PSA: how to install hitch receiver

[borski]

The instructions were a little unclear, so… once you have the trim piece off, the keyhole on the receiver is under the white plastic cover. Insert the key, move it to the unlocked position. Then pull the entire knob out, and only then turn it until the red stripe meets the white dot. It will lock in that position so you won’t have to hold it.

Then insert the receiver into the housing. It should take almost no force and will sound immensely satisfying to hear the click after twenty minutes of not knowing wtf to do.

The car automatically turned on tow hitch optimization, so it takes the length of the receiver into account for parking, etc.

You can then optionally switch into tow mode or turn on rear attachment optimization, depending on your needs. Once you hook up a trailer with electrical connections, it will give you the option to test the lights (which you should do), and then you must properly set the brake gain if the trailer is braked. The manual has the process for this.

Controlling the trailer brakes happens automatically, or you can pull down on the gear lever in tow mode.

TIL.

 

[borski]

 

[Bdr100]

Now hook up your bike rack and load your 4 e-bikes.

 

[raleighone]

I keep waiting for this "110 pound limit" joke to be over and Lucid come out with "okay, we have tested up to 200 pounds."

I'll keep waiting...

 

[borski]

Now hook up your bike rack and load your 4 e-bikes.

Friend is towing a 4000lb trailer, so meets my needs perfectly.

 

[Bdr100]

Friend is towing a 4000lb trailer, so meets my needs perfectly.

This will be a good test of effect on range when towing. Don’t think anyone has tested this.

 

[borski]

This will be a good test of effect on range when towing. Don’t think anyone has tested this.

That’s actually the big question. He’s not used to EVs, and so we’ll see about the range. Luckily it’s Silicon Valley to Napa, so not like there is any shortage of charging stations.

 

[Elfin]

I keep waiting for this "110 pound limit" joke to be over and Lucid come out with "okay, we have tested up to 200 pounds."

I'll keep waiting...

They did increase it to 119lbs in the latest revision of the manual. Lucid doesn’t make make the hitch receiver. Other cars with the same design and supplier are about the same rating (Model X is 120lbs.)

 

[ClearlyLucid]

The instructions were a little unclear, so… once you have the trim piece off, the keyhole on the receiver is under the white plastic cover. Insert the key, move it to the unlocked position. Then pull the entire knob out, and only then turn it until the red stripe meets the white dot. It will lock in that position so you won’t have to hold it.

Then insert the receiver into the housing. It should take almost no force and will sound immensely satisfying to hear the click after twenty minutes of not knowing wtf to do.

The car automatically turned on tow hitch optimization, so it takes the length of the receiver into account for parking, etc.

You can then optionally switch into tow mode or turn on rear attachment optimization, depending on your needs. Once you hook up a trailer with electrical connections, it will give you the option to test the lights (which you should do), and then you must properly set the brake gain if the trailer is braked. The manual has the process for this.

Controlling the trailer brakes happens automatically, or you can pull down on the gear lever in tow mode.

TIL.

This was helpful. I have a DE and I’m not seeing the Tow Mode.

Does the Tow Mode appear on your Home Screen without the hitch inserted? I don’t see it on mine. Customer service suggested II insert the hitch, but neither Tow Mode nor Attachment Optimization appeared in DDP. What’s the trick?

I had a heck of a time getting the hitch off, and getting the knob to return to the rest position and the lock to release. What’s the procedure for that? I’m afraid to put it on again for fear it won’t come off.

 

[borski]

This was helpful. I have a DE and I’m not seeing the Tow Mode.

Does the Tow Mode appear on your Home Screen without the hitch inserted? I don’t see it on mine. Customer service suggested II insert the hitch, but neither Tow Mode nor Attachment Optimization appeared in DDP. What’s the trick?

I had a heck of a time getting the hitch off, and getting the knob to return to the rest position and the lock to release. What’s the procedure for that? I’m afraid to put it on again for fear it won’t come off.

