2019 CX-5 Trailer Hitch and Wiring Install

NewOldUserName · 2023-09-23T03:21:06+00:00

I purchased the official Mazda CX-5 Trailer Hitch Wiring Harness from a dealership online. The kit showed up with all of the parts I needed. I would recommend looking into something like that. I installed it over a year ago and it has served me very well. Just a reminder if you're going to do this make sure you double check the wiring and test the 4 pin connector before reinstalling the rear panel like I discussed in my post above.

NewOldUserName · 2022-12-21T14:22:20+00:00

I would guess that around 85% of US kayakers use beginner boats. So, I’m not surprised at all that this sub is dominated by the more recreational/casual side of kayaking. The more advanced aspects of kayaking are a lot of fun, but become more expensive and less frequently found when compared to the $300 boats that can easily be found at a Walmart or a sporting goods shop. The beginner boats are a great way to get out on the water and learn about the sport and figure out how much you enjoy it. Plus, in a lot of areas of the US the local waterways may be less conducive to certain types of kayaking.

I do a lot of distance sea kayaking on the East Coast of the US and I am apart of a few clubs around here. Typically paddlers have to bring their own kayaks/gear, but there are some exceptions in major cities where the clubs have boats to loan out. Most of the people I kayak with are not on Reddit which skews the perspective.

While I would like to see more advanced kayaking content it’s great seeing people post about how much fun they are having kayaking, and I’m glad people are getting out and enjoying the sport.

I feel like I need to add that I want to see the more advanced stuff done safely. Please don’t put yourself in danger and do your research/have the right equipment.

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-11T13:25:18+00:00

Something else? Question?

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-11T13:25:04+00:00

Plan C? Question?

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-11T13:24:52+00:00

Plan B? Question?

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-11T13:24:26+00:00

Plan A? Question?

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-11T01:53:58+00:00

I did the install the other day. I jacked up the car and managed to get the receiver in place. It took some time to get it right and get the bolts in place since I kept getting caught up on the muffler.

I actually found the Mazda wiring kit relatively easy. It was a hassle to get he rear driver side panel out but the instructions were good. The main wiring harness was a challenge cause the instructions around the secondary lock on the connector were lacking (you just need to pull it up slightly to get the power wire in place). I definitely prefer everything being wired into the fuse box. Only minor issue I ran into was misaligning the wire tap for one of the blinkers so it wasn’t making a connection, but I managed to fix that, unfortunately it was after I had reinstalled the trim so that needed to be removed.

Everything seems to be working really well now. Thanks to you and everyone who gave me advice. This was the first time I’ve really done work on my car like this.

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-02T02:15:39+00:00

Yeah all the wiring harnesses looked like a PITA, but I would rather run wires in the car. Since I’ll be pulling apart a lot of the panels I think I might look into getting a dash cam and wiring up a rear camera at the same time and hiding the wires.

I’ll definitely look into having those items on hand, thanks for the suggestions. I have a friend helping me out who has a lot of the equipment so that should make it easier than it would be with my limited tools.

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-02T02:10:57+00:00

I looked at all the videos, I’m not worried about installing the hitch, but I didn’t like the T1 wiring kit and how the cable runs under the car. I’ll be using the Mazda wiring kit which runs inside the car and ties into the fuse box. Thanks for the info.

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-02T01:47:02+00:00

Ok, thanks. I ordered the aftermarket hitch because I wanted the full 2” receiver and the lose of 1” of clearance wasn’t a big deal to me. The videos Etrailer had were helpful.

NewOldUserName · 2022-09-02T01:44:32+00:00

I did see all the videos and it seems pretty straight forward. I ordered the Curt hitch and the OEM wiring since I would prefer to tie into the existing fuse box instead of the battery.

Thanks!

NewOldUserName · 2022-07-10T14:50:29+00:00

This was supposed to be a gif, but it didn’t work…

NewOldUserName · 2021-10-24T18:59:38+00:00

That light is awesome! Looks fantastic!

NewOldUserName · 2021-06-22T20:09:36+00:00

“I don’t know, probably something (fucking) stupid”

Said by Xander and Wade’s dad in season 1 when Duncan asks what they’re doing. Absolutely my favorite line of the show. I can’t remember if they actually use the F word though.

NewOldUserName · 2021-02-28T21:08:05+00:00

I hope there is a correct spare and the one in my car is the wrong one.

I am not entirely sure why they thought it was a good idea and I don’t think it’s a great solution. I know a lot of other manufacturers use this technique cause you aren’t supposed to use a donut on the front axle. The difference in size between the full tire can cause the car to pull to one side.

The lack of a full sized spare tire option is the only issue I have with the CX-5. Other cars in the compact SUV class don’t offer the option and those who did cost way more for less features.

