Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Rating: 
42 reviews
Code: C12038
Retail:$278.88
Price:$167.33
Shipping Weight: 38 pounds
Shipping SpecialPerfect for light-duty towing, this custom, vehicle trailer hitch receiver features fully welded, gloss powder coated steel construction. Drawbar sold separately.
Features:
Specs:
Note: All non-trailer loads - bike racks, cargo carriers and so forth - should be supported with stabilizing straps. Failure to properly support these loads will void your hitch warranty from Curt.
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Video of Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class II - 1-1/4"
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today we will be installing part number 12038, a hitch made by Curt for a 2006 Subaru Forester. A couple of measurements to think about when considering accessories for your new hitch is going to be from the center of the hitch pin hole to the outer most point of the bumper is 5 inches. And from the top of the hitch to the ground is 13 inches. The first step we are going to do is the charcoal canister down out of our way. It has three fasteners that will have to be removed. The second step will be to remove our passenger rear tow hook. It has three fasteners also. This tow hook will be removed and left off the vehicle as it will be in the way of our new hitch. Our next step will be to remove the charcoal canister bracket. 0:56
Then we are going to go to the passenger side. I am going to lube down my hangers for my exhaust. For this hanger, we are going to remove it but we are also going to be removing this bracket as it will be replaced by the new hitch. This will allow our exhaust to down a little bit out of our way. Now we can remove our exhaust bracket bolt that holds our hanger. Whenever lowering your exhaust it is always a good idea to use a strap or a tie-down of some sort to hold your exhaust up just a little bit so not all of the weight is supported on the front hangers. Now we can go ahead and remove our exhaust bracket bolts. And that bracket will be replaced by our new hanger. Now we can remove our tow hook hold downs here in the back. We have two more vertical hanger hold downs here that we will need to remove. This bracket will be removed and stay off the vehicle as it will be replaced by the new hitch. 2:16
Now that we have everything removed and out of the way, we are prepped and ready to go back with the new hitch. Before I do that, I want to go ahead and hit each one of my fastening points with some lubricant just to make it easier to install the new hitch. Now I am going to go ahead and point out our attachment points. That is for the passenger side. Let us go over to the driver side. Now would be a good time to get an extra set of hands to help you install your new hitch. Now when installing the new hitch, you sandwich the charcoal canister between the hitch and the sub-frame of the vehicle, as it will be necessary to reinstall your charcoal canister once you finish the installation of your hitch. 3:11
Now we can go ahead and install our hold down bolt. Now that we have our hold down bolts in finger tight on the passenger side, we can go to the driver side. Now that we have the driver side finger tight, we can go ahead and snug them down by hand. Alright, now that we are hand tight on the driver side, we are going to go over to the passenger side. OK, now that we are hand tight on all of our fasteners, I am going to torque it down to specifications. Now that we have all of our fasteners torqued down to specifications, we can reinstall our muffler and muffler hangers. What we will do is put it through the pre-manufactured hole in your new hitch with a nut on the back side. I am going to go ahead and torque that down to specifications. Now that we have our hanger reinstalled and torqued to specifications, we can reinstall our muffler. Now that we have our muffler reinstalled, we want to make sure we go ahead and remove our tie that was holding up our exhaust. Now that we have our exhaust taken care of, we can reinstall our charcoal canister. Alright, now we can go ahead and torque it down. Now that we have our charcoal canister reinstalled and torqued down, that completes the installation of part number 12038 on a 2006 Subaru Forester.
1998 - 2008 Subaru Forester
Customers Who Purchased This Trailer Hitch Also Bought...
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (42 Customer Reviews)
by: Soober Doober07/17/2011
Is this review helpful?
