Hopkins Plug-In Simple Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

The DYI videos provided by etrailer.com helped me to decide on doing this project myself. While the hitch for my 2011 Subaru Forester looked easy enough to install, the thought of how to wire it correctly seemed a challenge. That is, until I watched the video for my EXACT vehicle! It was literally as easy as watching the video on my phone while I did the install myself. Everything was EXACTLY the way the video described. I was able to complete the install in less than 15 minutes from start to finish. Thanks etrailer.com for the assist! 419848

I ordered the wrong ball for the draw bar I ordered and etrailer caught it before shipping. After a quick e-mail the correct ball was shipped. Outstanding! 476232

I used this wire harness along with the knockout plug adaptor part number 47605 on my 2017 crosstrek. It is very easy to use both on my crosstrek to make a clean look. 473696

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Wire harness for our 2016 Subaru Crosstrek worked out just as simple and nice as all information said it would. Took approximately 45 minutes to install. Plugged in and installed as if it was installed at the factory. 433436

I have a 2011 Subaru Forester. I asked that trailer rental place to install a hitch and trailer wiring. Took them about 3 hours to complete. I finally got around to attaching the trailer to the Forester only to find out that the way they wired it was wrong. I went online - came across this page and searched to see if there was a trailer wiring harness specific to my vehicle and if there was - how easy was it. etrailer's How-to video was dead on in helping me to find the factory trailer wiring hook up (didn’t have to pull the left rear inside panel away as the plug was laying just underneath the foam tire changing tools tray). I had the new harness I got in from etrailer today installed in about 10-15 minutes (maybe less). I plugged in my 4 Pin Flat -> 7 Pin Flat converter that I made myself, plugged in my trailer and my trailer lights came to life. I ripped the trailer rental place's trailer wiring out (seeing that they spliced directly into the tail light assembly) and tossed it. 476492

This was the easiest hookup ever. Subaru plug pulled relatively easy. Make sure you mount the electrical interface box low enough in the wheel well that it doesn't impede proper placement of the foam insert storage tray. I didn't really need this now but likely will in the future. Costs a little more but install and through wheel well to hitch frame makes it the perfect choice and fit for my 2014 Subaru Outback. 430288

Pretty much the same comment applies a year later. Easy install, all good. Only thing is my 4 pin connector cover snapped off somehow and I need to replace it.

TonyT - 09/11/2018

2018 Subaru Crosstrek The DYI videos provided by etrailer.com provided a quick and easy how-to. It was literally as easy as watching the video on my computer and going out and installing it in 30 minutes. I also installed Mounting Bracket 4-Pole Flat, Item # 18144 and No-Drill Mount Bracket, Short, Item # 18140 and it looks great. 538859

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Friends: When I installed the trailer hitch I did not cut a section out of the heat shield above the muffler. Instead I drilled 5/8” holes where the bolts go through. The shield is already prepunched where it is to be drilled. I used butyl tape around the bolts to seal them and hold the bolts. For the wiring harness, I simply used Velcro to hold the unit to the inside of the spare tire well rather than tape. 492959

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Worked as advertised. Loved the ease of installation. On line videos much better than written instructions with package. Wish it came with a better mount on the trailer connection (just loops the cover through the safety chain loops), but that is only a cosmetic and subjective issue. I can always buy a separate mount if I want. 543708

If you would like to mount the 4-way flat to the hitch I recommend bracket part # HM48595
Hopkins Fold-Over Mounting Bracket for 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector
$3.95 that comes with self tapping screws to attach directly to the bottom of the bumper.

-- Heather A - 07/21/2018

Helpful Link

I am only giving this 4 stars because of two issues. We are prepared for these issues when doing installs someone doing their first one may struggle with. The wiring connector plug in on the car did not require near as much interior removal as stated in the instructions ( It can be found without any thing other than the foam spare tire block pulled, and The hole in the body is actuall quite a bit smaller than the rubber seal provided where it exits the body and the hole in the body is to small to fit the four wire connector end to fit through without some modifications. This is not a big deal the harness was the perfect length and is a plug and play harness for the Subaru Crosstrek I would not hesitate to order this part again. 376812

by: Ian M05/13/2019

Installed on a 2018 Subaru crosstrek. Easy installation and very discreet when not in use. 641551

by: Phil04/12/2019

The hitch is very well built. The instructions and video were easy to follow. The hitch was easy to install, albeit a helper should assist as this is a heavy duty hitch. 625441

