Hitch Receiver Install Made My Exhaust Louder
 

I went into U-Haul to install a Class 1 hitch - 1.25". You can find it here:
http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/...eId=45619&ship

There's two options. I went with the Sportframe 1 1/4 Inch Rec (2000 max lbs part number: 24917). I had U-Haul install it for me because I know nothing about working on cars and don't have time to figure it out. It took them about an hour. Once they were done and I turned on the car, I immediately noticed my exhaust was significantly louder. Not in a bad way either... The sound was a lot lower. Driving it off, I could hear the majority of the difference at 2-3k RPM. It was loud!! Like my car was rumbling, loud. Like an aftermarket exhaust loud. It definitely does not sound like anything loose that is coming into contact with something else. I got home and checked below the car to see what I could find.. and nothing seemed like a problem to my untrained eye. The muffler and all the pipes seem to have good clearnage from the hitch receiver.

Anyway, does anyone know what's going on?? I really like the new sound, but am worried what might have caused the change could be a sign of trouble.

The full install instructions are on the linked site, but here's the main part:
1. Lower exhaust at the rubber isolator on both sides of the exhaust. Spraying a lubricant or soapy water on the metal hanger rod and the rubber isolator helps
removal.
2. Remove rubber plugs from the bottom of the vehicle.
3. Using forward most hole in vehicle and supplied bolt leader, insert 7/16” bolt and spacer block into frame as show in figure 1.
4. Raise hitch into place.
5. Attach conical washers and nuts, finger tighten.
6. Torque all hardware to torque specification below.
7. Raise exhaust and reattach rubber isolators.

exhaust leak? would make it louder.

I looked it up. Seems like that's the culprit... I'll have to bring it back to U-Haul tomorrow then. Thanks!

They were probably careless and just let your exhaust hang after removing the rubber hangers. They probably bent it pretty good if it's causing a leak.

You let someone from U-Haul work on your vehicle? Wow. Rent a car next time you need to tow something.

This. Wow, lmao.

I don't even know what to say.

Since you let them do the work, let the trouble shoot it?

But my recommendation is step aside from the "OMG I don't know anything about werking on cars I'll let the 17 year old tire jockey do it for me" mentality.

Research your problem (like posting this thread, GOOD START!) and find out possible solutions.

Take your time and figure things out and attempt repairs.

I understand you might think you are too busy to try and work on your own car. But unless you are make 3 digits an hour you probably are better off learning to work on it yourself.

And even still, simple things you should probably do yourself unless you have a trusted performance shop. Basic tasks like tire rotation and oil change etc are left to the newbies at the shop...

You need to get under there yourself and find the problem, then figure out what it will cost to fix it and make them reimburse you for it. Uhaul is not an exhaust/muffler shop. If they have broken your exhaust, they shouldn't be the ones fixing it lest they fuck it up even worse. Exhaust is not complicated, but I would be afraid that they would attempt to patch it together with what they have in the shop rather than doing the repair correctly.

It may just be that they loosened one of the joints and didn't tighten it back up. If that's the case, tighten it yourself. If you discover they have actually bent or broken something, get an estimate to fix it from a muffler shop or estimate the cost of parts to repair it yourself, then talk with their manager about getting reimbursed. Be sure to take pictures of the problem when you get under there, in case you end up having to take them to small claims court over it.

If you don't have a jack and physically can't inspect the exhaust yourself, take it to a muffler shop and have them put it on their lift and let you look at it. Don't let Uhaul diagnose the problem.

I don't think he's towing. I think he's carrying bicycles. The car can handle that.

As for Uhaul, I had them install a hitch on a truck I used to have, and there was no problem with it at all. Installing a hitch is not rocket science, and there's not a whole lot they can really ruin. If they broke something, they'll just have to pay to fix it.

It's not like he's getting engine maintenance at Firestone.

Could be that the extra hardware is reflecting sound back into the passenger area.
No greater sound overall, but less being diffused out the back.
Might try some sound deadening mat on the exposed areas pointing forward to see if it changes.

Hey, thanks for the response. Yep, I'm planning to use it to carry 2 bikes. I tried the trunk rack before and it didn't work so well. I went in early today to talk to the branch manager. He did a quick diagnosis by listening to the sound and checking underneath (without raising it with a jack). According to him, it's not an exhaust leak but just the hitch and exhaust being too close together and coming into contact. I'll be bringing it in for them to fix it and if that doesn't do it, I'll definitely take it to a professional muffler/exhaust shop. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on what U-Haul will be doing to the car...

My bet is that the receiver is touching your muffler. When it touches it will just sound like a louder exhaust and drone significantly on the highway. I made hitches for these cars for a bit and my first prototype touched the exhaust. It wasn't pleasant..

Yea its very loud. It echos back up the whole way into the cabin...I guess due to the 'sound tube' thing. I had the slightest interference and it was very very very loud.

Yup, that's what it is. The guy that was working on my car was pretty knowledgeable about the twins so I think he appreciates it enough to be careful. It turns out that the specific hitch (Draw-Tite manufacturer) was just a very bad fit for the car. He actually showed me where the exhaust pipe and the hitch was making contact. It hasn't been around for very long so I might have been one of the first to actually try it out. He spent 30 minutes or so to try to make it work but I guess it's not worth the potential damage. It's been taken off now and we've put in an order for the Curt manufactured hitch. With the hitch off, the loud exhaust noise is completely gone. Thank the lord!!!

Off-topic: Anyway, after spending so much time at the U-Haul I had the chance to inspect all the bike racks that they offered to go along with the hitch receiver. It was mostly Thule but I did find some clearance Swagman racks. Picked up a Swagman Titan 4 for $168. Anyone have any testimonials on these? Seemed like a steal at that price... as long as I'm able to get a proper hitch installed.


Thanks everyone for your input!! :thanks:

You will enjoy the curt, it fits perfectly with oem muffler.

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