Installing Curt Hitch on the Versa with Trailer Wiring

[c5neb]

I finally took the plunge and installed the Curt hitch on my Versa. I got it from etrailers.com and it arrived in two days. I bought the hitch with draw bar, and the 4-pole hardwire kit with tester (20251). They paid the shipping.



The first order of business is to enlarge a hole to 1" on the bottom of the left side frame rail in order to feed the bolts and washers into the frame. I used a quarter to shape the hole since it is about 1" across. Using a drill and then my trusty Dremel, I got the job done. It is the hole with the arrow pointing at it.



Now they give these neat little devices called fishwires that allow you to thread them onto the bolts and then get them into the frame. The job can't be done without them.



Now you fish the wires as shown, but slide the rectangular washer off the bolt and then pull on the wire. Miraculously, the bolt and washer are in place. Just be careful with the fishwire. Wear protective glasses.



Do the same with the other fishwire and now add the round washers. They suggest that you remove any undercoating below the washers. Thread the fishwires through the hitch openings. Carefully remove the fishwires one by one and spin the nuts loosely on each bolt.





Now on the other side of the hitch, it is rather simple to just follow the instructions and bolt up the hitch through the looped carrier pull-down. Check your clearance and tighten the bolts to specs.



Your hitch is now installed.



Now for the wiring!! You must remove panels from the sides after you remove the plastic plate in the center where the hatch is held down. Remove the large plastic rivots carefully to avoid marks or breakage. Behind the left tail light you will find a white connector with a bunch of wires. Remove the connector from its holding bolt and use the tester that came with your 4-pole harwire kit to ensure that the wiring is correct.



Using the mating connectors that came with the kit, I wired the car side of the 4-pole hardwire kit to the following Versa wires:

Purple wire with green : Left SignalGrey wire : Tail lightsRed wire with grey : Stop lights

On the passenger side connector I wired the remaining wire:

White wire with grey : right signal



After testing the leads at the trailer connector, I put all panels back. This is the way it worked for me. Make sure you check the wiring on your Versa to ensure that it is correct. By the way, this 4-pole connector that I bought is designed to work for minimum amount of trailer lights. Based on the trailer you use, they have different 4-pole connectors to do the job. I hold this installation helps!!


Modified by c5neb at 12:16 PM 3/13/2008

[Knightro2]

What are you planning to pull with your V? It's such a small/light car and not much horsepower I'd be weary of most trailers myself.

[Versa Madness]

Put the "/" inside the [ ] on the end of the photo listing like /img.

[c5neb]

Thanks for the help. I will change that.

I can pull a small utility trailer or a small jet-ski with it.

[kcourtad]

Versa rule number 6 - - NEVER put a hitch on a Versa. It’s made for many things, but not that. If you have to, strap the trailer to the kid on the roof. It also builds character.

[motoguy128]

In the rest of the world, the Tiida is rated for 500kg without trailer brakes, 1000kg with trailer brakes. In my owners manual, you can tell that the lawyers changed their minds and decided to not allow towing. The font is a little smaller and different than anywhere else in the manual, as though it was an afterthought.

The Versa is a excellent vehicle for towing. The rear suspension has a good amount of dampening and isn't too softly sprung, so 100- 150lbs of tongue weight isn't a problem. The gearing on the CVT and especially the 6 speed has a very low first gear.

I towed my motorcycle on a small utlity trailer through Colorado without any issue including steep passes like Independence Pass. It handled very well, actually larger SUV's were holding up traffic up in the switchbacks up and down hill.

I've towed with a Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord 4cyl and Toyota Tercel. The Versa tows the best up to 55mph than any of them. Over 55, the Honda Accord did the best wth more HP and better aerodynamics. The Tercel struggled with it's 88HP, but I towed a similar about 900lb trailer several thousand miles without issue. You just flogged the poor beast and used 3rd gear often. The Corolla with it's taller 5th gear needed to downshift into 4th frequently at freeway speeds, and it's tall 1st gear wasn't as ideal. I did tow once 2 motorcycles for a 1500lb load with the Corolla. Mileage fell to the low 20's going 75mph, but it did well otherwise.

I averaged 28-30mpg on my trip to and from Colorado with the trailer. I think I have a post in here somewhere. My highest mileage ever was driving from Aspen to Estes Park with the trailer. With the high altitude, mostly descending, I averaged over 35mpg.

If your someone that washes their car weekly, changs their oil every 3000miles and rearely exceeds 3000RPM, even the thought og towing a trailer may be too stressful and could result in health issues. Please consult a physician before considering installing a trailer hitch or reading more about towing with a compact car.

[matt_a]

I don't think anyone is disputing whether or not the Versa is able to tow a light trailer. Obviously it can. The problem is that the US version is not approved to tow anything. So if you have any problems with your drivetrain, when you take it in and they see the trailer hitch (and it's wired for towing) they can void the warranty. It's a risky move.

[c5neb]

I don't think anyone is disputing whether or not the Versa is able to tow a light trailer. Obviously it can. The problem is that the US version is not approved to tow anything. So if you have any problems with your drivetrain, when you take it in and they see the trailer hitch (and it's wired for towing) they can void the warranty. It's a risky move.

Motoguy128 speaks from experience and obviously knows what he is talking about (from experience). Tiida and Latio (Versa) is used all over the world for towing. Motoguy128 is absolutley right about Nissan's wish to avoid legal complications.

Just having a hitch on your Versa is no reason to void warrantee issues unless, as matt_a said, they can absolutely link the towing to the broken parts in the drivetrain. Otherwise, changing a car's intake or air filter would void the warrantee. Your rights to add after-market parts are protected by the Magnuson-Moss Act. As an example, my Chevy dealer serviced and corrected warrantee issues on my blown C5 Z06 that had nothing to do with the engine mods. To add to that, they offered to install the blower,cam and headers before I chose Lingenfelter. As I plan to use common sense when it comes to towing, I take the "sky is falling" comments with a grain of salt.

Thanks Motoguy128 for your thread that helped me do this right! Your the Man!!

[bucksnort]

I have a bike carrier that mounts on my trailer hitch tube. Pretty slick and the carrier and bikes never touch the car. I can hook the light connector and have an extended rear light. I also have a small,light trailer that would be a breeze for the Versa to pull

[CARI0CA]

"Peoples:" I am wondering, the 1st time you go back to the dealer with some sort of transmission (manual, CVT or Auto) & they see the trailer hitch, will they VOID the warrantee? I think I'll leave my towing to my truck or other none-warantteed car to do that sort of thing. I am keeping my car for a long time & would not like issues such as that. Just because they say you can in other countries, doesn't mean you can here. Especially after dumping such coin on the new car. Maybe after the warantte expires & then gamb|ing is only on you (if you know what I mean)... Looking back, my father towed a deck out camper trailers with our family cars : 1965 410 sedan, 1968 510 wagon, 1973 "1800" (610, my 1st car!) wagon & 1975 710 wagon! All 4-speeds.Anyhow, my 2 cents!