Trailer Hitch Install Deals

[Lifesaver1]

Some pricing experiences to relate regarding getting a hitch installed that may be helpful to others.

I contacted several Honda dealers in my area (San Diego) for the cost of buying and installing a hitch. Many different prices offered, from $885 to over $1,000 for the package price. I ended up getting it for $629 (tax of 7.75% included) installed. I think I could have gotten a slightly better deal with a better strategy. I also imagine that pricing varies by location and how hungry the parts and service departments may be.

I found that in most cases, the parts and service folks were separate, so the service guys wanted to quote me install cost and directed me to the parts guys for parts costs. Interestingly, the service guys seemed to have no concern whatsoever about where the parts came from, so long as they were genuine Honda.

I checked online for various elements of the parts and saw some pretty good deals, but they appeared and disappeared. I'm wondering if this is because shipping of the main hitch assembly is prohibitively expensive? As an example though, one online dealer currently offers the hitch and harness (priced separately) for a total of $388.80, but shipping is $92.77 (slowest), with a total of $481.57. Conversely, if you buy the parts at a Honda dealer, the total cost is $444.60 plus tax. Assuming a sales tax of 7.5%, that's $478. So even if you avoid the sales tax via the online dealer, you get an equal (slightly better) deal at the local dealer. If you pay the online dealer tax, you definitely lose, and you have to wait for the parts. My opinion therefore: Buy the hitch locally at standard Honda parts prices, or see if you can deal an even better price locally by mentioning the online deals.

For a basic set-up, you need the hitch and the harness. Some online dealers and others want to supply a package that includes a lock for the hitch and a trailer ball. One local dealer offered me this whole package for $460, but didn't have the harness in stock and I didn't want to wait. I have no need for a lock personally, but it seems to me you can get both lock and ball (or balls) at the local discount auto store cheap. I see no need for these to be genuine Honda parts.

The dealer who offered me the best price on install ($150) didn't have all the parts. I visited another dealer who wanted over $800 for the parts and install. I bought the parts only from that dealer for the Honda cost and the install was done by the second dealer in 2 hrs while I waited.

One strategy that occurs to me might have saved a little more. The harness is light and could easily be shipped from an online dealer. If you pick one from out of state, you'll avoid sales tax. In the end though, this will probably save only about $30. It appears to me that the big savings opportunities are in the install cost.

[SSquire]

Call your dealer (or go down) and ask to talk to the internet sales guy/gal. My dealer had a nice price sheet for installed parts (MSRP + a boatload), but as soon as I asked about online prices, they went to their internet guy and gave me their internet prices (a few $ less than Hand A) on the accessories.

[csimo]

$142.95 currently:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7978554707&catego ry=33653&sspagename=WDVW

$159.95 Buy It Now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979579153&catego ry=33653&sspagename=WDVW

[ROColorado]

The above links are for a drawtite hitch. I was thinking about this route but it doesn't come with a wiring harness. The one that is sold for the hitch is a 4 wire system that connects to the tail lights (not as good as the factory solution). If you buy this hitch and the factory harness, you'll have to figure out another method to attach the plug outlets because they bolt to the factory hitch (according to the install diagram). Drawtite does make a module that is similar to the Honda solution but costs more than the 4 wire solution and you have to supply your own wiring.

Unless you want to MacGyver a solution to mix factory harness with the drawtite hitch, I'd suggest following Lifesaver's solution and go all Honda or decide you want to go cheap and can live with drawtite and the 4 wire tail light solution.

One thing to ponder, why can drawtite ship their hitches for about $25 and the online dealer costs $92?

[shovelhd]

Probably because the online dealer drop-ships from the factory, which adds handling charges, which are then passed on to the consumer.

I promised the dealer I bought My Ridgeline from that I'd be back after the sale for a boatload of accessories. I let them know that I'd expect competitive pricing. They beat the online dealer's prices and I picked them up that day. I kept my promise and they got the sale. If I hadn't committed to the dealer, I would have bought from H&A.

It goes back to the point that Ultra-Hog makes. Not all car dealers are slime. If you cultivate a good working relationship with your dealer, then it will grow dividends.

[rtbaron]

I recently ordered the Towing Package from Honda on line and named my local dealer to do the install. Price: Towing package ($545) Labor ($85). With tax and no shipping costs = $667.80. My concern was that if there was ever a question if anything went wrong, at least I had the dealer as the install to cover any warranty concerns.

[H&A]

Originally Posted by ROColorado

One thing to ponder, why can drawtite ship their hitches for about $25 and the online dealer costs $92?

If drawtite managed to make a hitch that fits in a box that is just a bit smaller than Honda's then it would cost about that much to ship. The hitches are heavy, however it is the OS3 status with the shipping companies that makes it so outragous to ship the slightly larger box. OS3 (or Oversized 3) means that they bill it as weighing 90 lbs AND they add an extra $40 fee ontop of the 90 lb shipping charge.

Also when it is sold direct from the manufacture that means they have a LOT more proffit margin in the item so if they eat some of the shipping charge they still clear a workable proffit.

Originally Posted by Lifesaver1

I found that in most cases, the parts and service folks were separate

Exactly, Some dealers may have the same person in charge of more than one department, however most of them have individual managers with their own sales goals to hit and customers to keep happy. Losing a service customer by refusing to install a genuine Honda part doesn't make much sense or benefit any department at the dealer. Now if someone goes in and makes a huge deal about how much they saved with buying the stuff online compared to the parts department the dealer may get annoyed and tell them to take a hike.

Occasionally we run into a dealer that gives a customer a hard time about a warranty claim on an item, which always cracks me up because Honda pays them more for the warranty part than we made when we sold it.

-Trevor

[JulesK]

For my parts and accessories, I went through my salesman, who actually went in to parts and negotiated for me. I felt like I got a pretty sweet deal with his help, how's that?

[Lifesaver1]

Originally Posted by rtbaron

I recently ordered the Towing Package from Honda on line and named my local dealer to do the install. Price: Towing package ($545) Labor ($85). With tax and no shipping costs = $667.80. My concern was that if there was ever a question if anything went wrong, at least I had the dealer as the install to cover any warranty concerns.

Interesting. Does this mean that by going to Honda's own website, you were quoted a fixed install price (i.e. nationwide) of $85? If so, this seems like very valuable information for an item that is best dealer installed (unless you like pulling apart your Ridgeline's dashboard yourself). It also seems like it would help greatly in negotiating any dealer installs. How does this work?

[arteegee]

Install price is quoted by dealer of your choice. Parts may be too as I was quoted a lower price ($426) for towing package but a higher labor if I wanted it installed.