DWPC

It seems very few used Cayennes I've seen have hitches. I only need to occasionally tow a light duty utility trailer (2000 lb) so paying $2000, as I've seen mentioned, for a dealer-installed OEM hitch isn't going to happen, Has anyone installed the Curt or similar hitches? How difficult is it to remove the bumper and skin? Any reason to not let a hitch shop do it?

foster2

big risk letting a tow shop tap into the big bundle of wires, is what ive heard. also have to take lots of panels off to get the tow bar on. save your money and get the real one, is what im doing.

Kab

I did the aftermarket hitch and it was a pain getting the correct wiring put together. I would have been money ahead to just use the oem hitch and let the dealer put it together.

ltc

https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...ss-needed.html

DWPC

Thanks for the link. Do you know if the bumper skin come off without special tools? I was surprised to see the Curt hitch entirely replaces what appears to be a crushable aluminum bumper. Is the factory hitch similar? I wonder if the insurance cos. would make a stink if you got rear ended with the stiff steel aftermarket bumper and it resulted in chassis damage instead of a crushed al tube.

mudman2

See my 955 gallery

The heavier Curt is still lighter than the factory, hard to believe.

The cover is straight forward, only hard part is removing the rear light clusters

Schnell 911

DWC ~ I may pull the trigger on an OEM hitch off a members S, but if that does not pan out, i will be purchasing a CURT on eBay. Wish we lived closer and we could do a workshop together. Maybe we could share notes during our install via the net. I am planning on doing the install next month! Like mentioned, I believe the only hurdle will be a clean electrical integration.

ltc

For those brave enough to attempt to recreate all the brilliance that is the 1D6/1D8 factory tow bar control unit installation, please be aware that once it installed you may need to visit your dealer for the firmware to be updated via PIWIS.

mudman2

Are you faking size again ?

DWPC

A hitch is on my list but not real soon as we're in the middle of remodeling half the house.

usmm1234

I have a 2009 Cayenne GTS. I have the air suspension so I decided it was a safer bet to go with the Porsche OE hitch kit. It comes with a "computer". I don't know what all it does, but I heard that it may have something to do with the stability control and trailer lights. I did not want to have any unwanted error codes so I bit the bullet and spent the $900 rather than going for the aftermarket set up for about $300. I spent a couple evenings reading installation instructions on Rennlist while waiting for delivery of the kit. It was a little intimidating, but it actually went very smoothly. It took my son and I about 2 1/2 hours. We work on cars, trucks, boats and ATV's a lot so we know our way around a tool box, but we are definitely amateurs. I would recommend doing it your self. The Porsche dealer wanted $1000 to install it. I did have to take the Cayenne in to have it plugged in and have the codes set for the trailer package. I used our local guy and he charged me $55. Thumbs up to all the people that posted the fantastic info available. Many thanks to Rennlist!

usmm1234

PS: My GTS said tow bar prep on the original window sticker, so it was all plug and play as far as the wiring that came with the OE hitch kit. The plugs are all color coded. It even has the rubber grommet molded on the harness for where you go thru the body with the wires. The OE kit is way over priced but worth it to me.

GVA-SFO

I have a Curt on a 2006 Cayenne S (air susp.) and it always worked perfectly, towing 6'000, sometime on long rides (few times over 400 miles).
In my case, a body shop did the install of the bar, and a "trailer specialist" did the electrical.
Both works were not a “big deal”.
No PIWIS connection requested after this install !

Km1.8t

I installed the Curt hitch but only for my bike rack, so I still have not run the electrical parts. Was easy install on my 06s, only scary part was cutting the bumper cut out.

wallaman

OK, new guy here. I have a '13 GTS and purchased the Curt hitch kit for it. Before I dive in to do the install, I'm trying to figure out exactly what I need to do electrically to properly connect the trailer to the Cayenne. The dealer was no help in finding a separate harness/module that would work. They said to just buy the whole hitch assembly from them. Also, I have the rear camera/parking sensor option and don't want to have issues with false beeps from the trailer. I mostly tow a motorcycle trailer, but occasionally tow a boat that is about 4500 lbs with trailer. Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
Chuck S.