Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"
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1999 Ford Explorer
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1999 Ford Explorer
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This hitch is built for light-duty work like small trailers, bike racks, or a cargo basket. Rated at 2,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 200 lbs tongue weight, it’s a solid match for hauling basic loads without overdoing it. The 1-1/4" receiver size is perfect for most Class I accessories whether you’re towing a small utility trailer or setting up a bike rack for weekend rides.
You don’t need a lift or welding gear to get this hitch in place. The bolt-on setup lines up with factory mounting points, so you can install it using basic tools. The included hardware kit and step-by-step instructions make it simple for DIY installers working in the driveway. Once it’s bolted up, the concealed cross tube keeps the look clean underneath the bumper.
The fully welded steel construction is finished with a gloss black powder coat over a protective base coat to resist rust and corrosion. The square-tube design gives it sturdy strength and a tidy appearance that blends in well with the underside of the vehicle. The open-back receiver makes it easy to keep the tube clear of dirt or buildup after long trips.
Class I hitches like this one are made for flexibility. Hook up a drawbar when you need to tow a lightweight trailer or lock in a bike rack when you’re heading out to the trailhead. The setup works great with cargo platforms or small carriers when you need some extra room for gear. It’s an easy way to expand what your vehicle can do without changing how it looks or drives.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
97% were satisfied with this product
3% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Fits very well on my 2023 3 hatch. The instructions say you have to drill the frame, but you can remove the rear bumper instead.
Worked perfectly for my move across country with my Mazda 3 towing a small trailer!
Install went perfectly following instructions. Did not have to bend any heat shields.
The panel that is referenced in the instructions, "Return panel to vehicle owner (to throw in the trash?)," I'm assuming that wasn't reinstalled.
Didn't even have to trim any off the bumper.
Thanks, this was my second hitch install from etrailer.com and when I need a third I know where I'm coming back to. The information provided step by step and overall customer service is refreshing in 2024 where customers seem to be an afterthought.
If you're on the fence, trust me and buy from this site you won't regret it.
Great product overall! Delivery was quick, installation directions were accurate. I did opt to take the rear exhaust off as there are only two bolts and it made working under the vehicle allot easier for drilling the factory hole bigger to accommodate the installation hardware.
Great fit. Works well for my bike rack
Came with no extra bolts and one bolt without threads cut into it. Uninstallable as recieved.
Fits well on 2020 Mazda3 hatchback. Easier to install if you remove rear exhaust entirely (won’t need to drill holes larger this way as the instructions state).
Good hitch. Once I had the correct holes to enlarge figured out to enlarge (step drill that will go to 1") it was a piece of cake. A second hand is definitely needed, and removing the muffler completely made it much easier. Save yourself time and get a muffler hanger removal tool.
After getting the right hitch for my car (Mazda3 sedan is entirely different than hatch), installation went smoothly with little pain. The hitch works great for a bike carrier: the reason I bought it.
Haven't used it yet, but it's attached with a few cuts here and there.
It was easy enough to install. The only hard part was getting the guide holes large enough. Well, that and fishing the bolts through. I had help holding the hitch in place to not lose those bolts once I started putting on the nuts.
It holds my bike rack quite well and is strong enough for a couple e-bikes.
Will S. was a huge help when I was trying to find the correct hitch for my hatchback. (Sedan vs hatchback matters!)
Install was super easy. Removing exhaust does make it significantly easier and using cheap drill to enlarge the hole so you can run fishing wire was no problem. Unfortunately, its not level. Looks so goofy.
Its not the rack. Used this rack on a different car with etrailer purchased receiver without this gross tilt.
This was my second installation of a Curt product. Well built with easy directions. That said,
I have a few installation recommendations:
1. There is no need to remove the plastic panel as indicated in step one of the PDF. The hitch will fit perfectly without removal.
2. Best to completely remove the rear exhaust for easier access. Spray the rubber hangers and metal shafts with WD40. Using channel locks, grab the metal tip and the edge of the rubber hanger. It will pop right off.
3. You will indeed need to enlarge the center hole to accommodate carriage bolt and spacer.
4. There will be no need to bend the heat shield as indicated in step 4 of the PDF.
Project finished in a little over 2 hours.
A very high quality product, looks great and had no blemishes. The instructions were clear and precise, and install was relatively straight forward (only a small trim modification was needed). Perfectly placed to be accessible but still pretty low profile. Works great for my bike rack.
Alex spent a lot of time helping me with the installation, making sure I understood the install and limits of the hitch.
Fit great and working with etrailer was very easy!
Fit like a glove thank you all your help tom
Kate F.
4/23/2026
And just like that I could hear Ace Ventura in my head... Glad we had the right fit for you Alfred, what do you plan on using the hitch for?
Great fit for the car! I recommend to have some floor jacks to use for elevating the hitch to the car during attachment
It was a fun install. You do need to have a Rotor Tool so you can widen the holes for the bolts. I advise removing the muffler (easy) to make more room for work. The Curt hitch look good and seems like great quality. The welds look beefy and the paint is good. etrailer shipped in a box and it was packaged well, no scuffs. Smooth install and good experience.
This will be used almost exclusively to carry our bicycles. An easy install if you fully remove the muffler first. The longest part was enlarging the hole in the frame with an air grinder. Everything fit as expected. My car has the optional rear diffuser, which I was concerned would interfere with the hitch. It does interfere, but I just let it squish it a bit. You could cut the diffuser around the hitch, but I didn’t want to do that. All in all, everything worked about how I expected it to.
Christopher H.
8/4/2026
Thanks for your review and really appreciate you taking the time to include some photos. Glad this install went smoothly for you!
First of all, I have to say that etrailer.com has great customer service! Britany helped me figure out the correct hitch for my son's car. She went above and beyond to make sure the product selection, purchase, and shipping went as smooth as possible.
As for the hitch - I bought a Curt class 1 hitch with a 1-1/4" receiver. It fit my son's Mazda 3 hatchback like a glove. No trimming of the bumper was required. The exposed receiver is flush with the bumper.
The entire install process took about 30 minutes. Working with my son to install the hitch made it go much faster as there are times when extra hands are helpful to hold up the hitch. We did need to use a step drill bit to expand the holes on the car underbelly (per the hitch install instructions) so the hitch bolts and washers could be threaded through. I would recommend using a deeper than normal socket with your torque wrench to tighten the nuts as the bolts extended down just enough to make the regular socket lose its grip.
My son uses the hitch several times a week with my old L-shape bike rack to transport his bike to the trail. The hitch receiver has loops welded on both sides for use with trailer safety chains. The loops can also be used to lock your bike (and bike rack) to the hitch with a cable.
Overall, I had a great experience with etrailer.com and I highly recommend them!
Gwendolyn Y.
6/6/2025
Hitch looks great and in only 30 min means more time for the fun stuff, like hitting up the trails! Britany will be thrilled to hear how everything went, Dave :)
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Kim
6/11/2024
perfect! use the hitch all the time great find