Has anyone figured out a way to add a trailer hitch to the back of this thing? I just bought a 2017 Guards Red Boxster S and I am new to the forum. If you made it this far, know I am kidding and just wanted to say hello and can’t wait to meet people on here!
GuardRedBoxsterS
Trailer Hitch?
There's a thread in the forums about someone installing a specialty hitch for Porsche. They used it to trailer tires and tools to track days.
I had one on my ND1 Miata. Definitely useful for bike rack.
Welcome, @GuardRedBoxsterS ! I hope you’re enjoying your car.
Welcome, @GuardRedBoxsterS ! I hope you’re enjoying your car.
You kid about it but it's been done on Caymans and 911s via the rear tow hitch receiver that's behind the license plate.
I've got your car's sibling. 2017 Guards red Cayman S.
I've got your car's sibling. 2017 Guards red Cayman S.
it's been done, at least on 987& 981 versions. I know, I did it on my 987 to pull a small track tire trailer. But, . . . . there are not inconsequential considerations and trade offs. A search of the web should turn up some threads and pictures etc. of tire trailer tow conversions. One consideration (at least for/on the 987 Cayman/Boxsters) is the tow connection is a "bumper" mount. This means all the hitch forces are transmitted and managed through the bumper & crucially, the bumper mounts, which on the 987 were originally a complex @5mph shock absorber piston device, later IIRC converted to a "one time use" but lighter sacrificial collapsible energy absorbing tube. There was a lot of forum chat room back & forth discussion of the "structural" reliability of putting vertical and horizontal bending, tugging, pushing, pulling loads on the "piston" connection, over time leading to the connection failure.
A second consideration is the location of the center exit exhaust which, depending on how one does the hitch, blows hot air over the hitch mount, in as much as the "preferred" hitch receiver mounts were "hidden" behind the rear license plate location, and the plate mounted on a flip down or up hinge. installing the hidden hitch system receiver required removing the rear (substantial on the 987 & 981's) aluminum bumper and cutting a largish, @ 2& 1/2" x 2&1/2" square hole in the aluminum beam -- was assembling the parts to do the same kind of install on my 981 to use the trailer but feel off the "lesser cars" mid engine wagon for a time and got a 991 GT3 in trade for the 981. I still have the hitch
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the heat from the exhaust tended to play rough with the hidden hitch release lock -- making it very difficult to get the hitch out of the receiver to run on the track. There are also concerns with respect to any "safety" chain hook ups one might use. OTOH, folks would say if the Porsche engineered the rear tow eyelet and attachment strong enough to warrant pulling the car, it . . . . . . YMMV.
If I can find them I'll try to post a photo or two of the setup. Miss the 987 Cayman hard mount point that were on the roof of that model and attached to a Porsche factory roof mount system.
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A second consideration is the location of the center exit exhaust which, depending on how one does the hitch, blows hot air over the hitch mount, in as much as the "preferred" hitch receiver mounts were "hidden" behind the rear license plate location, and the plate mounted on a flip down or up hinge. installing the hidden hitch system receiver required removing the rear (substantial on the 987 & 981's) aluminum bumper and cutting a largish, @ 2& 1/2" x 2&1/2" square hole in the aluminum beam -- was assembling the parts to do the same kind of install on my 981 to use the trailer but feel off the "lesser cars" mid engine wagon for a time and got a 991 GT3 in trade for the 981. I still have the hitch
the heat from the exhaust tended to play rough with the hidden hitch release lock -- making it very difficult to get the hitch out of the receiver to run on the track. There are also concerns with respect to any "safety" chain hook ups one might use. OTOH, folks would say if the Porsche engineered the rear tow eyelet and attachment strong enough to warrant pulling the car, it . . . . . . YMMV.
If I can find them I'll try to post a photo or two of the setup. Miss the 987 Cayman hard mount point that were on the roof of that model and attached to a Porsche factory roof mount system.
I bet the center roof hitch would work with a Boxster as well if you welded an extension for the mounts. Looks like you could track it too with the tight turning radius.PS, if you're really serious, center of the roof if you have a Cayman opens a world of alternatives:
Edit: You might want to consider some aeros if you are planning on a high speed track.
I often see 911's and 718's with small trailers carrying TIRES/WHEELs to Watkin Glen...LOL. I never have time to go myself. Oh well.
Mike
Mike
First, on a more serious note, for a "hidden hitch" version done locally, on 981's & older 987's see Porsche 981 Hidden Trailer Hitch
Less serious, if Porsche would only make the 718 in a diesel . . . . . the world would be our oyster
looks like one could get away with a LOT if you tie into the roof roll structure . . . .
Sports car Caravan-ing is within reach, Drive to, & camp at the track!
Less serious, if Porsche would only make the 718 in a diesel . . . . . the world would be our oyster
looks like one could get away with a LOT if you tie into the roof roll structure . . . .
Sports car Caravan-ing is within reach, Drive to, & camp at the track!
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