Does anyone have a Receiver (square) hitch installed on their Kona EV? I would like to put one on so that I can use the bike rack I have (KUAT) which requires either a 2” or 1.5” square hitch. I have not had much luck with Hyundai getting a clear answer. Wondering too if we can tow with our Kona EVs? Thanks!!
Dr. Kona
Just closing the loop. I had my hitch installed just like RP, but, here in the US. Looks great and only cost $173.00 at U-Haul. They installed a Curt hitch, made in Wisconsin. I chose not to do the wiring harness since I don’t plan to tow. Just using it for my bike rack. I was a bit Leary of installing the brake light harness since the Kona EV using regenerative braking which impacts brake lights in a non-standard fashion. Thanks to all who helped me find this great solution!
would this void the warranty? The Manual does not clearly say you cannot install a hitch. but they did say that
"We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing." (Owners Manual page # 5-123)
seems risky to do this Mod if down the road (knock on wood) something fails and Hyundai voided the warranty due to this. It is kinda hard to justify that you only use this hitch for bike racks or something like that...
"We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing." (Owners Manual page # 5-123)
seems risky to do this Mod if down the road (knock on wood) something fails and Hyundai voided the warranty due to this. It is kinda hard to justify that you only use this hitch for bike racks or something like that...
In the US and Canada (not sure about elsewhere) a warranty can only be voided if they can prove your mod caused the defect. So if you had a door defect, can't blame it on the hitch. But maybe if your rear bumper somehow got damaged by the hitch, then yes, likely not under warranty if a hitch is not approved.
FYI, our local dealer in Greenfield Wisconsin, offered a 1 1/4" trailer hitch, W/O electrical plug connection, installed for $500, when I inquired about availability a few months ago. Once he confirmed they would install it, I went ahead and went to U-Haul and had the Curt hitch installed. We only use it for a cargo carrier (weight limit 300 lbs) and a bike rack to carry our 2 bikes.
IMO< there is no way they could deny a warranty claim even with the hitch. They would have to prove that the hitch caused the warranty failure. Not sure how they'd go about doing that...........
IMO< there is no way they could deny a warranty claim even with the hitch. They would have to prove that the hitch caused the warranty failure. Not sure how they'd go about doing that...........
Useful Australian article: https://thedriven.io/2019/06/10/towing-a-caravan-with-an-electric-car-can-it-be-done/
I have answers to many of these questions in my article here: Tow Story: Hauling a camper trailer with an electric Kona | The Driven
Yes, you can have a square hitch. Yes, the tow bar for the petrol Kona just bolts on the same. Yes, Hyundai say 'not recommended' and will not help you with a tow bar but they don't say anything stronger like 'will void warranty' - for that they would have to say 'must not...'. Yes, towing a trailer reduces range by a considerable amount, but that is the same for an car.
Yes, you can have a square hitch. Yes, the tow bar for the petrol Kona just bolts on the same. Yes, Hyundai say 'not recommended' and will not help you with a tow bar but they don't say anything stronger like 'will void warranty' - for that they would have to say 'must not...'. Yes, towing a trailer reduces range by a considerable amount, but that is the same for an car.
Got my hitch installed at uhaul in Kamloops, BC, Canada. It took him 5 hours to do it! I think it is done properly now but i would not recommend getting it done there.... He says he had to run the wiring to the front of the car to make it work... I have my doubts, but it does seeme to work properly.
It does seem this car can tow my 16 foot tin boat and trailer without a problem. I can hardly tell it is there! Probably about 1000 pounds.
It does seem this car can tow my 16 foot tin boat and trailer without a problem. I can hardly tell it is there! Probably about 1000 pounds.
One little tip if you have a hitch: press the button by the armrest to turn off the parking sensor. Then your car will not make that alert noise as if you are about to hit something every time you are in reverse. Mine turns on constantly even with just the hitch ball installed as it think i am about to hit it apparently!
Update: just did my first boat trip with the Kona towing. Towed my 16 foot tin boat about 170km round trip on very hilly highway terrain mostly at 90-100km/h. Towing was very easy. Can hardly tell it is there at all except power usage. It seems to use an additional 30-40 percent more power. Range appears to be maybe 300km max on a full charge. Really glad the new hitch and towing capabilities work well though! Everyone out here was extra confused seeing this car towing!
I bought a 2022 Kona EV in August, 2021. I wanted a hitch for my 1.25" bike rack. I checked with every hitch manufacturer and all said there is non available due to the lack of frame upon which to fasten it - mostly due to the huge battery. Has anyone had luck with a hitch on a 2021 or 2022 Kona EV? I will pursue a new inquiry.
The above hitch arrived and it was installed by Macklin Welding (Spokane, WA) in one hour. The hitch cost $247 USD and the installation was $137 USD. Installation required minor cutout of lower plastic piece of bumper. This modification is not visible. The holes in the hitch exactly matched the holes in the car. It is a good clean installation. I have not put the e-bike on the rack. If the bike is too close to the car, I will add an extension to place rack farther from the car.
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See attached pics.
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I fit a genuine Australian ICE 2" towbar in July 2020 to my 2019. Gives me 130kg down weight. Slight clearance of some metal on either side for an EV specific boot layering & good to go. Only last week I also fitted the factory wiring harness because the dealer has had no issues with it having a tow hitch. All the lights work but the parking sensors don't turn off like the installation manual suggests on the ICE. The parking sensor harness on the car is clearly labelled EV but the plugs & pin numbers are all the same. Yet to get to the bottom of that issue.
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I have also found a class III 2 inch receiver for the Kona (I have confirmed with my local dealer that you can indeed install a hitch designed for the front wheel drive ICE version just fine, no drilling required) Here's the info:
Draw-Tite Class III Trailer Hitch Receiver - 2" Receiver W/O Ball Mount: Part Number DWT-76599
https://realtruck.com/p/draw-tite-class-iii-trailer-hitch/dwt-76599/
Here also is the manufacturer's link:
www.draw-tite.com
Draw-Tite Class III Trailer Hitch Receiver - 2" Receiver W/O Ball Mount: Part Number DWT-76599
https://realtruck.com/p/draw-tite-class-iii-trailer-hitch/dwt-76599/
Here also is the manufacturer's link:
DRAW-TITE | 76599 | Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2 Inch Square Receiver, Black, Compatible with Hyundai Kona
Draw-Tite Trailer Hitches & Towing Accessories. Since 1946, Draw-Tite has always strived to provide the right trailer towing system for each application. This is why we offer as many as ten different trailer hitches for a single vehicle. Whether it's weight capacity, ease of installation...
www.draw-tite.com
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