Hitch height on Sienna

Hi,

I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
hitch, I found it stressful driving over any kind of bump or dip in the
road as the hitch could (and did) bottom out and hit the pavement. On
one occasion, when I came out of a mall entrance where the curb was
about 1.5" higher than the pavement, the hitch hit particularly hard.

This van is factory-equipped to tow, and therefore I think it's
reasonable to expect that I can install a hitch with a 2" receiver
(although I don't tow anything, as indicated above). The van also has a
large cargo capacity, meaning one can expect to load it up; as well
camping gear is not particularly heavy, it's not like I was moving a
load of bricks or lumber, or patio stones, etc. I find it disappointing
that it cannot seem to handle what I consider to be a reasonable loading
condition.

Have others experienced the same issues? What solutions are there? I
called Toyota and they were totally unhelpful. They said nothing could
be done to raise the vehicle or beef up the suspension. They even
implied the use of the hitch could void the warranty as they might argue
I'm using it to pull excessive loads (and I don't tow). I asked about
air shocks, and they said they don't supply these, and again don't
recommend them as it could void the warranty.

Thoughts on any of this would be appreciated. Could air shocks solve my
problem? What about the warranty?

Thanks.

I'm thinking of getting a Sienna and saw quite a rew posts on this topic
in the forums section -totyota siennna problems and soulutions. Have you
looked there?

"Denis" <denis_roy@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:GMGdnZpTXrvPP2HfRVn-ig@rogers.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
>
> I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
> Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
> trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
> hitch, I found it stressful driving over any kind of bump or dip in the
> road as the hitch could (and did) bottom out and hit the pavement. On one
> occasion, when I came out of a mall entrance where the curb was about 1.5"
> higher than the pavement, the hitch hit particularly hard.
>[/color]

What is actually hitting the ground? Is it the receiver or the bike rack?
We also have a hitch-mounted bike rack and it sticks out enough that it used
to occasionally bottom out on our Previa due to the low position of the
receiver. We don't have that problem with our Sequoia since it sits so high
off the ground.
[color=blue]
> This van is factory-equipped to tow, and therefore I think it's reasonable
> to expect that I can install a hitch with a 2" receiver (although I don't
> tow anything, as indicated above). The van also has a large cargo
> capacity, meaning one can expect to load it up; as well camping gear is
> not particularly heavy, it's not like I was moving a load of bricks or
> lumber, or patio stones, etc. I find it disappointing that it cannot seem
> to handle what I consider to be a reasonable loading condition.[/color]

You may be able to reduce the bottoming out a little bit by loading the
heaviest items as far ahead of the rear axle as possible.
[color=blue]
>
> Have others experienced the same issues? What solutions are there? I
> called Toyota and they were totally unhelpful. They said nothing could be
> done to raise the vehicle or beef up the suspension. They even implied
> the use of the hitch could void the warranty as they might argue I'm using
> it to pull excessive loads (and I don't tow). I asked about air shocks,
> and they said they don't supply these, and again don't recommend them as
> it could void the warranty.
>
> Thoughts on any of this would be appreciated. Could air shocks solve my
> problem? What about the warranty?
>
> Thanks.[/color]

Because of liability issues, manufacturers cannot suggest aftermarket
accessories or modifications that they have not tested. As far as
modifications voiding your warranty, only the specific parts of the vehicle
affected by the modification have their warranty voided. Your radio,
engine, etc. are unaffected. For example, if you install air shocks or air
bag lift kits, you won't have warranty coverage on your suspension or
perhaps brake lines if they are stretched out because of the amount of lift,
and keep in mind that the vehicle will handle differently if it is unloaded
and the rear suspension is sitting higher. Any warranty coverage for issues
related to the installation of a lift kit or air shocks would have to be
covered by either the installer or kit manufacturer.


--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

KYB gas-o-jet, mono tube shocks (KYB is the OEM supplier to Toyota), will
lift the rear end of your vehicle slightly due to the high pressure spring
type of action of these shocks (about an inch or so). This might be an easy
solution. They are a great shock, sort of a less expensive Bilstein from
Japan.

Richard.

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 09:21:28 -0400, Denis <denis_roy@rogers.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Hi,
>
>I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
>Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
>trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
>hitch,[/color]

Sounds overloaded to me.

Do the math and read the manual.

If the bikes were department store bikes on the typical hitch mount
rack, you were probably also at or over the 200 pound tongue weight
capacity of a typical minivan. Now put all the weight WAY out on the
rear tip of the body, and think of the leverage it has.

I think I forgot to mention the 'location' of the forum is at
Edmunds.com.

Geez.. this humidity has me so Alabama...

