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Anyone have any experience installing/adapting a trailer hitch to a Boxster?
Our PCA region just purchased a small 5x8 cargo trailer to haul our autocross gear around in -- cones, easy-up tents, brooms, coolers, etc. -- and two of us (perhaps a bit too quickly) volunteered to have hitches installed on our vehicles. We expect the trailer will weigh about 1200 lbs loaded, with a tongue weight around 200 lbs at most. Finding something suitable to fit my SC was easy given the rather hefty bumper, but my friend's Boxster is proving a bit more difficult.
We'd like to find something that either bolts directly onto the bumper pad bracket/assembly, or requires minor modifications to again attach to the bumper pad bracket/assembly. However, someone in our region has offered to do some welding if that's necessary.
I have the one from EVO motorsports (http://www.evoms.com) and I really like it. It bolts on with just minor drilling behind the bumperettes.
The only caveat is that I don't know if they still make them. I don't see it on their online catalog, but you should call and ask. Oh, it was also a bit pricey ($300)
I think 1200# might be a bit much for a Boxster. I pull a track trailer with maybe 5 - 600# on it. Don't know if I would try to pull much more than that.
I don't know what brand mine is as I bought it used off someone else. However, I can take some pics and send them to you if you want to have someone build one. Just let me know.
Yeah, I wonder what the tow capacity is of our cars... It's another case of Porsche sticking it to us Boxster owners by not giving us these details.
I know that my hitch is held in via a bolt that goes into the rear tow hook hole of the car. Theoretically, that should be able to withstand the weight of the car. So, I'd guess that the major factor with towing is how much it would damage the engine.
1200 pounds still sounds like a lot. Check the driver's manual - maybe it actually does list the maximum weight allowed.
A Boxster Tiptronic S weighs in at 2,998#. Porsche would have designed the tow hook to withstand towing its heaviest configuration, so the tow hook assembly must be able to withstand towing 2,998#. Therefore, a hitch anchored by the tow hook assembly should be able to tow 2,998#. That's essentially a class 2 hitch, which is rated at 3000# trailer weight and 300# tongue weight.
That's twice what we want to haul.
Last edited by Paul Conquest; 03-19-2004 at 08:28 PM.
Do you know if they make that (or any) hitch in a receiver style? I want to be able to carry my mountain bikes, and my bike rack is made to fit into a “receiver style hitch” (kinda like a class I, II or III style receiver hitch receiver).
When I searched for a tow hitch on the U-Haul website, they said that they do not have a hitch available for a 986, but would want to fabricate a custom one for free. I'm assuming they would design and start to manufacture one for the 986 to offer it on the market. The only catch is that you would have to leave the car at their site for 2-3 days in Tempe, AZ while the design and build one. Anyone in the Tempe area that is willing to do this? The following is the message I received from U-Haul...
I think 1200# might be a bit much for a Boxster. I pull a track trailer with maybe 5 - 600# on it. Don't know if I would try to pull much more than that.
I don't know what brand mine is as I bought it used off someone else. However, I can take some pics and send them to you if you want to have someone build one. Just let me know.
have boxster and blu ox tow bar with no attachment for car want to flat tow .can this be done with no damage to boxster ? Where do i find attachment for boxster? How about shield? Any info would be appreciated thank you just vic
When I searched for a tow hitch on the U-Haul website, they said that they do not have a hitch available for a 986, but would want to fabricate a custom one for free. I'm assuming they would design and start to manufacture one for the 986 to offer it on the market. The only catch is that you would have to leave the car at their site for 2-3 days in Tempe, AZ while the design and build one. Anyone in the Tempe area that is willing to do this? The following is the message I received from U-Haul...
i would be interested. In u hauls deal how do i get application?
Anyone have any experience installing/adapting a trailer hitch to a Boxster?
Our PCA region just purchased a small 5x8 cargo trailer to haul our autocross gear around in -- cones, easy-up tents, brooms, coolers, etc. -- and two of us (perhaps a bit too quickly) volunteered to have hitches installed on our vehicles. We expect the trailer will weigh about 1200 lbs loaded, with a tongue weight around 200 lbs at most. Finding something suitable to fit my SC was easy given the rather hefty bumper, but my friend's Boxster is proving a bit more difficult.
We'd like to find something that either bolts directly onto the bumper pad bracket/assembly, or requires minor modifications to again attach to the bumper pad bracket/assembly. However, someone in our region has offered to do some welding if that's necessary.
Thanks in advance.
Custom job seen at my local independent Porsche tech.
I towed many things with many cars that one would consider inadequate but to put a hitch on 986 and tow stuff is not something I personally would do. It's just wrong guys/girls. There's a reason Porsche doesn't provide a tow rating namely; it's not designed to tow anything. I'd trust the Porsche engineers.
03-19-2004, 01:44 PM
Boxster trailer hitch?
