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This hitch gives you the utility to haul more gear without needing a larger vehicle. With a 3,500-lb maximum gross trailer weight and 525-lb tongue weight rating, it’s built for everyday towing and carrying. The 2" x 2" receiver works with common ball mounts, bike racks, and cargo carriers, so you can attach just about any accessory you need for your next trip.
The fully welded square-tube construction bolts directly to the vehicle frame—no welding required. The precision robotic welds ensure the mounting holes line up cleanly with the frame so you’ll spend less time adjusting and more time finishing the job. It comes with all the hardware you need right in the box, along with clear instructions for a straightforward install using basic tools.
The gloss black powder coat finish covers a protective base layer to stand up to moisture and road grime. This dual-coat system helps prevent rust and corrosion over time so your hitch keeps looking sharp even after years of use. The durable steel frame is designed for long-term strength, whether you’re towing a small camper or hauling a full cargo tray through changing weather.
There’s no need for drilling or cutting—this hitch bolts up cleanly and sits tight under the rear bumper for a tidy look. You can pair it with standard accessories like a pin and clip or locking hitch pin, and you’re ready to go. It’s an easy way to add real towing and carrying capability without complicating your setup.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
98% were satisfied with this product
2% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
I bought and installed the hitch(bar is out of sight receiver is seen when not in use) and the vehicle specific Wiring Harness (plug n play).
I watched a install video of this being installed on my new 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. After seeing how easy it was to install I ordered the things needed and in less then 48 hours they were delivered to my front door. I did the install by myself and followed the install video instructions. I took extra steps to run the wiring by removing the muffler heat shield so I could route the wiring out the spare tire drain hole. Resealed the drain plug and mounting hardware with Rubber undercoating spary.
This. Whole Kit and the video’s are top of the line. The fish wires for the mounting hardware is a very nice add and makes it very easy to install this hitch. I managed OK by myself but it would definitely be nice to have a helper when it comes to raising the hitch into place for bolting it to the frame.
I am very impressed with the thought and attention to detail this company did with this Hitch, wiring harness and install videos. I would not hesitate to do this same purchase again and highly recommend it. There were several hitch options and price points to for me to choose from for my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.
This receiver is a great value. It was easy to install after watching the YouTube video. I would enlarge the holes a little more next time, but it worked out. Took me about 45 minutes to get it totally installed.
Hitch worked perfectly on 2020 Crosstrek. The hitch crossbar is SLIGHTLY visible below the rear fascia, but only if you really crouch down to hitch level. It's not detracting. My Crosstrek is black, so it's even less noticeable. If you have a different color and you're really picky, maybe consider the etrailer hitch as it MIGHT be more invisible
Also, watch the installation video before starting. Don't rely on the printed instructions alone as they skip the step of scraping some adhesive or sealant off of the vehicle frame near the front access hole. If you don't scrape it off, the hitch will not sit flush and the front bolts are not long enough to thread on the nuts. If you scrape the sealant, then everything works great.
As others have stated, it can be done without lowering the exhaust, but it's a little more awkward to file the access holes and to torque the nuts. I was able to use a long extension to torque them properly with the exhaust in place.
I am very happy with the product, I appreciated the suggestions from the etrailer representative. I like how the receiver tucks away nicely under the vehicle. The video link for the install was very helpful and made the install relatively simple. As you can see by the photos I also Purchased a bike rack which I am very please with as well. I am a very satisfied customer
After looking at the Curt and Drawtite hitches, I decided to go with the Curt hitch because it appeared to be more concealed under the car and I did not need the increased tow capacity of the Drawtite hitch. I placed my order on a Tuesday afternoon and my hitch was delivered on Friday, which was awesome.
Installation was straightforward and easy as described on Etrailers website,
I took my time and even spray painted around the holes that needed to be enlarged to get the bolts in the frame. Total install was 1hr 15 min.
Very happy with fit and look.
Delivered in a very timely manner and product is in excellent shape and just as described. Thank you!
Craig S.
5/11/2026
The hitch has been working excellent, not one single problem at all. Ive used it at least 20 or more times and my main use for it is hauling ebikes on a ebike rack attached to the hitch. Its an excellent product.
It arrived in a box. There were two holes in the box, where the bolted to car parts were scuffed as they must have been dragged around during delivery. I filed them just to remove burrs. The center receiver (visible after installed) was well packaged and avoided any damage.
I grinded the hole into the car frame to allow fishing bolts and spacers into the car with the pictured tool. It was less material removal than I feared. But be careful you make the hole large enough for both spacer and the bolt, because I had trouble fishing the bolt in one hole that was just shy of the right size. A light hammering helped it in. But I made sure the hole was big enough before putting away the air tool.