In article <ic7qf1lrj4325dmpmr3ccc7henp1dfiruv@4ax.com>,
Bonehenge <Keep_it_in_the_newsgroup_please@aol.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 09:21:28 -0400, Denis <denis_roy@rogers.com>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >Hi,
> >
> >I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
> >Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
> >trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
> >hitch,[/color]
>
> Sounds overloaded to me.
>
> Do the math and read the manual.
>
> If the bikes were department store bikes on the typical hitch mount
> rack, you were probably also at or over the 200 pound tongue weight
> capacity of a typical minivan. Now put all the weight WAY out on the
> rear tip of the body, and think of the leverage it has.[/color]

I weigh 155 and when I step on my hitch I do not see a drop in the
height between the bumper and ground on my 04 Sienna and I got stuff
loaded in the back end. I got a Hidden hitch installed.
--

Richard wrote:[color=blue]
> KYB gas-o-jet, mono tube shocks (KYB is the OEM supplier to Toyota), will
> lift the rear end of your vehicle slightly due to the high pressure spring
> type of action of these shocks (about an inch or so). This might be an easy
> solution. They are a great shock, sort of a less expensive Bilstein from
> Japan.
>
> Richard.
>
>[/color]
So these are not adjustable, i.e. you don't add pressure to them to
account for varying loading conditions?

Bonehenge wrote:[color=blue]
> On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 09:21:28 -0400, Denis <denis_roy@rogers.com>
> wrote:
>
>[color=green]
>>Hi,
>>
>>I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
>>Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
>>trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
>>hitch,[/color]
>
>
> Sounds overloaded to me.
>
> Do the math and read the manual.
>
> If the bikes were department store bikes on the typical hitch mount
> rack, you were probably also at or over the 200 pound tongue weight
> capacity of a typical minivan. Now put all the weight WAY out on the
> rear tip of the body, and think of the leverage it has.
>
>[/color]
Camping gear is not overly heavy compared to other stuff you might
carry. The van is seven passenger. On this trip, we were four, and the
two rear passengers weighed collectively 150 pounds (my 2 kids). If the
van was carrying 7 adult passengers, I should have been able to carry,
in addition to the driver and passenger, 5 X 150 lbs (for the average
adult). My 2 kids weigh 150 lbs together, so that leaves 4 X 150 lbs =
600 lbs for the camping gear and the bikes. There's no way both weighed
as much as that. Yes, the bikles hang out the rear of the van and will
worsen the load on the rear, but still......

Dbu. wrote:[color=blue]
> In article <ic7qf1lrj4325dmpmr3ccc7henp1dfiruv@4ax.com>,
> Bonehenge <Keep_it_in_the_newsgroup_please@aol.com> wrote:
>
>[color=green]
>>On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 09:21:28 -0400, Denis <denis_roy@rogers.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
>>>Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
>>>trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
>>>hitch,[/color]
>>
>>Sounds overloaded to me.
>>
>>Do the math and read the manual.
>>
>>If the bikes were department store bikes on the typical hitch mount
>>rack, you were probably also at or over the 200 pound tongue weight
>>capacity of a typical minivan. Now put all the weight WAY out on the
>>rear tip of the body, and think of the leverage it has.[/color]
>
>
> I weigh 155 and when I step on my hitch I do not see a drop in the
> height between the bumper and ground on my 04 Sienna and I got stuff
> loaded in the back end. I got a Hidden hitch installed.[/color]

Out of curiosity, how many people are in teh van when you do this? Any
idea how much weight is in the van? And could you tell me what the
height is between the bottom of the 2" receiver and the ground? I'm
just trying to figure out if there's a problem with my suspension,
compared to other Siennas.
Thanks.

"Denis" <denis_roy@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:xPGdnV7iIoHM8GPfRVn-2g@rogers.com...[color=blue]
> What's hitting the ground is the hitch, sometimes the receiver itself,
> sometimes either end of the hitch itself (passenger or driver side). The
> bike rack comes out of the receiver and immediately curves upwards, it has
> never hit the ground.
>[/color]

It is possible that the Hidden Hitch sits lower than other brands of
hitches. Combined with the Sienna's tendancy to sag when loaded, it could
account for bottoming out.

Someone else has suggested the lift bag kit, it sounds like a good solution.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply


