Outback Wilderness hitch install gone wrong

683 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by 23blueobw, 8 d ago

23blueobw

Discussion Starter · 16 d ago (Edited)

Well, add me to the list of owners that got a janky OEM hitch install on my 23 Wilderness at the dealer.

I do kind of feel for the tech as they're trickier installs, but a little peeved off they tried to let it slide and not say anything before I went to pick it up. I spotted it right away. You can tell they cut the hole too big on the left side and that's as low as they could get it while still having bumper to install that left push pin into.

The dealer is doing the right thing by replacing the bumper so good on them. The service advisor and manager were great to deal with. I have to wait 2-3+ weeks for parts etc to come in and go back again which kind of sucks. I'm a little nervous about having non-factory paint on the new bumper but that's better than crooked trim. That would of bugged the crap out of me.

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Mike Bennett

· #2 · 16 d ago

I ordered mine with the OEM hitch, I assumed it came that way from the factory. Do dealers always install them?

Regardless mine was done properly.

OldGnome

· #3 · 16 d ago

Mike Bennett said:
I ordered mine with the OEM hitch, I assumed it came that way from the factory. Do dealers always install them?

I was told by my salesperson when I ordered mine that having the dealer install the hitch instead of the factory is a big money saver.

ragu

· #4 · 16 d ago

OldGnome said:
I was told by my salesperson when I ordered mine that having the dealer install the hitch instead of the factory is a big money saver.

Of course it (the cost) varies by Dealer - but usually the opposite is true - especially if you bought the car using the VIP pricing process!

Micron

· #5 · 16 d ago

OldGnome said:
I was told by my salesperson when I ordered mine that having the dealer install the hitch instead of the factory is a big money saver.

It would be interesting if someone with the numbers could post them. I suspect the truth is that it's more of a money maker for the dealer if they do it. I can't imagine their recommendation is based on your best interests.

Reactions: 1

ragu

· #6 · 16 d ago

Mike Bennett said:
I ordered mine with the OEM hitch, I assumed it came that way from the factory. Do dealers always install them?

Regardless mine was done properly.

The factory (OEM) hitches are either put on at the Port (ideal) or at the Dealer. Not too long ago there was a shortage of the OEM hitches (made in Russia) and by default the hitches were installed much later at the Dealers - if you could even get one.

Mike Bennett

· #7 · 16 d ago

Micron said:
It would be interesting if someone with the numbers could post them. I suspect the truth is that it's more of a money maker for the dealer if they do it. I can't imagine their recommendation is based on your best interests.

I suspect that observation is spot on.

Voyager88

· #8 · 16 d ago

OldGnome said:
I was told by my salesperson when I ordered mine that having the dealer install the hitch instead of the factory is a big money saver.

Just the opposite. If it’s factory-installed there is no added dealer installation charge. Mine was factory-installed.

23blueobw

Discussion Starter · #9 · 16 d ago

ragu said:
The factory (OEM) hitches are either put on at the Port (ideal) or at the Dealer. Not too long ago there was a shortage of the OEM hitches (made in Russia) and by default the hitches were installed much later at the Dealers - if you could even get one.

Yeah I ordered mine online and was originally going to install it myself as I'm mechanically inclined. But I had to bring it back to have something else taken care of and figured they could knock it out. I was told they have a hitch guy specifically trained to do the Wilderness... Either he was having a bad day or I got a regular tech LOL.

I paid $300 to have the hitch installed so unfortunately they're going to lose their butt on this one. I just hope the tech gets some training. It's OK to make mistakes, it's how you handle the mistakes that makes all the difference in customer perception.

Dick Ellingson

· #10 · 15 d ago

OldGnome said:
I was told by my salesperson when I ordered mine that having the dealer install the hitch instead of the factory is a big money saver.

For them, not for you.

Trail Runner

· #11 · 13 d ago

Dick Ellingson said:
For them, not for you.

NEVER……trust a car salesperson. Especially when they start talking about how they are saving YOU money. Lol.

johnre

· #12 · 12 d ago

23blueobw said:
I'm a little nervous about having non-factory paint on the new bumper but that's better than crooked trim.

It will match well - don't worry.

Micron said:
I suspect the truth is that [installing the hitch is] more of a money maker for the dealer if they do it.

Maybe not if they factor in the cost of having to replace bumpers for the jobs they messed up.

quickster2

· #13 · 12 d ago

I'd rather stick with the factory painted bumper, factory fit & finish, not mess with the wiring for the cameras, etc. I bet a heat gun and some finesse, maybe some super glue, can pretty much alleviate the trim issue. Regardless, good luck.

23blueobw

Discussion Starter · #14 · 12 d ago

quickster2 said:
I'd rather stick with the factory painted bumper, factory fit & finish, not mess with the wiring for the cameras, etc. I bet a heat gun and some finesse, maybe some super glue, can pretty much alleviate the trim issue. Regardless, good luck.

I agree on the factory finish but they cut the hole too big so it's 1/4" higher on the left side. You can't move it down on that side to make all the lines line up and the trim piece fit.

Reactions: 2

Xen

· #15 · 8 d ago

I think it's stupid that they don't have a molded bumper made for the hitch. I would've been fine wrenching to get the official hitch on, but the cutting of my new shiny car is something I can't stomach. I've seen people liking the Curt hitch, which seems to about lineup with the tailpipes anyway.

23blueobw

Discussion Starter · #16 · 8 d ago

Xen said:
I think it's stupid that they don't have a molded bumper made for the hitch. I would've been fine wrenching to get the official hitch on, but the cutting of my new shiny car is something I can't stomach. I've seen people liking the Curt hitch, which seems to about lineup with the tailpipes anyway.

Yeah, that's exactly why I had the dealer do it. I'm pretty mechanical but cutting a bumper cover wrong is not easily fixable, as seen in my case LOL.

I have yet to hear from the dealer on a ETA replacement bumper. I'm guessing a month.

I don't like how the other hitch options hang below the bumper.

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