Curt does not sell direct. You can buy them from www.hyundaiaccessorymall.com a dealer based accessory store. This is the best hitch available for the Santa Fe. We install many on new Santy's leaving our lot.

Happy Motoring,

partguy

Skiziks,
Sorry, I didn't supply enough info on the Curt hitch. I see you are from western WI. CURT is manufactured 65-70 miles east of you in Eau Claire. They employee hundreds and pay taxes in the very state you live in. They are an awarding winning and innovative company. Named Wisconsin's manufacturing company of the year in both 1999 and 2002. They have grown at a rate of 222% in the last three years. How many companies in America can say that except those making weapons? They are without a doubt the most commonly sold hitch in the Upper midwest and probably second in the country in custom hitches at the moment. (I wouldn't want to be #1 right now). There are well over a hundred on vehicles in your community and probably tens of thousands on the vehicles in the metropolis to your west. They were the first to do hitches in colors and they continue to be innovative in their products. Their finish is by far the best in the industry (proven through salt spray testing). If they pour as much salt on the roads over your way as they do around Fond du Lac....this should be the only hitch you would even consider.

In reply to your math work on the install...please remember that our installed price is $48 dollars less than the port side installed factory hitch. The one that hangs down below the bumper awaiting your winter salt spray. Don't you just love and enjoy those bright orange low hanging hitches in front of you while you're waiting for the red light to change. A few companies...CURT being one of them... figured out a few years back, that round tube hitches can be mounted up behind your bumper above and out of the way of the exhaust.
It looks much better hidden by your bumper with only the 2" opening exposed.

Regarding installs, please remember most techs are paid based on some published labor guide book. Usually published by the car maker. I believe the book says it should take nearly an hour and a half to install the hitch and harness. Remember techs are installing these while the vehicle is on a multiple thousand dollar lift. They also have ~$5,000 invested in their tools and the shop rate is probably around $78/hour. Most d-i-yers will be installing it on their backs...holding a twenty eight pound hitch above them while trying to install the bolts....hoping it doesn't slip and give them a black eye. Most techs aren't excited about hitch installations...ask them. They'ld rather be doing plugs and belts. There are techs that can do some service ops at a 150-200% production rates. If they have thought it out and come up with an easier way to do it with better tools and get the same result..they deserve it. Our best tech has developed a hanger that holds the hitch in place while he inserts the bolts and installs the hitch. He is also quick and clean at installing the t-connector. All you do is plug it in once you get the correct panel loosened or removed and tighten the ground screw. If you're good... you loosen. If not you get it our of the way so you can see and know what you are doing. For a couple weeks now Draw-tite, Hoppy and Curt were all out of t-connectors, supply was short and I don't think any of our techs were making rate on the install because they were direct wiring all the converter harnesses. (thirteen naked ends uggh). Remember, Hyundai sent late 03 and early 04 3.5L's out to the market place with a hitch riding on the exhaust this has caused a demand exceeding supply in hitches and wiring harnesses that continues at this time. I've spent hours on the phone trying to locate them. Our stock is good at the moment. I'm worried about mid to late May if the weather ever gets warmer. I'm booking shipments out over a month in advance. Why don't they just make more Santy hitches you ask? Because the demand isn't quite at the level of the Silverado and new F150 just yet. Just a few more of those being sold at this time.

We don't order Santy's with the factory hitch...our customers deserve something better if it's out there...especially if it's at a lower price. I spent hours pouring over features, prices and ease of installation when we first opened 10 months ago and there is none better. Fantastic hitch for two and four-bike receiver racks also!

The Curt 12505 hitch comes with the mounting hardware and instructions needed to mount it. The T-connector (whatever brand..all are similar, but the Curt has an adhesive on the converter that will lessen chances of rattling behind your interior rear panel) is a three ended plug-in t-connector...It has one eyelet and ground screw that will require you to turn a wrench four or five turns until it's tight. You don't need to pay the tech...depends upon how you value your time and your money.

Ball mounts .....now that's another issue. If you buy a hitch and they include it without matching it to the trailer you pull....they are setting you up for trouble. All trailers are designed to be pulled level. Not trailer tongue down or trailer tongue angled up. This is so it doesn't effect your handling while steering and your braking while stopping. You should always measure from the ground up to the bottom of your trailer tongue while the trailer is level. Then make sure that the ball mount w/hitch ball mounted is at the same plane so you are pulling the load level. (This will vary depending upon whether you have a 2WD or 4WD because the suspension heights vary). This may require a ball mount that may drop or one that may rise depending upon the height of your trailer. They are usually sold in 2-8" increments in both drop and rise. You may pull both a camper and a utility trailer that are varying heights. In that case you will need two ball mounts and maybe two different size hitch balls as well. There are adjustable height ball mounts available but they get tricky with age if not well maintained and kept clean. Sure, some of you think...it's just a hitch...Don't you deserve the best?

Sorry for the book!

Happy Motoring,

partguy