[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:[color=green]
>> "Denis" <denis_roy@rogers.com> wrote in message
>> news:GMGdnZpTXrvPP2HfRVn-ig@rogers.com...
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I recently had installed a Hidden Hitch with a 2" receiver to my 2004
>>>Sienna. I use it to carry bikes (4), not to tow anything. On a camping
>>>trip, with the van full of camping gear, 4 people, and 4 bikes on the
>>>hitch, I found it stressful driving over any kind of bump or dip in the
>>>road as the hitch could (and did) bottom out and hit the pavement. On
>>>one occasion, when I came out of a mall entrance where the curb was about
>>>1.5" higher than the pavement, the hitch hit particularly hard.
>>>[/color]
>>
>>
>> What is actually hitting the ground? Is it the receiver or the bike
>> rack? We also have a hitch-mounted bike rack and it sticks out enough
>> that it used to occasionally bottom out on our Previa due to the low
>> position of the receiver. We don't have that problem with our Sequoia
>> since it sits so high off the ground.
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>>This van is factory-equipped to tow, and therefore I think it's
>>>reasonable to expect that I can install a hitch with a 2" receiver
>>>(although I don't tow anything, as indicated above). The van also has a
>>>large cargo capacity, meaning one can expect to load it up; as well
>>>camping gear is not particularly heavy, it's not like I was moving a load
>>>of bricks or lumber, or patio stones, etc. I find it disappointing that
>>>it cannot seem to handle what I consider to be a reasonable loading
>>>condition.[/color]
>>
>>
>> You may be able to reduce the bottoming out a little bit by loading the
>> heaviest items as far ahead of the rear axle as possible.
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Have others experienced the same issues? What solutions are there? I
>>>called Toyota and they were totally unhelpful. They said nothing could
>>>be done to raise the vehicle or beef up the suspension. They even
>>>implied the use of the hitch could void the warranty as they might argue
>>>I'm using it to pull excessive loads (and I don't tow). I asked about
>>>air shocks, and they said they don't supply these, and again don't
>>>recommend them as it could void the warranty.
>>>
>>>Thoughts on any of this would be appreciated. Could air shocks solve my
>>>problem? What about the warranty?
>>>
>>>Thanks.[/color]
>>
>>
>> Because of liability issues, manufacturers cannot suggest aftermarket
>> accessories or modifications that they have not tested. As far as
>> modifications voiding your warranty, only the specific parts of the
>> vehicle affected by the modification have their warranty voided. Your
>> radio, engine, etc. are unaffected. For example, if you install air
>> shocks or air bag lift kits, you won't have warranty coverage on your
>> suspension or perhaps brake lines if they are stretched out because of
>> the amount of lift, and keep in mind that the vehicle will handle
>> differently if it is unloaded and the rear suspension is sitting higher.
>> Any warranty coverage for issues related to the installation of a lift
>> kit or air shocks would have to be covered by either the installer or kit
>> manufacturer.
>>[/color][/color]

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:07:31 -0400, Denis <denis_roy@rogers.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Camping gear is not overly heavy compared to other stuff you might
>carry. The van is seven passenger. On this trip, we were four, and the
>two rear passengers weighed collectively 150 pounds (my 2 kids). If the
>van was carrying 7 adult passengers, I should have been able to carry,
>in addition to the driver and passenger, 5 X 150 lbs (for the average
>adult). My 2 kids weigh 150 lbs together, so that leaves 4 X 150 lbs =
>600 lbs for the camping gear and the bikes. There's no way both weighed
>as much as that.[/color]

Ever weigh it?

I know I was shocked the first time I rolled my commonly carried loads
across gravel pit scales.

"Denis" <denis_roy@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:xPGdnVniIoEk8GPfRVn-2g@rogers.com...[color=blue]
> Richard wrote:[color=green]
>> KYB gas-o-jet, mono tube shocks (KYB is the OEM supplier to Toyota), will
>> lift the rear end of your vehicle slightly due to the high pressure
>> spring type of action of these shocks (about an inch or so). This might
>> be an easy solution. They are a great shock, sort of a less expensive
>> Bilstein from Japan.
>>
>> Richard.[/color]
> So these are not adjustable, i.e. you don't add pressure to them to
> account for varying loading conditions?[/color]

Correct, they do not adjust for height.

Richard.

[color=blue]
> It is possible that the Hidden Hitch sits lower than other brands of
> hitches. Combined with the Sienna's tendancy to sag when loaded, it could
> account for bottoming out.
>[/color]

I believe that the "factory" hitch offers a wee bit more clearance, but that
is essentially because it's only a class 2 hitch and has smaller diameter
frame and reciever. The Hidden Hitch is a class 3 hitch with 2" diameter
reciever and a larger frame. So you are probably only talking about a 1/2"
to 3/4" difference.

The basic problem with the 2004+ Sienna is that the 3rd row fold-down seats
storage area limits how high any of the hitch receivers can go.

Later.

In article <11g4l9ba7pds355@corp.supernews.com>,
"Private Person" <ries@ccountry.net> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
> > It is possible that the Hidden Hitch sits lower than other brands of
> > hitches. Combined with the Sienna's tendancy to sag when loaded, it could
> > account for bottoming out.
> >[/color]
>
> I believe that the "factory" hitch offers a wee bit more clearance, but that
> is essentially because it's only a class 2 hitch and has smaller diameter
> frame and reciever. The Hidden Hitch is a class 3 hitch with 2" diameter
> reciever and a larger frame. So you are probably only talking about a 1/2"
> to 3/4" difference.
>
> The basic problem with the 2004+ Sienna is that the 3rd row fold-down seats
> storage area limits how high any of the hitch receivers can go.
>
> Later.[/color]

If I were to do some serious towing, like a travel trailer or big boat,
I'd have bought a Honda Pilot or equiv. Much better for towing big
stuff and you don't have to worry about clearances. The Sienna is a
great vehicle and I would not want my ride compromised by alterations to
the suspension.
--