Only giving 4 out of 5 stars for now since I haven't actually used the hitch. I just installed it yesterday and it was pretty easy with a few caveats: make sure you remove the horizontal bolt going through the factory tow hook FIRST, by turning the bolt on the inside of the tow hook. I removed the two vertical bolts that attach the two hook to the subframe first and then tried to loosed the nut on the outside of the two hook and actually bent the tow hook bracket. It turns out the nut is welded to the tow hook, and you have to unscrew the bolt from the other side. Not a big deal, since the the tow hook bracket isn't used with the receiver. Other than that, it only took me two hours to do the installation myself. If you are not experienced turning a wrench, you may want to let someone else do it. If you are willing to get some dirt under your nails, start spraying your bolts with PB Blaster a few days in advance and all you should need is a small breaker bar. 19552
by: Bruce04/08/2013
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This product was very easy to install on my 03 Subaru Forester. Took me and a friend about 25 minutes to install the hitch and wiring harness. Fit perfectly, just as described. Shipped very fast also.74887
by: Kim B.12/15/2012
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Product intalled 12/15/07. All went well, except for rearmost exhaust hanger. Had to heat and bend a little to clear cutout for hanger, as it hit and rattled when engine started. 61543
by: Spencer11/13/2012
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So far so good. I haven't hooked it up to a trailer yet, but the product itself seems solid. The videos and comments on etrailer.com are essential and very helpful. The installation took me about 4 hours — my forester is 13 years old, and the bolts were pretty tough to get out. PB Blaster for the win. Using the car jack to hold up one side is a great tip (came from another reviewer). The threaded holes for the bolts shifted slightly after I took out all of the bolts, so that added a bit of time to the install—trying to get them lined up, while holding up the hitch and trying to get the bolts back in there. One thing I had to scour the internet for was the size of bolts used on my car. So just in case anyone else has a 1999 Subaru Forester: I ended up using 17mm, 14mm, and 12mm sockets. I think those three sizes covered all of the bolts. The Curt hitch fits great above the exhaust pipe, and it fits great overall as well. And I've been very impressed with the communication and process with etrailer.com. 59419
by: Mark S.10/22/2012
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I knew nothing about trailer hitches before ordering from eTrailer. The sales lady I spoke with over the phone was friendly and knowledgeable-- and she guided me through the process of picking the correct hardware. She told me that she participated in an installation as part of her training!! The Curt hitch is very heavy-duty, with solid construction and good fit and finish. I installed the hitch myself thanks to the online videos. All-in-all, a very satisfying DIY project. Very well run company.57831
by: Yordan T.09/26/2012
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Great job to everyone! 55821
by: caleb derr08/23/2012
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Product was as advertised. And the customer service was even better! Great job to everyone!52776
by: Paul08/21/2012
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Great price. Better than the 2,500 install at a camping store for the same same product. Thanks etrailer.52489
by: Daniel P.07/27/2012
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Fitted this to our 2000 Subaru Forester. The mounting holes were ever-so-slightly out of line with the car frame, so it took a little swearing and some leverage to get the bolts in. Once mounted though, it's solid, tucks away nicely and works great. Installation videos were very informative and other than the slight alignment problem, installation was straightforward. Job is much easier with a second pair of hands to hold the hitch while bolting it in place. It's quite heavy.49595
by: Gustav07/16/2012
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Trailer hitch fit very well. I was very happy to watch the instructional video for installation tips. I'm not much of a mechanic and seeing the job performed really boosted my confidance! Thanks very much, I'll be returnig to etrailer the next time I need cargo supplies!48128
by: Tom h07/11/2012
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Good hitch. Easy install! Make sure you use lots of WD40 on the bolts to free them up!47568
by: Kevin07/02/2012
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Pretty easy...best to have a friend, as it's a bit awkward to hold the hitch up while trying to align and drive the bolts. Very satisfied.46481
by: Dan B06/07/2012
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Great product for a great price. The videos and instructions for installation made this a breeze, great company to order from. Quick shipping and good communication, will recommend to friends.43128
by: Mike P.05/16/2012
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The hitch was easy to install. It would have been easier if I viewed the videos before installing it, rather then afterwards! 40736
by: Lance C05/12/2012
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Outstanding and very easy to install. I didn't have any problems at all. I think I could have been confused and taken longer without the video but using the video it was fast and smooth. The hitch is of high quality and just what we needed.40223
