http://www.hitchesonline.com/toyota_cl1_sion_xa_05.htm
With the DaLan xA hitch selling for only $139, I'm game for this to mount my mountain bike to my xA rather than a roof rack that's a lot higher up and harder to get to.

That said:
1. Anyone with this on their xA with a bike carrier? I wonder if this aftermarket hitch will give sufficient clearance to mount the typical Yakima, etc. bike carrier onto the hitch w/o adjusting the clearance, etc. Don't know how much the round butt of the xA affects these things....
2. Anyone have a specific bike carrier that does 100% work with their hitch?
3. How hard is it to self-install this hitch with little know-how around a car? Can work the basics of assembling ikea furniture and stuff, so dealer install? or self?
4. How does this hitch affect the Toyota warranty + extended Toyota warranty? Don't want to affect the 7 year warranty I got for no good reason.
5. Does the hitch affect the bottom of the xA? Clearning bumps, etc?

THanks! =)

 

I have had the hitch on my car a few months now. I use my xA to tow a 4x8 trailer with my sportbike on it for trackdays with no problems. Approximate weight being towed is 800lbs.+ me and my riding gear. The trailer is rated at 2000lbs., a weight I don't believe the car will be able to tow.

Installation is soooooooooo simple, as long as you know how to turn a wrench. I had mine installed, because for $20 in labor, it saved me from installing it in the Texas heat . The hitch will be tucked behind the bumper so the only thing you'll see from behind will be the receiver.

I have no personal experience with a bicycle carrier attached to the hitch, so I really don't know how well that would work.

In response to your question about warranty, I believe that Toyota/Scion, based on what's stated in the owners manual, does not recommend towing. Technically though, in your situation, you won't really be towing anything, right? Just carrying bikes on a rack, attached to a hitch, hehehe .

Good luck and I hope the xA will provide good service for you as it has for me. :D