VIPNiSS

I was wondering if anyone knows if the foam on the trailer hitch is really needed? The reason why I asked is I bought one on eBay that had the foam and the foam was apparently ripped off during shipping. I wanted to install the hitch to tow this weekend. I wasnt sure if I can install without the foam or not.

steph280

Did Curt install on my 958 Cayenne this past weekend and it didn't have any foam in the bumper. Curt instruction also mentioned the foam can be omitted if there is one.

mudman2

I think it supports the bumper cover, its hard foam, I had a chance to look at it closely when I put my hitch on

VIPNiSS

I wonder if its really needed. The reason why I say that is because the people who install the aftermarket Curt hitch doesn't use one correct?

mudman2

Its sitting on my 04 Curt Hitch somewhere

VIPNiSS

Oh so did you buy the foam piece separately or did you reuse your old one from the metal brace you removed. I wonder if I can use my old foam piece sitting in my non hitch bumper

mudman2

Thats exactly what i did, I reused the one that was on top of the Aluminum piece

VIPNiSS

I see. I guess I will try to use that foam piece and see if it fits. I hope it does so it will be one less item I have to order. It's only a $13 but I can use that for gas to get me 1/4 down the road.

mudman2

Double sided tape, thats all i will say lol

VIPNiSS

LOL! Hey why not. No one will ever see under there lol

touareg

I think that is the 5 mile per hour bumper crash test requirement, to keep the bumper from deforming too much in a parking lot scuffle. Remember the older cars from the 80s and 90s when we got those lame external black rubber bumperettes? Again, purely a guess but I think the foam in the bumper is the aesthetic work around for that. Point being I am sure you are fine without it

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/studies/bumper/

3) What are the Federal regulations for bumpers?
49 CFR Part 581, "The bumper standard," prescribes performance requirements for passenger cars in low-speed front and rear collisions. It applies to front and rear bumpers on passenger cars to prevent the damage to the car body and safety related equipment at barrier impact speeds of 2 mph across the full width and 1 mph on the corners.
This is equivalent to a 5 mph crash into a parked vehicle of the same weight. The standard requires protection in the region 16 to 20 inches above the road surface, and the manufacturer can provide the protection by any means it wants. For example, some vehicles do not have a solid bumper across the vehicle, but meet the standard by strategically placed bumper guards and corner guards.

mudman2

I thought it gave a bit more rigidity to the bumper cover specifically the metal shield

VIPNiSS

I went ahead and remove the old foam and just stuck it on top of the hitch and reinstalled the bumper. It looks like the reason its there is to give some more suppose to the top of the bumper where the metal trim is.