Stealth Hitch Installation Experience

[ckamps]

Documenting my experience installing the Stealth Hitch with towing conversion kit on my 2018 SQ5 Prestige with S Sport package.

I'm part way through the installation process. I'll post updates as I complete the install today.

https://stealthhitches.com/products/...mk_audi~md_sq5

Why stealth vs OEM?

Since I don't use a hitch very often, I'd rather not have the receiver visible all of the time. When I do use it, it's mainly for a bike rack. Several times a year, I'll need to actually tow a modest trailer when renting stump grinders and similar equipment and pulling an aluminum trailer for mulch runs.

If I was regularly pulling a trailer, I probably would have gone OEM for the piece of mind. (I have no complaints with the OEM hitch on our 2016 Q5 3.0T for the same light duty use other than the fact it's visible all of the time).

I wasn't super crazy about the prospect of a non-OEM wiring integration, but we'll see how that goes.

Since the SQ5 already has a generous opening in the lower portion of the bumper, neither the OEM hitch nor the hidden hitch require trimming.

Install Experience (thus far)

Not bad thus far. I found several videos that helped with respect to the bumper removal process, but to me the process is still an art vs science as far as removal of the body colored fender liner covers goes. On my vehicle, there's a small black screw at the very bottom of the trim that had to be removed. I'll post picture of this aspect once I go through the bumper and trim install process.

Install video from etrailer.com (covers hitch install only, not the tow kit package and wiring):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ay31QBM6c

Another install video, but for another type of hitch (Curt). But it provides another perspective of removing the body color fender liner covers. Note that with the stealth hitch, you do NOT need to cut the fascia as shown in this video.

https://images.etrailer.com/static/i...c13331_web.mp4

The actual hitch install went off without a... hitch.

Wiring

I hooked up the wiring per the instructions for my 2018 SQ5, but only the tail lights in the trailer worked, No right and left turn signals and no hazards. Hmmmm…

Several days later, it dawned on me that, since I had done the euro amber turn signal mod and had reprogrammed the tail lights to separate the brake lights from the turn signals, the turn signal wires referenced in the Stealth Hitch doc were probably now brake lights. Doh!

See the euro/amber turn signal mod here: https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ghlight=Coding

My next step is to get the wife out in the garage and test the brake lights to confirm that this is the case, Then all I’ll need to do is identify the color coding of the actual turn signal wires. Which shouldn’t be too hard given that you can easily poke a tester into the rear lights from inside the hatch.

IMG_3508.jpg

IMG_3509.jpg

With 1UP Equip-D Single

5134955A-AAEB-4C47-B4C6-877C30CC2F1A.jpg

CAA7BCD9-4C03-47DD-BC6C-9F18958E2E6C.jpg

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[ckamps]

While removing the large black styrofoam tray from the trunk, I inadvertently broke several mounting tabs of the holder for the silver device shown below. I'm not sure whether I twisted the styrofoam tray too much or the silver device was stuck to the underside of the tray, but I'll be ordering a new plastic holder so that I can reattach the device properly to the trunk floor.

Based on the device's part number, 8W0907163, it looks like it might be the controller for the rear sport differential. Since many vehicles don't have this feature, I shouldn't be surprised that it wasn't shown in some of the installation videos and pictures.

The plastic holder is part number 80A907713A. Looks to be about $16. So not too bad of a screw up on my part.

Here's the device in what I believe is the proper position, but it's loose given that I broke several mounting tabs off of it:

IMG_3510.jpg

And the separate plastic tray:

IMG_3511.jpg

[ckamps]

Since I'll be waiting a bit for the replacement holder part to arrive, I wonder if this would be a good time to apply sound deadening to the trunk. Thoughts?

[tonytonitone]

I got a Stealth Hitch for the same reason, I occasionally throw my bike rack on and didn't want to pay for the factory Audi piece and don't care for the looks. I was lucky enough to have my mechanic friend assist with the installation so it was pretty easy. What rack are you going to be using?

[ckamps]

I got a Stealth Hitch for the same reason, I occasionally throw my bike rack on and didn't want to pay for the factory Audi piece and don't care for the looks. I was lucky enough to have my mechanic friend assist with the installation so it was pretty easy. What rack are you going to be using?

1UP Equip-D single rack with one extension (with ability to add second single extension for total of 3 bikes). I wanted the ability to use just a single slot under typical conditions. Hence not getting dual rack from the start.

Their wait list status can be off putting, but in the end took about 3 weeks from being added to the wait list and receiving the product.

[subaruski]

Love my 1up. Have single + add on when I need to carry two bikes.

1UP Equip-D single rack with one extension (with ability to add second single extension for total of 3 bikes). I wanted the ability to use just a single slot under typical conditions. Hence not getting dual rack from the start.

Their wait list status can be off putting, but in the end took about 3 weeks from being added to the wait list and receiving the product.

[tonytonitone]

A man of culture! We'll be twinning with the rack too, subaruski. I am going to order a 2" HD 1up today, but a double since I always haul 2 bikes on road trips and if I'm only taking one it can just go inside.

[ckamps]

Updated original post to account for the impact of having recoded my turn signals and brake lights to be separate. Which has an impact when interpreting the Stealth Hitch installation instructions for wiring color codes.