by: Dick Y04/23/2012
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Installed exactly as per the video with one exception: I did remove the rubber exhaust bumpers but an extra bracket prevented dropping the exhaust as far as in the video. Still, I was able to fit the hitch in over the exhaust. I sprayed bolts with penetrating oil for two days before installation and had no trouble using an ordinary socket wrench. If you do not have a helper it is still possible to install by yourself. The car's jack has a slot that just fits the end of the hitch. I jacked up the passenger side right to the bolt holes, then lifted the driver side and threaded a bolt. 38064
by: Dick Y04/21/2012
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Installed exactly as on the video. I sprayed penetrating oil the previous two days and had no trouble with the bolts. It took some gymnastics, but I was able to install the hitch without any help. Hint: the car's jack has a slot on top that the side of the hitch bracket fits perfectly. Jack one side of the hitch up to the frame holes then lift the other side and hand thread a bolt or two. 37903
by: Trailer hitch receiver and electrical harness04/06/2012
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The whole process of reviewing products, ordering and shipping was staight forward and simple. the instalation videos were informative and encouraging.36420
by: Mark03/13/2012
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Nice hitch for the Forester. Straightforward install. Videos were very helpful. Start to finish about 2 hours w/out air wrench. Used plenty of penetrating oil and waited 5 min. With an 18" breaker bar the 17mm bolts backed right out. You will need another person to most easily complete the install.33799
by: Bradley02/04/2012
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Made well but I havent used it yet. Did not take long to install with the proper tools. You definitely need two sets of hands. 31063
by: Calvin02/01/2012
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As ordered and scary fast delivery. Installation video was very helpful.30803
by: Brendan B.11/21/2011
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Very fast shipping...easy installation....the only thing I would add is to include the 12MM bolts in-case any were damaged during removal of the old brackets.27208
by: DG11/20/2011
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Just what we needed and quickly deliver ed.27196
by: Mike S.09/30/2011
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I'm very pleased ! Starting with the easy online ordering process... to a prompt purchase confirmation...to an unexpectedly fast delivery ! The end results was a product that was not only appealing to the eye...included all the hardware as stated.. was fabricated with quality materials and workmanship... and overall, made in USA ! 24888
by: Nick H.09/20/2011
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Great hitch for the Forester! High quality and well hidden. Installed in about an hour with air tool.24315
by: Kevin H.08/29/2011
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Etrailer shipped out my order the same day & I received it in 2 days! Installed easily & the videos are a huge help! Only 1 issue. The pin/clip don't fit on the hitch, but that's an easy fix.23003
by: Kurt A08/02/2011
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This is a very nice, solid and professional looking hitch. The video instructions were both helpful and confusing, as the speaker was a little unclear as to what stayed (reattached) and what was left off (permanently). I sprayed the bolts with blaster the day before, and they all came out easy. I also didn't realize that the nut on the exhaust bracket was WELDED on, thus I wrenched on that one and tweaked the bracket! Turns out, you don't reinstall it anyway, so 20min lost on that endeavor! My total assembly time was about 90min, but if I was a seasoned mechanic, it would have been half that! Nice job and nice product!20893
by: John06/16/2011
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Fit great and straight forward install about one hour. Pulling my boat to lake now, got fish to catch.17092
by: Dominik06/06/2011
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Overall the hitch install went well. Had to drop both rubber hangers of the exhaust to fit the hitch above it. If it weren't for my neighbors impact wrench, I might still be working to loosen the bolts so beware. I sprayed with WD40 two days in a row before attempting and I don't know how much it helped. Liquid Wrench might have worked better. The only other thing is my exhaust shakes a bunch (manual transmission) and the square hole on the left side of the hitch isn't quite in the right spot so now I get metal from the exhaust hanger hitting the hitch. I'm working on a solution for that (thinking some foam/electric tape).16181
I had this same issue 2007 Forester, with the exhaust hanger hitting the hitch because the left driver side square hole seems to be too low, not high enough to keep the exhaust hanger from hitting the receiver at times. May have to grind a little arch above that area.Anyone else have a solution for this?
comment by: JC - 12/9/2012
Exhaust/hitch rattle occurs from time to time. Exhaust hangers are not precisely fitted parts by nature, so there is some variance vehicle to vehicle. We have an article written up, with a video, about how to correct these rattles. These are the tips we use here in our shops to correct rattles when they come up.
