Leaf Quick Release Hitch for bike racks or cargo

[OffGridHawaii]

Great hitch, really holds a lot of weight. Easy install only took me 20 min complete.

[Electric4Me]

Sorry for the glitches Mike! A couple of those steps are covered in the revised 2013-14 instructions, but I'll keep a closer eye on the hole locations.

[gilbe027]

Love the hitch! Bike rack plugs into it in seconds and I'm on my way. (Many more lunch options now.)

INSTALLATION
I was really worried when I saw the "fish this huge rectangular washer and bolt - through this somewhat tiny hole quite a distance from the destination hole" part of the instructions... Had to spend some time thinking about that one...

But when I fished the bolt and washer - it was amazingly easy!

NOTE
1. Make sure NOT to screw the bolt onto the fish wire TOO far. Make sure it will still come through the washer.
2. Also, try to resist the urge to screw the bolt onto the fish wire to test it out. It is really hard to get the bolt off the fish wire... But that's good when pulling it through the frame of the Leaf.
3. A second helper is REALLY nice when feeding these two bolts through the hitch. Need them for about 2 minutes...

Thanks Bill.

[MrNuclear]

Hey guys, how much weight do you think the LEAF can pull without too much trouble? I want to buy a LEAF for my business and I'm just concerned that the car won't be able to handle the towing. Also concerned how the extra load will affect battery life. I probably won't need to pull more than 500kg (1100? lbs)

Anyone had experience with pulling substantial weight with this thing?

[HairyCairy]

I installed this hitch two years ago.
I absolutely love it and have no complaints.
I carry weekly three adult bikes and one child bike on a bike rack.
I would estimate around 150 pounds with no problems. Even towing bikes I do not notice a OMG difference in range.
update: So I had some errands to run....decided to load up all four bikes and test the range. So in seventy degree weather, A 2011 Leaf with 36k on it, two occupants, at highway speed(65mph) I completed my trip today with 65 miles on the trip with 23 SOC to go.
Lastly I really think it will not effect your battery degradation. After all Leaf propulsion system was designed to slow the car at different rates of speed...all additional wait will do is increase that speed....any who that's my logic.
Hope that helps...the hairy one.

[Electric4Me]

MrNuclear,
Towing light duty cargo trailers (up to 2000 lbs) in non-extreme conditions isn't going to affect the car or battery life any more than driving up a incline or accelerating hard. In other words, it should be immeasurable in the blend of all your other driving. I guess if you were doing it every day you could measure something eventually, but the effects would be from increased temperature of using more juice and charging more often.

[kevinleaf]

I'm surprised more people don't have these hitches. They are great! You should post these on Craig's List and to the SF Bay LEAF club:
http://sfbayleafs.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I am willing to do local installs in the SF, Peninsula or Coastal area.

[Electric4Me]

Sfbayleafs are very familiar with this as I've made a couple of presentations there (and my daughter too).

[MrNuclear]

[quote="Electric4Me"]MrNuclear,
Towing light duty cargo trailers (up to 2000 lbs) in non-extreme conditions isn't going to affect the car or battery life any more than driving up a incline or accelerating hard. In other words, it should be immeasurable in the blend of all your other driving. I guess if you were doing it every day you could measure something eventually, but the effects would be from increased temperature of using more juice and charging more often.[/quote]

Thanks Electric4Me & everyone,

That's exactly the kind of info I'm after. I just wanted to make sure the car wouldn't automatically shut down if it was struggling too much. I'm going to buy a LEAF next week, will post some pics once the hitch & trailer are installed.

[derkraut]

[quote="MrNuclear"][quote="Electric4Me"]MrNuclear,
Towing light duty cargo trailers (up to 2000 lbs) in non-extreme conditions isn't going to affect the car or battery life any more than driving up a incline or accelerating hard. In other words, it should be immeasurable in the blend of all your other driving. I guess if you were doing it every day you could measure something eventually, but the effects would be from increased temperature of using more juice and charging more often.[/quote]

Thanks Electric4Me & everyone,

That's exactly the kind of info I'm after. I just wanted to make sure the car wouldn't automatically shut down if it was struggling too much. I'm going to buy a LEAF next week, will post some pics once the hitch & trailer are installed.[/quote]
Doesn't the owner's manual say that the Leaf should not be used for towing??