# Class III hitch on a small car (vw jetta) **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [May 22, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410 "2010-05-22T04:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/1 "2010-05-22T04:23:42Z")
I currently have a class I reciever on my vw jetta, I don’t plan on pulling anything with it, but what I’d like to buy is a dirtbike carrier… somthing like this: ![http://www.carriers4cycles.com/cycle_carrier_images/Dirt_Bike_Carrier_Lg.jpg](http://www.carriers4cycles.com/cycle_carrier_images/Dirt_Bike_Carrier_Lg.jpg) but the thing is, I need a class 3 hitch… I figure the whole setup including the dirtbike won’t be over 400lbs so the car should handle it fine… but the only problem is, I can’t find a class 3 hitch ANYWHERE for a MK4 jetta tdi. any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/2 "2010-05-22T05:48:14Z")
Get a better tow vehicle? You can get a 1.25 to 2" reciever adapter but it’s a horrible idea. Your class I hitch and the mountimg points on your car were never designed to deal with the torsional loads hanging a motorcycle suspended that far off the back of a hitch will create. Your only safe option if you have to keep the car is to find a welder experienced with custom hitches and see if he can fab up a 2" reciever hitch that will distribute that twisting load across more of your frame, similar to how class III hitches attach. All the class III’s I’ve install have had attachment points about 2 feet long. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/3 "2010-05-22T06:00:08Z")
or get one of these. ![http://www.yellotrailers.co.za/img/single-dirt-bike-trailer-1TN.jpg](http://www.yellotrailers.co.za/img/single-dirt-bike-trailer-1TN.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/4 "2010-05-22T06:01:29Z")
your jetta will not do well hanging that much weight off the back. that would be like having 3 or 4 dudes sitting in the trunk. ---
**Author:** ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/5 "2010-05-22T07:07:18Z")
just get a trailer for a dirtbike. much better option. never trusted those bike carriers. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/6 "2010-05-22T08:27:22Z")
It’s worse for the car than you think. The tongue weight is massive on that setup. When you hit bumps, it will be REALLY bad for your car. Also, they don’t sell a class III hitch because the car cannot support the loads that a class III hitch is designed for. ---
**Author:** ![BOBBYGRV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BOBBYGRV](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BOBBYGRV)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/7 "2010-05-22T08:27:30Z")
You can’t find it because it doesnt exist. They dont make a hitch for your car, all you can use is the class 1 hitch. ---
**Author:** ![BadnewsMike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/badnewsmike/32/7419_2.png) [@BadnewsMike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BadnewsMike)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 10:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/8 "2010-05-22T10:18:24Z")
![http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/estebond008/Towing%20Hitch/dsc01886crop.jpg](http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/estebond008/Towing%20Hitch/dsc01886crop.jpg) People do it, but youll need it custom made. not that im endorsing this Idea, but TDI people are CRAZY [http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=255330&highlight=tow](http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=255330&highlight=tow) Edit: how far would you be towing it? would somthing like this work? ![http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/StillShot2/Trip_to_New_York_024a-1.jpg](http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/StillShot2/Trip_to_New_York_024a-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 10:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/9 "2010-05-22T10:30:32Z")
that last one is a much better idea…probably the best one so far. it relieves a LOT of tongue weight. ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/10 "2010-05-22T15:11:54Z")
That last one sucks, it’s a dirtbike, with knoby tires… Whos Mazda 3? That’s exactly what I want… I think I’m gonna get a class 3 reciever welded up… TravisSN, where would I go about getting something like that trailer? Only reason I don’t want a trailer is because then I have to wire up lights, insure the trailer, register it etc…and I’m lazy ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NYstanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@NYstanger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NYstanger)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/11 "2010-05-22T17:38:55Z")
Just get a regular harbor freight 4x6. It will always come in handy one way or another to haul something ---
**Author:** ![Cavi\_Mike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cavi_mike/32/5217_2.png) [@Cavi\_Mike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Cavi_Mike)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/12 "2010-05-22T19:57:08Z")
Who cares if it has knobby tires? You’ve never seen enduros on the street before? And this thing is just along for the ride, what do you think is going to happen? ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/13 "2010-05-22T20:16:06Z")
> [@sedlmeier101](#): > > That last one sucks, it’s a dirtbike, with knoby tires… > > Whos Mazda 3? That’s exactly what I want… I think I’m gonna get a class 3 reciever welded up… > > TravisSN, where would I go about getting something like that trailer? Only reason I don’t want a trailer is because then I have to wire up lights, insure the trailer, register it etc…and I’m lazy ☹ I just googled motorcycle trailer. they make kits for the wiring (with install video!) [http://www.etrailer.com/tv-wiring-install-2000-volkswagen-jetta.aspx](http://www.etrailer.com/tv-wiring-install-2000-volkswagen-jetta.aspx) but a 4x6 from harbor freight is perfect and doesnt pigeon hole you into only carrying bikes. my accord with my yz400: (notice no sagging of the rear suspension) > [@Cavi Mike](#): > > Who cares if it has knobby tires? You’ve never seen enduros on the street before? And this thing is just along for the ride, what do you think is going to happen? drops into first after going over a large bump going 60 mph??? ---
**Author:** ![BadnewsMike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/badnewsmike/32/7419_2.png) [@BadnewsMike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BadnewsMike)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/14 "2010-05-22T20:26:32Z")
> [@sedlmeier101](#): > > That last one sucks, it’s a dirtbike, with knoby tires… > > Whos Mazda 3? That’s exactly what I want… I think I’m gonna get a class 3 reciever welded up… > > TravisSN, where would I go about getting something like that trailer? Only reason I don’t want a trailer is because then I have to wire up lights, insure the trailer, register it etc…and I’m lazy ☹ My DR650 had knobby tires, and I rode it on the street 70% of the time… they hold up pretty good as long as your not towing from AZ to buffalo lol, The Pic of the mazda I stole from a mazda forum I was on, they guy never responded I asked him if he ever had an issue with it like that… I know he spent a decent amount on the fabrication of the Hitch setup… and had stiffer rear stut/spring set up in the rear, I know people who tow with TDI’s usally get universal Airbags from Summit (there is a part Number in the thread I posted earlier) and throw those in to balance out the car… ---
**Author:** ![Garick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8797f3/32.png) [@Garick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Garick)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/class-iii-hitch-on-a-small-car-vw-jetta/155410/15 "2010-05-23T18:22:12Z")
having a custom hitch made that will likely still be sketchy seems like a lot more work than buying a trailer and registering it.