See page 115 of the manual.

But in short:

I did find it did not re-lock, and stayed unlocked, which sketched me out, so I stuck it back in and just pulled it out a bit instead of fully twisting the knob, and then let it go back to 'unattached'

 

[ClearlyLucid]

See page 115 of the manual.

But in short:
View attachment 33881

I did find it did not re-lock, and stayed unlocked, which sketched me out, so I stuck it back in and just pulled it out a bit instead of fully twisting the knob, and then let it go back to 'unattached'

Yeah, mine did not re-lock either. I finally pushed on one of the lower pins and then the knob went back to unattached/rest mode.

 

[ClearlyLucid]

See page 115 of the manual.

But in short:
View attachment 33881

I did find it did not re-lock, and stayed unlocked, which sketched me out, so I stuck it back in and just pulled it out a bit instead of fully twisting the knob, and then let it go back to 'unattached'

Can you confirm that Tow Mode appears on your pilot screen without or without the hitch inserted? Or does it only appear once the hitch is inserted?

Also, the manual mentions: “storing the detachable hitch receiver in its case.” Mine did not come with a case. I just came in a very heavy plastic blue bag.

 

[borski]

Can you confirm that Tow Mode appears on your pilot screen without or without the hitch inserted? Or does it only appear once the hitch is inserted?

Also, the manual mentions: “storing the detachable hitch receiver in its case.” Mine did not come with a case. I just came in a very heavy plastic blue bag.

Oh, sorry - yes, tow mode has been there since the day the OTA came out, right next to sprint. No need to attach the hitch.

And yes, no case. That’s a typo.

 

[ClearlyLucid]

Oh, sorry - yes, tow mode has been there since the day the OTA came out, right next to sprint. No need to attach the hitch.

And yes, no case. That’s a typo.

Ok. One last question, do “Rear Attachment Optimization” and “Hitch Optimization” appear at the bottom your Dream Drive menu without the hitch receiver inserted? The customer service rep thinks those only appear when the hitch receiver is attached. I think that’s incorrect.

 

[borski]

Ok. One last question, do “Rear Attachment Optimization” and “Hitch Optimization” appear at the bottom your Dream Drive menu without the hitch receiver inserted? The customer service rep thinks those only appear when the hitch receiver is attached. I think that’s incorrect.

They do. And when I attach the hitch the hitch optimization immediately turns on.

 

[ClearlyLucid]

They do. And when I attach the hitch the hitch optimization immediately turns on.

Clearly something is not configured correctly in my DE.

 

[borski]

Clearly something is not configured correctly in my DE.

That would be my guess

 

[davejonesesq]

This will be a good test of effect on range when towing. Don’t think anyone has tested this.

According to the "Dynamic Range" indicator on the dashboard screen that changed when I hooked up my bike rack lights and the car went into Tow Mode, the anticipated reduction in range is substantial. Like at least 50%.

 

[raleighone]

According to the "Dynamic Range" indicator on the dashboard screen that changed when I hooked up my bike rack lights and the car went into Tow Mode, the anticipated reduction in range is substantial. Like at least 50%.

Well that cannot be correct from just a bike rack. I'm guessing it will reset itself or something and show a more accurate dynamic range? I have a QuikRack Mach 2 I'm putting on in a couple of weeks so I'll check what that does, too.

 

[davejonesesq]

Well that cannot be correct from just a bike rack. I'm guessing it will reset itself or something and show a more accurate dynamic range? I have a QuikRack Mach 2 I'm putting on in a couple of weeks so I'll check what that does, too.

Agreed. I think that the indicator assumed that because I was in Tow mode, that I was towing a trailer. Once I switched to Smooth mode (My car didn't have Rear Attachment Optimization Mode) the Dynamic Range indicator went back to above 3 mi/kw. It seemed as if the indicator was estimating rather than measuring when I was in Tow Mode.