Q: "Is there a trailer hitch that can be used on the base (NA) Solstice?"
A: Yes. Curt Manufacturing currently makes a hitch which bolts up to the Solstice (base model) without modification to the hitch or the car.
Q: "Is there a trailer hitch that can be used on the turbo (GXP) Solstice?"
A: Yes. Curt Manufacturing currently makes a hitch for the base model, which can be modified to fit the GXP (in stock form). No modifications to a stock GXP is required to mount the hitch.
Q: "What kind of modifications are required to fit the Curt Manufacturing hitch on the GXP?"
A: Here is a few pictures of the hitch installed, with the cutouts required to fit around the second exhaust pipe (additional pipe when compared to the NA model).
Q: "Is there any trailer hitch for the GXP that does not require modification?"
A: Currently the answer is NO. However, if you have an aftermarket exhaust on your GXP you might be able to mount the Curt Manufacturing hitch without modification to the hitch.
Q: "How do I find the Curt Manufacturing hitch?"
A: Curt Manufacturing hitches can be found online at various retailers. The model number you need is: 11119. Here is a Google link to a search for the hitch.
http://www.google.com/search?q=curt+hitch
Q: "What does the Curt Manufacturing hitch look like?"
A: Here is a picture of it installed.
Q: "What size receiver / class hitch is the Curt 11119?"
A: The hitch is a Class I (1 1/4" square receiver opening)
Q: "How hard is this to install on the Solstice?"
A: Minus any modification required for the GXP, the manufacturer states 30 mins. to install, and it requires four bolts to be attached to the car and hitch. The install instructions can be found here:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=11119
Q: "Any tips for installation?"
A: Well yes... now that I've got mine installed. I would suggest the following.
1) Make a template of the passenger side vertical support, and cut the driver side to match. This will provide more room for install than the above "C" cutout pictures. Also, it provides less of a stress point. I would also suggest you drill a hole where the two cuts will meet (I did mine with a 1/2" bit, starting with a 1/8", then a 1/4" and finally the 1/2"). This will improve the stresses at the transition.
2) Also, after you thread in the bolts via the fishwire tool they give (great tool BTW, worked perfectly!), put the nuts on just a few threads. Trust me... you don't want to accidentally knock your bolts out when you are pushing up on the hitch to get it into place. Don't ask how I know that can happen.. trust me, it's hard to get the loose bolts back out and start over!
3) I added a piece of vacuum hose around the exhaust hangers because there was very little clearance between them and my hitch support. I then secured these with some cable ties. Now, if the exhaust moves around a bit, the vacuum hose sits between the two pieces of metal and won't give that annoying high pitch "ding, ding, ding" noise!
4) Install with two people, and move the exhaust side to side to give the clearance you need. There was no need to remove anything from the GXP to install the hitch.
Linear Mode
