical system down. Remember when you go aftermarket.........Manufacturers do things for a reason. (not always to make $)

PS i was going to do the install myself but here are a couple of factors why i didn't. #1 they have done it way more than i have. #2 It's been in the upper 90's here and 70% humidity on average. #3 the best of all--------$86.00 for Honda to do it. #4 if anything goes wrong i can blame them instead of blaming myself.

Is the Honda Hitch & harness covered by the 3yr/36,000 mile warranty?

How long is the uhaul/hidden etc... hitch covered?

The Honda dealer that installed mine told me it's covered under the 3yr/36000 mile warranty and that since i have the 7yr/100,00 mile coverage that the hitch is honored under that also.

Hey Chris, that looks great!!!

I can't wait to see that in person along with the new bling bling! Give us a call, we need your help in dragging Sara and I out of the house! LOL!!!

LOOKS like mine !! LOL

Best money spent........

I made sure I told the gentleman I did not want the splicing into the wires on the tail light. I told him that the RL was already pre-wired for the hitch harness. When he was don he assured me that it was quick and easy, plug-and play. no splicing or cutting wires.

If he didn't use the OEM harness, I seriously doubt that he used the factory "pre-wire". The factory "harness" is just some wires running from under the dash to the rear bumper.

"plug and play" can still involve connecting to the regular circuits for tail lights, brake lights, backup lights etc. The absolute worst way to do this is with insulation-displacement "quick tap" gizmos (usually blue plastic). The better way is with a "t" fitting that inserts into the vehicle wiring at a connection point (unplug connection, plug each end into the T).

But it's still tapping into the lighting circuits, just doesn't involve cutting or splicing of existing wires.

I'd be willing to bet that your 7-pin connector doesn't have the pins for a battery charging lead or brake control active (actually connected to anything). May not even have the backup light pin actve. I've seen many of these plug-and-play connection systems that just have the basic 4 active (running lights, left turn/stop, right turn/stop and ground).

The fact that it's physically a 7-pin connector doesn't mean that it's functionally a 7-pin.

The 7 pin is actually meant for electric brakes. I would think if you didn't use the honda harness then your backup light pin which I think is the center pin has no power to it in reverse and you don't have the other harness(sub harness) for inside. You have to wire it to a brake controller and it plugs in above the emergency brake pedal under the dash. There is a plug in there. Again if you don't have the factory harness this won't work either. Just so you know.

how about a shot of the rear of the truck from a distance so we can 'take a look' and see how, well, it looks - ha

uhaul = military discount

OEM = no military discount

love those military discounts (:
love those honda trucks