Frequently Asked Questions

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Just like a regular funnel, The Hitchhacker is very straightforward to use.  Magnetically connect it to your hitch receiver and utilize the three-sided funnel to visually and physically guide the carrier's post into the narrow opening. In order to minimize back injury with heavy carriers, stand upright and keep your back straight during install. It may be more comfortable to install some carriers in a folded up position (not in the transport position). Remove The HitchHacker and, if needed, wiggle the carrier gently to adjust the insertion depth for hitch pin installation.

Because hitch receivers are square, The HitchHacker can typically be installed in any of the four orientations. However, some recessed receivers could have obstructions that may not allow a certain orientation to be used. You will also want to evaluate the characteristics of your carrier and use an orientation that allows the over-insertion shield to be most effective. In our testing, most users preferred the logo side at the top but others prefer it facing the bottom or side. Try it a few different ways to decide your preference.

If you are having trouble inserting the carrier, it's almost always due to an incorrect angle on the carrier's hitch post (which should be horizontal to the ground during insertion). If The HitchHacker is installed with the top orientation, it could appear as if the post is flush with the funnel, but it may actually be angled downward and getting blocked at the bottom of the receiver. If a carrier is in the folded up position, the post often isn't a 90 degree angle to the bike tray, so you will want to take note of that. For best results, angle the hitch post slightly up when using the top orientation.  A knee or shin can be used to gently leverage the proper angle of the carrier post. If you are still having trouble, try a different install orientation. For most users, they become a pro after practicing just a few times!

Most people don't struggle with the carrier installation (as much) if they have a clear line of sight to the vehicle's hitch receiver. The receiver's square opening will always provide little margin for error because there should be a tight fit with the hitch post. So that means The HitchHacker's funnel feature will still help there.

If there isn't a clear line of sight to the receiver, the installation process for a "heavy" hitch mount carrier can be extremely frustrating . It may require a second person and/or can be time consuming (with the installer just poking the hitch post towards the receiver, hoping to eventually get lucky). The HitchHacker solves the issue by essentially "extending" the receiver opening out to be visible. In addition, the three-sided funnel has a more forgiving opening that helps guide the hitch post directly into the receiver. Carriers also tend to be closer to the vehicle when installed to a recessed receiver, so The HitchHacker's over-insertion shield provides some additional value there.

In short, if you struggle with inserting your hitch mount carrier into your vehicle's receiver, give The HitchHacker a shot - satisfaction is guaranteed!

There are a few reasons why these extremely strong magnets are used. First off, weaker magnets would allow The HitchHacker to slide out of position during the install, which would decrease it's effectiveness. Magnets also tend to be highly corrosive, relatively fragile and have trouble adhering to plastic with glue. To combat these issues, The HitchHacker uses three epoxy coated magnets that are permanently embedded inside the plastic. By connecting "through the ABS plastic" the magnets (and hitch receiver) are protected from scratching that could eventually lead to rust and other corrosion.

The HitchHacker has three lips on the U-Shaped Face that wrap around the hitch receiver to restrict directional movement. The center bar magnet is designed to keep the fourth side (with no lip) in place. If too much pressure is placed in that direction, The HitchHacker will "hinge" on the center magnet and provide a visual indicator that too much pressure is being applied. The side magnets (and gravity for a top mount orientation) will help pull the device back into proper position. In short, the hinging helps keep The HitchHacker in the proper position. If larger/stronger side magnets were used, excessive pressure would cause the the device to slide out of place on the receiver (and not revert back into proper position).

A lifehack is defined as "a simple and clever technique for accomplishing a task more easily and efficiently."  The HitchHacker is a tool that simplifies the installation of heavy bike and cargo carriers into a recessed hitch receiver.  Without the HitchHacker, the installer will need to (1) guess where the recessed receiver is precisely located, (2) ask for a second person to assist with the insertion, or (3) hunch over or kneel down (while carrying a 60+ pound carrier) to visually identify the location of the receiver opening. All of the above mentioned steps typically result in a frustrating time consuming experience and/or subsequent back pain due to poor posture.  Many different products exist to assist with the loading of e-bikes onto a carrier, whereas The HitchHacker is the ONLY product available to assist with loading an "equally heavy" carrier into the vehicle's hitch receiver.

