DIY Towing - Will Wood Hitch & Utility Trailer
#1
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DIY Towing - Will Wood Hitch & Utility Trailer
My 986 has become my little track toy so I equipped it with a utility trailer as others have done. I use the trailer to carry an extra set of tires and critical tools and fluids for track days. This frees up both trunks in the Boxster which can then be used for luggage and coolers and other important items!
The trailer works great and I just added a bike rack to it so my wife will be able to bike around the countrside when she doesn't feel like doing DE driving.
I thought I would do a basic installation write up for anyone else thinking about doing it. I opted for the non-hidden dual receiver hitch from www.willwoodsystem.com. Will also makes a hidden hitch which goes behind the license plate which I will likely add to my 997. I believe the hitch was about $440 delivered. I think just about anyone can do this install themselves and it took me about 1.5 hours taking my time and drinking Diet Coke.
The hitch appears to be high quality and it works perfectly. All you need to do is add a trailer ball and a trailer!
Here's how it works:
1) Take off the 6mm allen bolt from the bottom of each bumperette.
2) This is what is behind the bumperette:
3) The templates supplied by Will are simply post-it notes. I scanned copies of these into my computer in case I 'screwed' up. Attach the templates as shown. I secured them with tape and then drilled right through them.
4) Drill two 13/32 holes as shown on the templates. Start by drilling with 3/16, then 9/32 to make it easier. BTW, I had no idea there was such a thing as 13/32 but I assure you it exists. Do yourself a favor and buy a bit that's meant to drill through metal otherwise you'll be there forever.
5) Bolt on the receiver plate:
6) Make sure each side is level before tightening up the bolts:
7) Notch out part of the bumperette so that it fits around the receiver bracket and reattach the bumperettes.
8) The finished product shown on/off car.
9) Add a trailer and now your Boxster is a big rig towing machine!
The trailer works great and I just added a bike rack to it so my wife will be able to bike around the countrside when she doesn't feel like doing DE driving.
I thought I would do a basic installation write up for anyone else thinking about doing it. I opted for the non-hidden dual receiver hitch from www.willwoodsystem.com. Will also makes a hidden hitch which goes behind the license plate which I will likely add to my 997. I believe the hitch was about $440 delivered. I think just about anyone can do this install themselves and it took me about 1.5 hours taking my time and drinking Diet Coke.
The hitch appears to be high quality and it works perfectly. All you need to do is add a trailer ball and a trailer!
Here's how it works:
1) Take off the 6mm allen bolt from the bottom of each bumperette.
2) This is what is behind the bumperette:
3) The templates supplied by Will are simply post-it notes. I scanned copies of these into my computer in case I 'screwed' up. Attach the templates as shown. I secured them with tape and then drilled right through them.
4) Drill two 13/32 holes as shown on the templates. Start by drilling with 3/16, then 9/32 to make it easier. BTW, I had no idea there was such a thing as 13/32 but I assure you it exists. Do yourself a favor and buy a bit that's meant to drill through metal otherwise you'll be there forever.
5) Bolt on the receiver plate:
6) Make sure each side is level before tightening up the bolts:
7) Notch out part of the bumperette so that it fits around the receiver bracket and reattach the bumperettes.
8) The finished product shown on/off car.
9) Add a trailer and now your Boxster is a big rig towing machine!
#2
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Wiring for Utility Trailer
To wire the Boxster for use with my trailer, I used the excellent write up at http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/trailer/ to do the wiring for my trailer. You need to buy a 5 to 4 wire adapter as shown in my pics. This is a fairly easy DIY and involves removing some trim in the trunk and clipping into various tail light wires. I used Radioshack wire taps which worked perfectly.
Again, all the info you need is in the BombayDigital link. If you are here on RL, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
My pics are a bit clearer so here they are,……
Again, all the info you need is in the BombayDigital link. If you are here on RL, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
My pics are a bit clearer so here they are,……
#4
Those aluminum brackets (that the bumperettes & now hitch receivers bolt to) are attached to the main AL bumper beam with just a couple of rivets.
Didn't seem sturdy enough so I removed the entire beam from the car & welded the brackets in place - erring on the side of caution, I also had re-enforcing gussets welded in to partially 'box in' the brackets themselves..
I'd recommend anyone installing these type of hitches do the same - pulling the bumper cover off is straight forward & the beam comes off easily once exposed. Loosing a trailer on the road definitely falls into the 'not cool' category..
Didn't seem sturdy enough so I removed the entire beam from the car & welded the brackets in place - erring on the side of caution, I also had re-enforcing gussets welded in to partially 'box in' the brackets themselves..
I'd recommend anyone installing these type of hitches do the same - pulling the bumper cover off is straight forward & the beam comes off easily once exposed. Loosing a trailer on the road definitely falls into the 'not cool' category..
#7
There is a other option with the http://www.porscheandbike.com, they use the towing eye hook and the two blocks each side. You don't have to cut, drill or anything. only ten minutes for intallation and it's work very well
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#8
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There is a other option with the http://www.porscheandbike.com, they use the towing eye hook and the two blocks each side. You don't have to cut, drill or anything. only ten minutes for intallation and it's work very well