Towing with the Bolt
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I have a 2009 Chevy Equinox CUV (Gen 1 from 2005 to 2009), which is FWD and it has a factory tow bar. I have seen other Equinox CUVs towing a small boat, and I know that other FWD SUVs and CUVs can tow even heavier stuff. The Bolt EV is a small CUV type, so if GM offers a tow bar, then it will work, too. Bike racks exist for many vehicle, some much smaller than the Bolt EV.
Just wait until the Bolt EV arrives at your dealer, then order the tow bar and bike rack you need.
Just wait until the Bolt EV arrives at your dealer, then order the tow bar and bike rack you need.
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The only thing CUVish about the Bolt EV is the seating height. It's basically a hatchback that is a little heavier than it looks.
I do not expect GM to offer a tow hitch as a dealer installed option. I suspect aftermarket companies will offer one eventually.
Dynamically, the Bolt EV would likely tow better than a similarly sized car. It has a long wheelbase, low cg and enough torque. But it's still only a small FWD car. Also, because it's already so efficient, the addition of a trailer will significantly impact range.
What kind or size trailer do you want to tow? Pulling a small utility trailer around town? Sure. Camper? No way.
I do not expect GM to offer a tow hitch as a dealer installed option. I suspect aftermarket companies will offer one eventually.
Dynamically, the Bolt EV would likely tow better than a similarly sized car. It has a long wheelbase, low cg and enough torque. But it's still only a small FWD car. Also, because it's already so efficient, the addition of a trailer will significantly impact range.
What kind or size trailer do you want to tow? Pulling a small utility trailer around town? Sure. Camper? No way.
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It will be interesting to see how Opel limits towing with the Ampera-e verses how Chevy limits the Bolt EV. Towing with small cars is more expected and accepted in Europe.
A Class 1 hitch (1.25", 2000lbs) may be reasonable but Chevy would much rather sell you other (higher margin) products for towing. It's just too easy for them to say "no" since the market of Bolt EV buyers wanting to tow is likely very small. Look at the Volt or Malibu as surrogates here. You can expect the same warnings in their manuals to be cut-and-pasted into the Bolt EV owners manual.
A Class 1 hitch (1.25", 2000lbs) may be reasonable but Chevy would much rather sell you other (higher margin) products for towing. It's just too easy for them to say "no" since the market of Bolt EV buyers wanting to tow is likely very small. Look at the Volt or Malibu as surrogates here. You can expect the same warnings in their manuals to be cut-and-pasted into the Bolt EV owners manual.
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If you're looking at a trailer hitch type rack, fitting a tow bar to the Bolt might be problematic. You'll likely have to wait an take a peek under the rear, but it's likely that you would need to cut or modify the aero shield (if you can find a tow bar that fits).
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A small utility trailer would be just fine. You'll never get GM to officially say that you can tow with the Bolt or any other subcompact car.
Take a look at uhaul.com. This is probably one of the most liability-averse companies around, and they'll rent you a 5 x 10 cargo trailer to tow with a Chevy Sonic. Obviously a 31-foot Airstream isn't going to work with the Bolt, but a little trailer or boat is okay.
Take a look at uhaul.com. This is probably one of the most liability-averse companies around, and they'll rent you a 5 x 10 cargo trailer to tow with a Chevy Sonic. Obviously a 31-foot Airstream isn't going to work with the Bolt, but a little trailer or boat is okay.
I own a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (have been driving it here in the Netherlands for little over 3 years and 60 k miles). I use it frequently to tow a 1500 kg caravan. Obviously it needs the ICE for covering any serious distance, but it wil happily tow the caravan 10 - 15 km in pure electric mode (as long as I am not in a hurry ;-)).
In pure electric mode, power is limited to 60 kW, as the battery is only 12 kWh and battery power output is limited to roughly 5C. So, if the Outlander can tow a 1500 kg using 60 kW of battery power, power wise the Bolt should be more than capable of towing a decent trailer. But I don't expect they will let you.
In pure electric mode, power is limited to 60 kW, as the battery is only 12 kWh and battery power output is limited to roughly 5C. So, if the Outlander can tow a 1500 kg using 60 kW of battery power, power wise the Bolt should be more than capable of towing a decent trailer. But I don't expect they will let you.
On the flip side as yourself how often you really need to tow something and if it's not that often or to a frequency where renting more tow capable vehicle makes sense, then go that route.
For our trips up to the cottage and family down south, renting an SUV is what we'll be doing.
For our trips up to the cottage and family down south, renting an SUV is what we'll be doing.
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I would install a tow hitch and drawbar but rarely for towing. The drawbar in the hitch protects the rear bumper from other drivers in parking lots who "park by feel". The drawbar is also a readily available hitch for those times stuck in snow or mud.
I looked under the back on my Bolt, and there is a whole bunch of room behind the rear facia for a aftermarket hitch to be installed, and the bolts that attach the rear aluminum "crash" bumper fasten to a couple of pretty beefy framelike pieces that should easily support a couple hundred pounds of extra weight. A hole would have to be cut for the receiver to come through, probably in the lower black part of the rear facia, below the aluminum "crash" bumper. If I were to guess, I would even say a class 2 hitch might be possible that way.
Someone received a hitch already for the Bolt way back in November. 
http://www.chevybolt.org/forum/121-towing/4618-trailer-hitch-2.html Pretty funny that bro1999 got his before it was supposed to be released officially.
http://www.chevybolt.org/forum/121-towing/4618-trailer-hitch-2.html Pretty funny that bro1999 got his before it was supposed to be released officially.Cutting is definitely something I would need to take for someone else to do. I don't trust myself with a dremel and a cutting wheel.. it would end up ugly :|
@sharkvolt are you planning to cut into the Bolt?
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Still haven't installed it. Haven't had time.Someone received a hitch already for the Bolt way back in November.
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