Patrick B - 12/11/2012 by: Mark P.06/05/2011
Is this review helpful?
Great price, product and service. Fit perfectly. Took two hours working from the ground and using never-seez on all bolts. Hitch pin was unusable (wrong configuration) but a replacement only cost $2. Recommend to anyone familiar with wrenches and ratchets.16142
by: jeremy05/20/2011
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it fit good thank you 14940
by: Toby T.05/19/2011
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Crazy fast shipping! Installation was very straight forward- just like the video on the website, and the quality of the hitch is excellent. Using etrailer.com saved me lots of time and money!14793
by: Chris03/25/2011
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Easy to install, I highly recommend air tools to loosen the existing bolts which attach hitch to the frame. 10351
by: Jeff B.03/18/2011
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After having this hitch for about a month, I finally got installed by a local firm that gave me the best deal. I just recently took the trailer (a Little Guy Reverse Teardrop) for a spin and the hitch performed flawlessly. The install was quick (hour and a half) and the guys who did it said that it went on easily and without any problems. The price was great; I saved about $400 dollars over getting the Subaru hitch and having it installed by the dealer. Thanks etrailer!9763
by: Jay03/15/2011
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Well made and very easy to install. 1 suggestion, the tow chain bracket shoul be welded more toward the front of the car. It was welded right under the receiver pin hole and makes installing and removing the pin clip a little difficult.9390
by: Steve Horton03/13/2011
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Products as advertised, customer service outstanding. The online installation videos were very helpful.9221
by: Matt M01/11/2011
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Hitch for 2006 Forester It took a couple hours due to rusted bolts and working the hitch above the "carbon canister." Also, the wiring harness' instructions could have said near the rear passanger light, not just on that side. I looked along the wall just a bit too far away and couldn't find it until I dug right under the light. Delivery was extra fast and it was nice to get the draw bar included. 5318
by: TIM W.07/12/2010
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TOUGH INSTALL... THIS IS AN EXCELLENT HITCH FOR THE FORESTER, BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN AIR WRENCH, 2-3 GUYS TO HELP, AND A TORCH TO UN-FREEZE BOLTS, I WOULD NOT, I REPEAT NOT TRY THIS ONE BY YOURSELF. THIS PROJECT TOOK ME 3 1/2 HOURS WITH BASIC TOOLS, NOT THE SUGGESTED 50 MINUTES AS ON THE VIDEO. i AM PRETTY SKILLED AT DO-IT-YOURSELF PROJECTS, BUT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE, IT WOULD BE TO DEFINITELY TAKE IT TO A DEDICATED "WRENCH-MONKEY", AND SAVE YOURSELF A WHOLE LOT OF HEADACHE, AND HEARTACHE.3231
by: AnglerMangler08/26/2008
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Easy as pie Just got this in for my 07 Forester (ordered sunday night, went out monday received tuesday). This hitch was easy as pie to install, my forester is lowered (really low) and i didn't even need to jack the car up to do this install, all you end up doing is removing i think 7 bolts having you and another person hold it up to line it up and thread them back in and you're on your merry way. I would rate this a 10 out of 10 and would HIGHLY recomend the Curt system to anyone wanting to add a hitch to their car/truck/van/suv1226
by: John07/27/2008
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Installation Difficult I have come to find out that the weld nuts on the inside of Subaru frames break loose very easily. While installing mine three broke without using air tools. It was a huge hassle. Be prepared to remove the entire bumper assembly from the frame in order to access those nuts. The installation video on etrailer is nice, but is a little misleading for non brand new cars.1104
by: BIGBX101/04/2008
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Great Hitch for the ForesterXT This hitch will work out just fine for my Subaru Forester XT.It has a nice fit you will have too look very hard to see the unit once installed.I have used the hitch more than 7 times since purchase. I hope It will work with my HKS exhaust with the design I see no problem.551
by: RWB11/04/2012
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GREAT PRODUCTS,SUPER SERVICE 58815
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