This question isn't directly competition-related, but there are probably more people in Racing and Competition towing trailers than in any other forum, so here goes:

I'm planning on getting a trailer hitch so that I can tow tires to the track, and I'm weighing my options. I was hoping someone could answer three questions for me:

1. Are there any alternatives to the Da'Lan hitch out there?

2. As for the Da'Lan hitch, could someone tell me how much it weighs?

3. Is it feasible to remove the hitch on site, and if so, how long does it take? It looks pretty heavy, and of course it's located at the very back of the car.

Thanks in advance...

Steve

 

I know of two:

1) Bill Gendron sells one that leaves ~4 lbs. of aluminum permanently installed after you remove the receiver with 2 pins. No drilling. $450 - search for his contact info in this forum.

2) Harold Hammerly on this board has his own design which also requires no drilling but remains in place unless you remove the whole thing. I think the ball is extra. $400 - you can look for him on this site but I don't recall his handle. I have an email address of hmchammerly@cs.com.

Each has it's own attraction.

 

The Da'Lan hitch weighs about 15 pounds (not including draw bar and ball). It is pretty impractical to remove and reinstall it with any regularity.

The two hitch designs mentioned by jguerdat look very appealing and are lighter than the Da'Lan. I've been very happy with my Da'Lan hitch though, and have pulled light track trailers over several thousand miles without incident.

Here's an FAQ that I put together on Da'Lan hitch installation: https://www.s2ki.com/article/articleview/125/1/58/

****EDIT - The text and photos of this FAQ is now on the 4th page of this thread ****

 

I also had no problems with my dalan. The weight is barely noticeable and if you want one, I have my old one, in very good condition to sell.

 

I have the De'Lan hitch. I agree, removal for events is really NOT a realistic option. The easiest way to install the hitch is to removal the rear bumper cover. If your REAL serious aluminum may be the way to go. If your out for fun and light competition the De'Lan is probably the way to go.

 

Steve, get a hold of Jerry Peterson (in the NW forum). He's got my old one on his car, you can meet up with him & check it out. It's a royal pain to remove/reinstall on site. We'd taken it off at Nationals during the 9/11 incident, and it took long enough to put back on that we almost had to drag our tire trailer off site by hand because they were threatening to bulldoze us off the site.

Works great for towing, but not an easy "on-off"

 

That's why I'm leaning to the Gendron hitch - 2 pins and a 4 lb. chunk of aluminum down low is left...

 

I just spoke with Bill Gendron. He'll be emailing me some info & pics on his hitch (& front swaybar too). I'll report back when I've checked it out.

Also, does anybody have pics to post of a Dalan hitch installed on an S2000?

 

Yup, I went with the Gendron hitch as well. He actually told me six pounds instead of four, but either way, it's less than fifteen. He also mentioned that the hitch requires no drilling, and that when on the car, it's fairly discreet ("an inch of the tabs" showing, whatever that means).

I also got in touch with Harold Hammerly about his hitch; here's what he told me:
[QUOTE]Q.

 

Here you go. It's pretty subtle, even moreso since I added a plastic cover to the receiver.

Detailed pictures of Da'Lan hitch installation are located at the link mentioned in my previous post