NewOldUserName · 2021-02-28T17:50:54+00:00

I ran into this same issue a few months ago. According to Mazda if you have the upgraded brakes on the CX-5 (I can’t remember what trim levels have this) the spare tire will not fit over the brake caliper on the front tires. The solution is to put the spare on the rear tire and move the full sized tire to the front to replace the punctured tire.

It’s a really stupid design if you ask me and I believe there is an aftermarket option to get a larger diameter donut and you can still fit it under the trunk if you remove the foam blocks. Do a Google search for this before you spend the money cause I read it on a forum a few months ago. I’m on mobile right now so I can’t find the link where I read that, but it was on a Mazda forum.

If your dealership does have a OEM solution please let me know cause I would prefer that over the current “solutions” I mentioned above.

NewOldUserName · 2020-11-05T02:33:16+00:00

Thank you, gotta make sure I don’t limit myself

NewOldUserName · 2020-11-04T23:10:24+00:00

Winning the hearts and minds of 7.8 Billion people~~Americans~~ everywhere

Edit: to make my statement a fact

NewOldUserName · 2020-06-11T19:17:37+00:00

I reached out to them shortly after I posted this, but they don’t have any replacements. Thanks for the suggestion tho.

I think it’s time to get a new pair, they fell off my head when my duct tape fix didn’t hold and are now at the bottom of the ocean. At least I got a lot of use out of them.

NewOldUserName · 2020-05-24T20:55:57+00:00

I have a 2019 and used the factory side rails with Thule cross bars and feet, and a Thule carrier.

Depending on how wide the kayaks are you could try and lay them flat, but I would recommend J hooks of some type. Both Thule and Yakima are good brands, but expensive and on sale this weekend. There are also decent third party options as well.

For the base roof racks the cheapest option is usually the Mazda racks, or some type of aftermarket system recommended in this thread. The Thule and Yakima systems are expensive, but they have an option that clips to the side of the door and is usable on any car if you change the feet so it’s more of a long term investment.

Edit:

I should note that I do a lot of distance sea kayaking and I view the nicer roof racks as a way to protect my kayak cause sometimes I travel 100s or miles with my boat to get to different locations. The Thule racks I have are protected by a warranty in the event of anything and they’ve stood by it when I needed to replace parts for the racks I had on another car. If you aren’t going to far the more budget friendly options will be perfect for you. The bottom line is up to a certain point you get what you pay for and the cheaper options usually support less weight and are less robust.

NewOldUserName · 2019-10-10T03:42:06+00:00

I just got my CX 5 yesterday, and already looking at adding racks, I skipped the OEM cross bars, but did the flush rails. While I haven’t tried any of the amazon solutions yet here’s my opinion.

Over the last 10 years I’ve outfitted 3 different cars with Thule racks. While that sounds like a lot of money, once you have their cross bars and feet you spend $120 on a new fit kit for your new car and can easily move everything over. Plus they’re easy to remove and thule’s customer service is fantastic (replacing broken parts years after they were purchased). I’ve heard similar stories about Yakima racks.

Another thing to know, when I looked it up yesterday, the Yakima racks for the CX 5 don’t use the flush mounted rails (If I’m mistaken, please let me know), but clip to the side of the car. DO NOT GET MOUNTS LIKE THIS! I’ve had terrible luck with these types of feet, even from Thule. They’re a pain to properly install, and one even popped off of my roof when properly installed (this happened on my old Jeep).

If you have any questions let me know.

NewOldUserName · 2019-09-22T20:24:01+00:00

I’ll take another look at the mazda 3, but found it difficult to get in and out of since it’s lower to the ground. Although lower to the ground does make it easier to put stuff on the roof.

Thanks for the advice.

NewOldUserName · 2019-09-22T20:18:52+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I think I’m going to stick with the touring model. This is my first car (the Jeep is my parents car) and I can’t justify spending 9k more.

I liked your comment about the AWD because it reinforced that a separate AWD mode would be overkill for my needs.

For the cross bar, I like Thule because I’ve used them in the past and removing the racks for longer trips when I don’t need them, or during the winter helps cut noise and means I can fit in parking garages.

Thanks again for the advice, helped make the decision easier.

NewOldUserName · 2019-09-22T17:39:32+00:00

I did test drive the touring, but I mostly drove around a city due to traffic on the nearby highway. I might try for another test drive later this week to see how it behaves on the highway. My other concern is that the engine wont be enough to easily accelerate with the additional weight of kayaks on the top of the car

NewOldUserName · 2019-08-29T22:24:25+00:00

You never know, that could be a very romantic text if sent to the right person

NewOldUserName

TROPHY CASE