[Techy]

Ahhhh, just figured everything out. 2" receiver CURT Model 13329 trailer hitch will NOT fit on 2020 PHEV; however, it looks like there has been some success installing 1.25" receiver CURT Model #12171. Thanks for all the great info shared here. Any one with earlier Niro models not PHEV want to buy a trailer hitch 13329 cheap, let me know...... : )

Ahhhh, just figured everything out. 2" receiver CURT Model 13329 trailer hitch will NOT fit on 2020 PHEV; however, it looks like there has been some success installing 1.25" receiver CURT Model #12171. Thanks for all the great info shared here. Any one with earlier Niro models not PHEV want to buy a trailer hitch 13329 cheap, let me know...... : )

I have the 2020 HEV and installed the Curt 12171 for bike rack only. It is recessed a little more than my previous GM vehicle but works great for the bike rack and if I was going to tow (I won't) I would have to make sure my drawbar is longer than previous vehicle.

 

[PapaTodd]

Ahhhh, just figured everything out. 2" receiver CURT Model 13329 trailer hitch will NOT fit on 2020 PHEV; however, it looks like there has been some success installing 1.25" receiver CURT Model #12171. Thanks for all the great info shared here. Any one with earlier Niro models not PHEV want to buy a trailer hitch 13329 cheap, let me know...... : )

Hi Noreen,

Thanks for sharing your experience.

The installation on our 2020 Niro PHEV is done and all is well. It's the Curt Class II hitch (1 1/4" receiver). The receiver tube doesn't extend nearly as far back as the bumper, but with the length of the ball mount, there's no problem attaching our trailer. I haven't actually tried our bike rack yet, but it looks to me like there won't be a clearance problem; the tongue (if I can use that term here) of the bike rack looks like it will be long enough.

The shop where we bring our cars for work (Taber Street Auto Repair, for anyone who knows Ithaca) did the installation. They notched the flange on the hitch on one side to clear a bit of the car's frame, as others have said is necessary on the PHEV. Otherwise, no issues with the hitch.

As for the wiring, I was curious, so I removed the threshold of the hatch, and I found that they did the installation somewhat differently than what is shown in the wiring harness installation video and the written instructions. Apparently they just used their own expertise and experience and did it in a way that made sense to them. Everything works exactly as it should, so I can only assume all is well and trust their installation. The biggest deviation from the instructions that I see is that they did not run the power wire all the way up to the engine compartment and connect it to the large fuse box there, as the instructions indicate. Instead, they ran the wire to what appears to be (my ignorance will be obvious here) a battery, about the size of a normal car battery, in the right rear of the car, accessible via a small removable panel inside the cargo compartment on the right side. If anyone reading this knows anything about this, I'm curious about what that battery is doing there (I'll read the owner's manual at some point and see what I learn; I've only read the "quick start" stuff so far). In any case, I guess they figured that would work and would be easier than running that wire all the way to the front, and I guess they were right. Again, the lights all work as they should; I checked to be sure the connection of the trailer did not cause dimming of the car lights, and it does not.

Todd

 

[PapaTodd]

I have the 2020 HEV and installed the Curt 12171 for bike rack only. It is recessed a little more than my previous GM vehicle but works great for the bike rack and if I was going to tow (I won't) I would have to make sure my drawbar is longer than previous vehicle.

If you read my last post, I wonder if you have any thoughts about my comments on how they handled the power wire of the wiring harness.

 

[Techy]

Running the power wire to the 12V battery is fine as long as they fused it...I assume they did. Having the battery in the rear of the PHEV actually makes that connection much simpler. The HEV does not have a regular 12V battery so the PHEV definitely has an advantage when it comes to installing the trailer wire harness.

 

[PapaTodd]

Running the power wire to the 12V battery is fine as long as they fused it...I assume they did. Having the battery in the rear of the PHEV actually makes that connection much simpler. The HEV does not have a regular 12V battery so the PHEV definitely has an advantage when it comes to installing the trailer wire harness.

Thanks. That helps clarify things for me. Interesting that the PHEV has a 12V battery, while the HEV does not.

They used the fused wire that came with the Tekonsha harness to connect to this battery.

Thanks again!

 

[Techy]

The HEV has a 12V battery but it is part of the traction battery - not the traditional lead acid that is found in most vehicles...and the PHEV.
If I was adding the wiring harness to my Niro, it would be that exact Tekonsha - you made a good choice!

 

[PapaTodd]

The HEV has a 12V battery but it is part of the traction battery - not the traditional lead acid that is found in most vehicles...and the PHEV.
If I was adding the wiring harness to my Niro, it would be that exact Tekonsha - you made a good choice!

Thanks!

 

[thaddeusportz1]

Hi Noreen,

Thanks for sharing your experience.

The installation on our 2020 Niro PHEV is done and all is well. It's the Curt Class II hitch (1 1/4" receiver). The receiver tube doesn't extend nearly as far back as the bumper, but with the length of the ball mount, there's no problem attaching our trailer. I haven't actually tried our bike rack yet, but it looks to me like there won't be a clearance problem; the tongue (if I can use that term here) of the bike rack looks like it will be long enough.

The shop where we bring our cars for work (Taber Street Auto Repair, for anyone who knows Ithaca) did the installation. They notched the flange on the hitch on one side to clear a bit of the car's frame, as others have said is necessary on the PHEV. Otherwise, no issues with the hitch.

