Camaro Trailer Hitch Upgrade Thread:

[l008com]

Has anyone installed the Valley receiver for the Camaro? It's a tiny little box that goes BETWEEN the mufflers. It's not wide like pretty much every other receiver in the world. I wonder why they designed it this way, since GM clearly left space for traditional style receivers. But it's also the only one I've seen that can easily be modified to go through the diffuser, with nothing hanging below the diffuser where visible.

So what I'm really curious is, does anyone have one? How solid and sturdy and reliable is it? It says the limit is 200lbs for a bike rack. Mine could easily be 100 - 150 pounds when I have two bikes on there. I'm curious if this is the right rack for me.

Here's a pic from the instruction manual. It is a VERY easy install.

[Camaro Freak]

Great!! I think I will get one installed to pull our camper.That way I can sell my truck to by more Mods!! lol

[jtzako]

If I ever move back to Colorado I'll probably have to get a hitch also. Hiding it when not in use will be necessary of course. I do not have the space nor money to buy another vehicle just for towing or carrying my bike. Its not as if a hitch or bike rack damage the car anyway.

[Wizzer]

Originally Posted by l008com

Well, the thing is, some people think the camaro is some magical piece of metal, and not just a cheap sporty car that gets good gas milage. This isn't some $120,000 super car. It's a friggin camaro, get over yourself.

I have to agree with that one. I would love to have something hidden that I could pull my jet ski down to the lake with. I don't think anyone is thinking pulling a camper here but I would be nice for some people.

[Wizzer]

Did anyone install this hitch yet?

Going to be buying a jet ski soon and want to know what this one looks like mounted on.

Wizzer

Originally Posted by l008com

Has anyone installed the Valley receiver for the Camaro? It's a tiny little box that goes BETWEEN the mufflers. It's not wide like pretty much every other receiver in the world. I wonder why they designed it this way, since GM clearly left space for traditional style receivers. But it's also the only one I've seen that can easily be modified to go through the diffuser, with nothing hanging below the diffuser where visible.

So what I'm really curious is, does anyone have one? How solid and sturdy and reliable is it? It says the limit is 200lbs for a bike rack. Mine could easily be 100 - 150 pounds when I have two bikes on there. I'm curious if this is the right rack for me.

Here's a pic from the instruction manual. It is a VERY easy install.

[l008com]

Yeah I got that hitch. My installer chopped off the 1.25" and welded on a 2" box. It works great for my bike rack, but I would not pull even a small trailer with it. Way too sketchy for that. Look in one of the other trailer hitch threads, I posted lots of pics. It looks good.

[d69chris]

Never Never Never Ever on my car!

The 1000lbs rating is probably due to the mounting design/area more than the Camaro.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by d69chris

The 1000lbs rating is probably due to the mounting design/area more than the Camaro.

That makes sense.

[baileyrx]

pics:

[noisemker]

Originally Posted by Parker

It would be nice if some company made an easily detachable one that didn't require cutting the exterior bumper, but I'd be asking way too much. I would need a hitch to take my bikes to group rides and what not. I don't think I can get one in the trunk with out serious disassembly, let alone 2-4 depending on who's coming.
Here's a small gathering of some of them.

As you can see they are all much bigger than the trunk liner(let alone the minuscule port hole) .
I don't think I could ever use a trunk mounted carrier on my new Camaro.

where did u find that trunk liner?

[STINGS]

Althought this hitch is reasonable priced the two tabs that connect to the crossbrace that is under the battery are impossible to mount the bolts. The holes end up under the battery tray, and the battery tray is welded into the spare tire tub. There is two access points in the bottom of the battery tray, which are approximately 3 inches on either side of the body plug in the center of the battery compartment. You would have to extend the tabs more towards the center of the hitch, or replace the tabs with a bar across the entire front of the hitch and than drill new holes in the bar. The second problem with the hitch is if you use a drop hitch to raise the ball up. The ball ends up about 1/4inch away from the lower fascia.



Joe

Originally Posted by l008com

Has anyone installed the Valley receiver for the Camaro? It's a tiny little box that goes BETWEEN the mufflers. It's not wide like pretty much every other receiver in the world. I wonder why they designed it this way, since GM clearly left space for traditional style receivers. But it's also the only one I've seen that can easily be modified to go through the diffuser, with nothing hanging below the diffuser where visible.

So what I'm really curious is, does anyone have one? How solid and sturdy and reliable is it? It says the limit is 200lbs for a bike rack. Mine could easily be 100 - 150 pounds when I have two bikes on there. I'm curious if this is the right rack for me.

Here's a pic from the instruction manual. It is a VERY easy install.

[STINGS]

Trailer hitch all powdercoated and ready to reinstall. Cut the 1 1/4 tube off and added a 2 inch receiver to the top of the hitch.

Joe


Bolts and washers through tub brace.



Hole plugs installed in tub.



Hitch without bumper on.



Bumper and Diffuser back on.

[l008com]

So where'd you get those washers? I could use those. The 'bar's included with the hitch are shit. Also in your pics, I don't see where the back two bolts are attached?

[STINGS]

Hopefully these next two pictures help. The braces are bolted to the back of the bumper tube, using two of the "bars" that came with the hitch. Put the "bars" inside the tube using those threaded wires that also came with the hitch. The 1/4 inch thick fender washers were purchase at a hardware store, (McFadden-Dale here in Phoenix) and originally had a 1/4 inch hole in the center, but drill them out to 1/2 inch to accomadate the larger hardware.
Fender washers ran about 4 dollars and change....EACH. Couldn't believe it! Yikes.
Used 1/8 inch fender washers on the outside of the car between the hitch and the tub, to kinda pinch the tub between the two washers.