That is a potential solution, but there are a few drawbacks versus using The HitchHacker. First off, carrier installation (and removal) with a hitch extender will take more time and will require two hitch pins. If you are carrying two e-bikes on a heavy duty carrier, it could be valued over $5,000. As a result, you will also want to make sure you use locking hitch pins to prevent theft.

Second, hitch extenders create more wobble and rattle during transport. A u-shaped hitch tightener/stabilizer can be purchased to reduce wobble, but that also adds another step into the installation and removal process.

If a carrier is extended too far away from the vehicle, it may also cause problems if the road isn't flat. For instance, the carrier could "bottom out" on a steep driveway, causing damage to both the carrier and the hitch receiver/vehicle.

Finally, a hitch extender will create additional "vertical load" on the receiver. Many vehicles have limits on the vertical load, which is not necessarily the same as tongue weight. For instance, the Tesla Model Y allows for 350 pounds of tongue weight (where a trailer is supported by wheels) but recommends up to 160 pounds of vertical load (which applies to a bike or cargo carrier without any wheel support). The combined weight of two e-bikes and a heavy duty carrier can potentially exceed that limit. Removal of the battery packs will reduce cargo weight, typically about 10 pounds per e-bike.

To put the vertical load into perspective, imagine replacing a car tire, which requires use of a lug wrench to remove the lug nuts. If that lug wrench was only three inches long, it would be virtually impossible to remove the lug nuts.  But a three foot long wrench would provide significantly more leverage, allowing easy removal of the lug nuts.  A hitch extender will push the carrier further away from the vehicle, which means it will also increase the leverage placed on the vertical load, especially when going over potholes and speed bumps.  If a hitch tightener is not used, the additional play over bumps will create additional vertical load. In short, use of a hitch extender can increase the likelihood of vehicle damage due to excessive vertical loads.

First off, the hitch receiver must be made from a metal that is attracted to magnets. The good news is almost 100% of hitch receivers are made of steel due to it's strength and durability. The HitchHacker is currently only available for 2-inch hitch receivers, which is the most common size for heavy duty carriers that exceed 50 pounds. To clarify, there are many carriers that utilize a 1.25" receiver, but they tend to be "lighter weight" and are not designed to carry heavy cargo, such as dual e-bikes or dirt bikes. In short, a 1.25" hitch would not benefit as much from The HitchHacker. Some heavy duty carriers will utilize a 2.25" receiver, but they are less common. Before ordering, please make sure your receiver has a 2" opening.

Pay attention to your hitch receiver's vertical load limit and try not to significantly exceed it. It's typically not going to be an issue if you exceed the limit by 20 or 30 pounds, but it may be best to remove e-bike batteries during transport.

If you are loading two e-bikes on a carrier with a ramp, it's best to load the bike closest to the vehicle first. Push it forward with the handlebars. The second bike should be backed into the bike tray, with the handlebars in the opposite direction. If you load the opposite way, (back in the first bike) then you will have a "handlebar battle" when you try to load the second bike (in the opposite direction).

If your vehicle's hitch receiver is enclosed inside the bumper (behind a removable cover), then there may not be much room to install a locking hitch pin.  When you place an order that includes a lockable hitch pin, but sure to request one that has the lock facing 90 degrees from the pin (towards the enclosure opening).  If the receiver is enclosed, it may be difficult (or impossible) to insert a key from the side.

Recessed hitch receivers tend to have the carrier (and cargo) closer to the vehicle during transport. Many vehicles also have liftgates or trunks that are virtually flush with the bumper. When transporting bicycles, the pedals will typically spin due to wind, bumps in the road etc. The bikes will also have some wobble on the carrier.  In short, make sure the bike pedals will always have sufficient clearance from the vehicle's liftgate/trunk. If there is any concern the pedals could spin and make contact with the vehicle, ensure straps are used to lock the pedals in a safe place. Loose pedals can also damage a second bike on the carrier. Be smart and don't learn the hard way!