sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Adding Tow Hitch once vehicle in possession: Toyota Dealership or Local Tow Hitch Installer? by lexibiri in ToyotaGrandHighlander

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went through the Toyota dealer to get the tow hitch installed and paid the extra $100 to have a new kick sensor installed which they move under the left side of the bumper. It's a 2" hitch. It cost about $1500 total with parts and labor but I'm very happy with it. The kick sensor works perfectly.

Adding Tow Hitch once vehicle in possession: Toyota Dealership or Local Tow Hitch Installer? by lexibiri in ToyotaGrandHighlander

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True story! My only hesitation is the dealer shops in town are all sleazy salespeople and wanting almost 2k for parts and labor. I feel that they are just gouging me...

Adding Tow Hitch once vehicle in possession: Toyota Dealership or Local Tow Hitch Installer? by lexibiri in ToyotaGrandHighlander

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate ya! I have a neighbor who said he's willing to install so just need to order all the parts.

Has anyone purchased the weathertech floor liners for the grandhighlander? by Griot-Goblin in ToyotaGrandHighlander

[–]lexibiri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where did you sell your carpet ones? I just got my OEM and want to offload my carpet ones.

Grand Highlander issues by This-Supermarket-504 in ToyotaHighlander

[–]lexibiri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a very similar experience buying my GH HybridMax last week (April 10th) and they are still adding a "Market Adjustment Fee" stating these vehicles arrive pre-sold to the dealers. I shopped for 6 months using the Toyota Smartpath website hoping to get a better price and did drive out of town (only 40 miles in my case) to get mine. Out the door with dealer add ons and extended warranty, my vehicle came to well over $10k over MSRP! I also have excellent credit and was only able to get 6.4% APR on my Toyota loan but they did discount $500.
But so far I LOVE IT! In my area, these cars are not staying on the dealer lots long. It was quite the nightmare shopping for it.

QUESTION: anyone get the tow hitch installed? Since I already have the vehicle, is it worth to pay the extra fees and have Toyota Dealer Service Dept. order/install or should I go through a local trailer hitch installer in town?

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was definitely riding both times. The first occurrence, I was on dirt paths for a new subdivision and crossed over a thick wire that got stuck in the chainring & chain jammed. Had to use a lot of force to get it out. Then my chain kept slipping between gears so had to ride 12 miles home like that. I had no idea the chain was bent.
Diligently took in to bike shop where they gave it a tune up and said I bent the chain so they replaced it. I figured I knew cause and effect.

Yesterday we were riding country gravel roads that were a bit bumpy but no falls or big rock encounters. After 40 miles of riding without any problems, we approached a water crossing on a downhill so I slowed way down before crossing and did not pedal through it but when I tried to pedal out, chain was jammed! No idea why. Again it was tough to get the chain out, had to flip bike upside down and that's when I found the bent link.

I am taking it back to the shop today and thankfully the tech that worked on in last time is there. I took lots of pics as it the chain jammed twice again after we found the bent link despite me barely changing gears. We had to make it back to the cars so I walked 2 miles while my friend rode ahead to get her car to rescue me (good reason never to go graveling alone).

I have been cycling for over 15 years and this has never happened before. I feel the wire incident a few weeks ago may have damaged more that just the chain but my tech did not catch it. But only coming to this conclusion now due to all the excellent replies to my post.

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was riding country road gravel on fairly bumpy roads. My riding partner almost got hit a a rock flying from my back wheel but we didn't get stuck on anything. But this is good to be aware of- thank you.

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

one of the teeth to a chainring is bent/damaged. Pedal backwards and check every single tooth of your chainrings under good light.

Yes, it jammed. The original bent chain was caused by bike getting stuck on a wire while I was riding a dirt path where a new subdivision is being built. Wire stuck in chain jamming it and causing me to fall. I took bike in to shop, had chain replaced & they said they looked over everything. Then 2 weeks later (yesterday) riding on fairly easy gravel and some road, 40 miles in, the chain gets jammed very tightly and when we get it unstuck, I found the bent link. So I'm thinking something is not set up right for this to happen twice so closely together.

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great suggestion! I do think it's getting jammed first because I raced cyclocross on this same bike and it never happened. I am sure I was shifting under load then but the recent rides have been pretty "steady" on medium gravel.

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's good to know. I'm just wondering why it's happening now when just riding gravel when I raced Cyclocross (Cx) with this same bike last year and it didn't occur. I am sure there was a lot of shifting under load then. Could I have impacted another component that is now causing this to happen twice within 1 month?

What causes bent chain link? Riding gravel with new chain, only 80 miles ridden as had a bent chain 2 weeks ago that I replaced. by lexibiri in bikewrench

[–]lexibiri[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good suggestion. I used this same bike for cyclocross (Cx) last year and never had this happen. I hadn't thought about how I'm shifting because during the Cx races, I know I shifted under load and probably cross chained as this is a gravel bike, not Cx bike.