Made life easy Plug & Play 614737

Good product went on easily made for a nice instillation. 613880

by: Marc03/14/2019

Easy installation and works just fine 611908

I couldn't be more satisfied with my purchase. The hitch arrived promptly and in good condition. It fit my 2019 Forester perfectly and went on exactly as shown in the instructional video. It's way overbuilt for my uses (not a bad thing), a small utility trailer and a bicycle rack. As an additional item the wiring harness went in perfectly. 611112

by: Xiomara02/22/2019

2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Very easy to install !!! 607397

Quick easy install. One click and it was connected to the factory plug. No issues at all. Fast, accurate order. Will definitely order from etrailer again. 606486

by: William02/17/2019

All components received in good form and functioned as intended. From past experience E-trailer will always promptly make good on any defective product. 605824

Delivered in good shape. Clear instructions made installation easy. Had it on in under 2 hours. Would i order from this company again. Absolutely! 605240

Hi, the car I ordered parts for was a 2019 Subaru. Crosstrec. The wiring harness I received was for a Subaru Forester. It fit fine but the instructions were wrong and didn't apply to my car. I had to find a utube Video to complete the installation 600168

Works flawlessly 600041

by: John12/31/2018

Easy to install and works every time I plug the trailer lights in. Excellent! 594087

Exact fit. 591327

Excellent fit and well made. 584997

by: Wayback Machine10/31/2018

Installation was quite easy. Everything fit and snapped together. Instructions were clear. Still working fine after a year. 578911

Awesome product that works as described and very easy to install. This is my second purchase of this wiring harness and would recommend it to any one looking for one. 577039

Great bunch of guys very helpful 557267

went together quickly,great product good video 556453

Super simple install. Just like the demo video. Paid $300 to have a trailer hitch installed. Saved $150 installing the wiring harness myself. Thanks Etrailer! 552802

Just got my wiring harness yesterday in the mail. My nephew will be installing it for me on Tuesday. The same product exactly that a hitch shop was going to install and sell to me for almost 3x as much. 528607

Helpful video made installation a breeze, thank you 519741

Instructions were not clear on the location of the vehicle plug. Added a few minutes searching. Other wise excellent. 518388

Subaru is well known for varying the location of the connector for the trailer wiring. It can even vary from vehicle to vehicle of the same model year.

-- Mike L - 06/07/2018

The Hopkins Wiring Harness was delivered promptly and the installation went well. I installed the wiring harness as shown on your installation video but got concerned about routing the wires over the muffler heat shield. I rerouted the wires through the passenger side of the rear lower hatch area. The Subaru Crosstrek has a hole with a plastic plug in this location but the hole had to be enlarged with a round file to fit the rubber plug on the wiring harness. The wire rerouting is much better away from the hot muffler area, excellent product. 517274

This product is excellent. Easy to install , could not believe how easy. Thank you for a quality product for owners to add trailer lighting. 501022

Easy to install, continues to work very well. Best wiring kit I have ever installed and used

Steven - 05/02/2019

Very easy to install,it took me about 2 hours from start to finish to complete. Looks like it will work great. 494496

Excellent fit and easy installation 491393

by: Jason R03/29/2018

2012 Subaru Outback Wagon

Shipped fast. Super easy install. Works every time. Reasonably priced--absolutely worth it to spend a couple bucks more (vs. competitors) to have everything you need in one kit with no splicing. Would recommend to anyone. They do a one year follow up satisfaction survey! How's that for customer service! 490311

Sooo easy to install. :) 481476

Excellent unpacked awaiting weather to clear for install. 479182

perfect fit product as described fast shipping thanks 447236

This harness installed easily and works perfectly. The added plug fits perfectly into the already drilled hole at the bottom of the spare tire well replacing the existing plug. A perfect fit for my 2013 Subaru Outback. A great product. 426996

This product did the job and was even easier to install than the video which led me to the product. I was a little nervous during installation as there was no grounding wire to screw into the framework of my vehicle, but the package came with a self-tapping screw. This was a little misleading as in the video, the product was slightly different. As it turned out, the grounding wire was incorporated into the plug kit and did not require the self-tapping screw to secure the ground wire. Perhaps an update on the video could lead to less confusion on this point. Besides that minor complaint, the email/shipping/purchasing process could not have been easier. EXCELLENT seller! 421264

I have a 2011 subaru outback and this is a great easy 30 minutes installed nothing to modify just plug it and you done with it . 406646

I was very impressed with the quick response and shipping of the wire harness. I followed the written instruction that came with the wire harness, but I was not able to find the connection behind the seat. I was installing the wire harness on a Subaru 2016 Crosstrek and packaging only went up to 2015. I went to etrailer's.com website and found a video that showed every step and the location of the connector. The whole process was less than an hour and very easy to install. 390981

GREAT service. Great products. BEST deal in towm! 366721