I did not need to lower the muffler, but it was much easier to wiggle the thing into place with the fished wires with my wife assisting. It only took 10 minutes of her time. From raising the car onto jackstands, installing the hitch receiver, to lowering it, I was done in 2 hours.
This hitch is very well made very sturdy. Thank you for instruction video helped a lot. The only thing I did wrong was pull on guide wire when pulling through frame. It took awhile to get them off bolt. I am very pleased with ordering and how quickly it arrived. Looking forward to doing more business with your company.
Kenneth W.
6/17/2020
Excellent very reliable
Fittment was good, 1 bolt was defective I had to get a replacement from the hardware store. Not that big a deal. I chose to remove the bumper to access the holes rather than grind a slot in the frame. It took 20 min to disassemble, 30 min to reassemble. As usual another great product from e- trailer.
Michael
6/6/2019
Hitch works well
This is my third hitch purchased from etrailer. All three arrived quickly and with no damage. For this one on my 2018 Crosstrek I also purchased the Curt 4-pole wiring harness which installed in about 10 minutes. I found this hitch the most challenging of the 3 to install but with two people it was ok; it was the first hitch install to require snaking through wires to pull the blocks and bolts through. That went pretty smoothly though after using a file and dremel to widen the two forward holes. I used a helper to hold up one side while I removed the snake wires and hand threaded on the bolts.
After tightening the bolts (due to the spacer blocks) the forward bolts did not extend through the nuts. On the passenger side the bolt was flush with the bottom of the nut and on the drivers side the bolt was not even to the end of the nut, it was recessed up in at least 2 threads. That was no good. Looking at the hitch from the rear and verifying with a level, the hitch was not level and actually angled up a bit - I calculated about 1/4" (about the same thickness of the spacer blocks...).
Also note that the drivers side forward nut is partially blocked by the exhaust. I removed the 3 rear rubber hangers which allowed me to move the exhaust just enough to the right to get the socket straight on to tighten it up.
So, I did the same as another reviewer (William 04/11/2020) and removed the spacer blocks. The hitch now is perfectly level with plenty of thread protruding through the forward nuts.
These videos should emphasize that those spacer blocks are optional and use only as necessary. But I guess the only way you will know if you do not need them is to first install with them and see how it goes.
Quick and easy install, I had the hitch under the car and ready for a torque wrench in about 20 minutes with the help of an ATV jack. I used an air powered die grinder to slightly open up the holes to get the plates to feed through. I installed it just laying on the ground because my hoist was taken at the time but I feel that was probably easier than trying to lift the hitch over my head.
I really like how tight it is to the bumper and doesn't hang down further or stick out to find my shins. Shipping was really fast and packing was really good, took me longer to remove all the staples from the box to be able to recycle it than to actually install the hitch.
My biggest complaint on this hitch is the stinger fits a little looser than previous hitches I've installed. This is not a safety or usage concern but more of an irritant if you leave the stinger in the hitch all the time it rattles and the first time it'll really catch you off guard making you wonder what broke. I added a couple of layers of duct tape around the stinger I use the most to keep the noise to a minimum. I've only towed a small 5x8 trailer and it did fine. This car has no sound deadening installed so if you are towing a trailer that is traditionally loud it will seem louder!
I coupled the install with a curt 7 pin bracket that clamps onto the hitch to hold the wires nice and clean. Without that bracket you almost wouldn't know there is a hitch under the car.
I mounted this receiver hitch on my 2019 Subaru Crosstrek by myself which was much more difficult than expected. The video directions are very good, but, the installation was a real challenge. To be fair, I did not lower the exhaust and did not jack up the car. I used a circular bastard file to make the forward holes about 1/4" larger to accommodate the bolt backing plates and threaded the backing plates/bolts as instructed with the threaded wires. Be careful as I poked myself in the eye (that's why you use safety glasses). I had to tilt the entire assembly to position it around the exhaust. I used some nylon straps attached to the exhaust brackets to carefully lift up the receiver assembly one side at a time, so I could thread the nuts onto the bolts. I needed to use a screwdriver to put lateral pressure on the end of the bolt while screwing on the nut so that the bolt didn't push upward. The job took about 90 minutes, mostly to twist and position my hands to the appropriate place to reach the assembly while under the car. It is awkward but doable, just be patient or have an assistant. I highly recommend this product; it is 1/4 the price of the dealer installed hitch and 2" compared to the manufacturer 1 1/4" hitch.
Item was easy to install and is a perfect fit. Made of very strong material. Installed on a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.
Julio
6/15/2019
Still working strong after a year
I am happy with the hitch for my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. I would definitely order again. Also I appreciate the good customer support and documentation that etrailer has.
Cheers
Austin N.
1/13/2022
Still wonderful baby! Hauling sh*t all over the place.
Highly recommend etrailer and this hitch. Fit and installation was seamless and the customer service folks at etrailer are top notch.