As for the wiring, I was curious, so I removed the threshold of the hatch, and I found that they did the installation somewhat differently than what is shown in the wiring harness installation video and the written instructions. Apparently they just used their own expertise and experience and did it in a way that made sense to them. Everything works exactly as it should, so I can only assume all is well and trust their installation. The biggest deviation from the instructions that I see is that they did not run the power wire all the way up to the engine compartment and connect it to the large fuse box there, as the instructions indicate. Instead, they ran the wire to what appears to be (my ignorance will be obvious here) a battery, about the size of a normal car battery, in the right rear of the car, accessible via a small removable panel inside the cargo compartment on the right side. If anyone reading this knows anything about this, I'm curious about what that battery is doing there (I'll read the owner's manual at some point and see what I learn; I've only read the "quick start" stuff so far). In any case, I guess they figured that would work and would be easier than running that wire all the way to the front, and I guess they were right. Again, the lights all work as they should; I checked to be sure the connection of the trailer did not cause dimming of the car lights, and it does not.

Todd

Can you take a picture of where they hooked in at?

 

[Techy]

Can you take a picture of where they hooked in at?

YouTube has excellent videos and usually the connection is made behind the tail light assemblies.

 

[thaddeusportz1]

YouTube has excellent videos and usually the connection is made behind the tail light assemblies.

I was more referring to where the 12V power was supplied. The PHEV has a battery in the rear that can be tied into instead of running a wire under the car up the fuse box, but there are two terminals on the main fuse that could be used. I was just wondering what the shop did that used this. Also does anyone know if there are any issues with disconnecting the 12V battery? Will it throw any diagnostic codes or anything?

 

[Techy]

I was more referring to where the 12V power was supplied. The PHEV has a battery in the rear that can be tied into instead of running a wire under the car up the fuse box, but there are two terminals on the main fuse that could be used. I was just wondering what the shop did that used this. Also does anyone know if there are any issues with disconnecting the 12V battery? Will it throw any diagnostic codes or anything?

As I understand the OP, the installers connected directly to the battery in the rear cargo area and that is beneficial because the 12V wire to the battery can be very short and easily accessible...other trailer wire connections will be made in the same area.
Disconnecting the 12V battery will not cause any codes. You will probably lose memory such as radio stations etc.

 

[thaddeusportz1]

Good deal. It should be an easy install then because there is a main fuse with a terminal nut that should be easy enough to put a ring terminal on. I just haven't ever owned a car with fancy features or an electric motor. So I wanted to make sure before I mess with it that there wasn't going to be any problems.

 

[thaddeusportz1]

All went pretty smooth. Had to trim up the hitch a bit to make it fit like others have said. Then the wiring was easy aside from popping the trim work off and getting my hands into the tight spaces. Super easy since the battery is in the back.

 

[Techy]

Yup, those "plug in" trailer wiring connectors are great and having the battery right there is icing on the cake.
Looks good!

 

[katscaos6]

Hi all,

Just bought a 2020 Niro EX Plug-in. Love it so far. We need to put a trailer hitch on it (for very light-duty towing and a bike rack), and I've read a couple other threads here about people making a small modification to the Curt Niro hitch to make it fit. That sounds good -- but if anyone has any updated experience with that to share, I'd appreciate it. My main question, though, is about the wiring.

On the etrailer web site, they list two custom wiring harnesses for the Niro -- a Tekonsha brand, and a Curt. However, they both say "excluding plug-in". I am far from an expert on vehicle wiring, but I'm guessing there is no actual difference between the wiring for the lights whether it's a plug-in or a regular hybrid. I suspect that the only reason it says "excluding plug-in" is that there isn't a hitch made specifically for the plug-in model, rather than it having anything to do with the wiring itself.

2020 Kia Niro Trailer Wiring | etrailer.com

Those of you who have installed a tow hitch on your Niro plug-in, can you shed some light on this? Are there any issues with the wiring I should know about? What wiring harness did you use? If you've used either of these two wiring harnesses sold by etrailer, did it go together seamlessly, and everything is fine?

Thanks so much,
Todd

Find a U-Haul dealer near you that do installation they are reasonable price and know the right one for the car and let them do it all did my 2018 cost 229.00 dollars for installation and hitch wires are more but I didn't need them

 

[Chemicalsaremyfriend]

Ahhhh, just figured everything out. 2" receiver CURT Model 13329 trailer hitch will NOT fit on 2020 PHEV; however, it looks like there has been some success installing 1.25" receiver CURT Model #12171. Thanks for all the great info shared here. Any one with earlier Niro models not PHEV want to buy a trailer hitch 13329 cheap, let me know...... : )

Do you still have this hitch? I'm interested

 

[colraf91]

I am interested in having a trailer hitch installed for a bike rack and then eventually for a light-weight teardrop. We actually went with the Niro because it was rated the best PHEV for towing capacity. I expect our trailer to be around 1,000 pounds. The dealer does not install hitches so I am wondering if having it installed by U-Haul will void any part of our warranty. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[Techy]

The actual installation cannot void the warranty but should you ever have a warranty claim, Kia will go to the end of the earth to blame it on the trailer hitch. I would caution you against the teardrop trailer but see no issue with the bike rack.

 

[colraf91]

Is it the weight of the tear drop that causes you concern? It is well below the towing capacity.

 

[Techy]

Is it the weight of the tear drop that causes you concern? It is well below the towing capacity.

What is the towing capacity?
My owners manual says: "We do not recommend using this vehicle for towing"
Same section says max vehicle weight is 850 lbs which could easily be exceeded by 5 adults with some luggage