Choosing Hitch Installation on 2014 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI and 2015 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L TDI

Updated 04/10/2019 | Published 04/08/2019

Products Featured in This Question

EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"

(93)

$390.67

T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(97)

$96.94

EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"

(148)

$390.67

Curt Powered Tail Light Converter w/ 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector and Install Kit

(139)

$165.07

Question:

Im looking to install a trailer hitch on either my 2014 Jetta Sportwagen TDI or 2015 Passat TDI. Im leaning towards the ones that mount on the bumper mounts. It will only be used to pull a small 4x8 trailer. Which would be better?

asked by: Ryan M

Expert Reply:

In a light-duty towing application like yours, to be perfectly honest, if it were my money I would choose the lowest cost hitch for whichever car you choose to equip with a hitch. All have identical capacities.

For the 2014 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI we have the 2-inch EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch 306-X7284 which does install at the bumper mounts. This hitch is shown on the linked page.

This EcoHitch installs without drilling, but it is a challenging installation. I linked an install video and the written instructions for you to check out. If your trailer has lights you can use 4-pole wiring kit # C59496.

For the 2015 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L TDI we again have both 1-1/4-inch and 2-inch options that are all rated with the same capacities and all are no-drill installs, with the 2-inch bumper-mount-install EcoHitch model # 306-X7317 again being the more challenging installation. These three options from Curt, Draw-Tite and EcoHitch appear on the other linked page. For wiring use # 118646.

Apart from the EcoHitch options' higher cost and tougher installation there is the potential concern that in the event you were to be tapped from the rear by another vehicle you might have the hitch get damaged along with the bumper, but you can also look at it the other way: that the hitch might actually protect you in such an event since it provides more steel between you and the bad driver behind you.

If you're planning on doing the wrenching yourself, in which case your labor is sort of "free", then having the 2-inch receiver size you get with the EcoHitch models is nice. There are simply more hitch mount accessories made for 2-inch hitches than for 1-1/4-inchers. If you'll be paying someone to do it then the extra hour or so of install time for the EcoHitches might start to matter more.

Once you decide on the car/hitch preference please let me know and I will be glad to recommend a ball mount and a hitch ball to match your trailer's coupler size.