I am very pleased with this hitch! My husband is an automotive tech, and it took him about 45 minutes to install (without lifting the car.) It is definitely do-able if you don't drop the exhaust, but it would be easier if you do. You can barely see it, which is nice! I can see why so many people recommend Curt.
I was also very pleased at how quickly it shipped! I will definitely buy from etrailer again (:
Gwendolyn Y.
6/6/2025
It looks great on your Crosstrek, Katie! Your husband did a great job. What do you plan to use the hitch for?
For 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. I'm disappointed in the fit. For a 'custom fit', the hitch hangs down from the body of the car. The Subaru hitch fits much tighter.
With e-trailer it is easy to find what I need for towing. The Curt trailer hitch is solidly constructed and moderately easy to install. DIYers should be prepared to use a Dremel or similar tool to slightly notch out one hole on either side to be able to insert the backing plates and bolt heads.
So far so good. Going to mount my kuat nv 4 back rack on it today to test it out. Prepping the car was simple, was able to just lay underneath not jack stand needed. And I’m not small. The install video is quite helpful. I learned to not use duct tape to hold the spacer, the bolt won’t go through very easily. After I installed the hardware my 13 year old daughter helped me feed the fish tape through the hitch and get nuts started. I did not move the exhaust, I had a hinged ratchet that gave me plenty of ability to access all four bolts. Solid rack, simple install, love it.
Also this was installed on my 2021 Crosstrek Sport
Stildo
11/6/2021
Still love it. I found out I put it on a little crooked. Totally my fault. Easy fix with putting a ball on it to see when it was square, then re tighten the bolts. I am planning to get the same hitch for our mini van and Subaru Accent when we get it.
This is the 2nd Curt Trailer hitch I've installed on a 2nd Subaru. Both were easy to install with bolts and nuts supplied. They come with great spring' like things that make feeding the bolt in from the top of the frame hole easy. I use the 2" receivers for bike racks only, no towing. For hauling 2 bikes they receiver works great, even 2 fat bikes in winter. I would recommend these receivers 100%.
Phillip K.
8/29/2021
One year in and Hitch is still great. Even use it to jack up the back of the car for tire rotation. But mostly used for bike rack.
First I want to say that trying to design a hitch to fit around a muffler on a small crossover is not an easy task. The construction of the hitch and receiver are heavy gauge and we’ll constructed. The fish wires worked like a charm and were integral for the installation. I did run into an interference with the muffler isolation rods welded to the frame. After placing the hitch, I had to hand tighten the nuts before tightening incrementally each bolt as the rods were pushed away during the tightening process. Dropping the muffler would not have helped here as the welded ends were the issue (see photos) Other than that, I am pleased with the result and would recommend to other Crosstrek owners.
Kevin H.
12/5/2023
After one year, this hitch has made hauling our bikes around worry free. Combined with the Kuat bike rack and locks, our bikes are secure no matter the road conditions. Before purchasing this hitch I investigated mounting to the roof. This proved impractical since I couldn’t mount them while in the garage plus who wants to lift bikes over their heads to stow these. Not happening… love the hitch and rack setup. Peace of mind and just plain easy. Plus the hitch looks like I just installed, no rust and no movement even after many uses this year. Plus, I’m rough on stuff and I’m confident it will last for many enjoyable years to come.
Mike L.
12/5/2023
The installation videos on etrailer guided me step by step and made the install manageable even without being on a lift. I was able to complete the installation on ramps with the help of my wife just to lift the hitch up. If you're not using a lift, taking off the muffler completely really helps and it's pretty easy to do so. I'd also like to mention that Odelia from customer service who helped me with the purchase was wonderful. She helped me cancelled the hitch that was on backorder and picked one that has the same features and price point. She was easy to work with, professional, and courteous which made me feel like I am a valued customer. I can't say I have the same experience with other companies I've dealt with. This is the 3rd hitch I've purchased from eTrailer and I've got to say, every experience was very pleasant.
Adrian
1/15/2022
Still rock solid after one year. Didnt expect anything less.
Great hitch and easy installation. Very solid and we have towed a good bit of stuff with it so far with no issues. etrailer support is fantastic and shipping is very reasonable to AK
Swift install, without a "hitch!" Shipped fast, well-packaged. Repeat customer for over 15 years! Well done. Thanks, eTrailer!
It fit our 2018 Subaru Sportrek perfectly! Very sturdy and looks like a factory install.
If you put the car on jacks you can work the hitch around the exhaust without having to remove it. But pretty easy either way.
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Derrick
9/4/2020
My receiver hitch has been great. I use it all the time to connect a four bike rack on my Crosstrek. I haven’t towed anything beside a wood splitter, but I’m sure the hitch wouldn’t be the weak link. Anyone who has driven a crosstrek should know that towing is not a great idea with its underpowered motor.