EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"
This item does not fit your vehicle
2012 Ford Explorer
These items fit your vehicle
2012 Ford Explorer
To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.
Want a clean, factory look while benefiting from extra towing capabilities? The EcoHitch is designed with a hidden cross tube that sits discreetly behind your vehicle's bumper, leaving only the 2-inch receiver visible. This means maintaining your car's stylish appearance while enjoying the functionality of a class III trailer hitch.
Concerned about your environmental footprint? The EcoHitch stands out with its construction from a strong alloy of aerospace-grade aluminum, steel, and stainless steel made from recycled materials. Not only does it provide durability and resistance, but it also supports eco-friendly practices by reducing harmful emissions commonly associated with steel hitches.
Avoid the hassle of complex installations with EcoHitch's straightforward bolt-on procedure. There's no need for drilling or welding, making it a breeze to set up using just basic tools. It's as simple as following some easy-to-understand steps, allowing you to hit the road faster without having to visit a professional.
Looking to haul rigs with assurance? This trailer hitch supports loads up to 5,000 lbs of gross trailer weight and 750 lbs maximum tongue weight. Whether it's a trailer, a bike rack, or a cargo carrier, the EcoHitch empowers you to transport with confidence.
Worried about safety and durability? The EcoHitch goes through exhaustive testing using Finite Elemental Analysis and complies with stringent SAE J684 towing safety standards. This means you can rely on it for steadfast performance and peace of mind whether you're on a cross-country journey or just taking a quick drive.
California residents: click here
Install was not too bad by myself. I used some jack stands and a floor jack. This will accommodate a full size spare, but just barely. The clearance between the rear sway bar and hitch is tight. I am using a full sized spare tire, so perhaps a worn tread tire would fit just fine.
Product was as described, and was very easy to install. Got a quote from the dealership of almost $1000 to install a trailer hitch, but I was able to do it myself in about an hour for a small fraction of the cost.
Great product but to be clear you can JUST squeeze a full size spare 245/60/ R18 under the Highlander with this hitch. You have to have it at the perfect angle to make sure the tire fits securely.
Pretty easy install on our 2023 Highlander Hybrid XLE. Took me about 40mins. Had a dremel to trim the plastic cover on the driverside as shown in etrailer's video. Chose this model cuz it looked cleaner / more oem/style and has a higher tongue weight rating. Didn't buy a wire harness cuz we only intend to use a hitch cargo carrier...for now. This hitch will be great for that with the 750lb tongue weight rating. Happy with the purchase.
Great customer support helped me find a hitch that would fit behind the bumper of our 2023 Highlander Platinum without interfering with the 20" spare. We also wanted a hitch that was concealed with only the receiver showing. We want to use our bike rack with the car and had almost decided that it wasn't going to be possible. The videos were very helpful, just the right length. The hitch was delivered in a few days and bolted right up with no issues. All you see is the receiver. The light kit was also a very straightforward installation.
This was a great buying experience and the end result checks all of the boxes.
Great Job to all at etrailer!
Hitch install was straight forward with instructions and install video. Cuts to plastic piece on drivers side were easy with a hacksaw blade. Harness install was also straightforward and would have only taken 10minutes had a plastic pin not come off the interior trim and fallen inside. Fishing it out took more time than the rest of the install. Overall I like the look of the finished install. Only 4 stars because the lift gate sense module is sandwiched between the bumper trim and the hitch not allowing holes to line up for one push pin so I used zip ties. My concern is if anything ever bumps the bumper at that location the module will be crushed because there is no flex or give. Lift gate motion sense is still functional but very finicky.
Easy install and the added tongue weight threshold provides extra confidence which is a nice benefit although I may never take advantage of it. The hitch tucks away nicely so that its hardly even noticeable. I use it once a month or more and haven't had any issues.
Fit like a glove! Looks tight! Easy install! Recommend for 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Limited.
I have installed four different trailer hitches on vehicles, but this is my first EcoHitch. This one was for my 2021 Toyota Highlander. The last one was a few years ago on a 2012 Highlander. This EcoHitch really lives up to the Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver name! The price point for this hitch is much higher than the other models and actually doesn't work any better than the others. BUT it really does sit under the vehicle and is completely out of the way. I needed that because the extra two inches of clearance is what I needed to park the newer Highlander in my garage. So if this issue is important to you, it is well worth the extra money. And installing it was as easy as the other ones I've done. It takes effort and is way easier with another person helping, but no problems when you follow the instructions.
Etrailer always gets it correct the first time
Everything that etrailer.com did was outstanding. My problem was the fact that four of the eight metric split lock washers were not included in the hardware kit. The missing hardware caused a delay in the installation and a trip to the local hardware store. Both items were shipped promptly and well packaged.
Easy to install and a perfect fit.
Fit perfectly and still can use spare t ire.
I was quite happy with the hitch, in spite of the fact that I never actually used it for towing. Unfortunately, the vehicle is now totaled (unrelated to the hitch).
All the parts were provided. I tried to get stainless steel fasteners in place of the steel ones provided, but I couldn't find them locally. Installation was pretty easy, with help from my son-in-law, but on the ground without a lift. Installation instructions were pretty good, except for cutting of the plastic mud shield. Could have used better help for that.
My order was missing some parts when it arrived due to the box being ripped during shipping. etrailer sent me the parts free of charge and I got it installed today. Super siked to use it! Would definitely order from them again!
It was installed by a professional installer in about an hour and without having to remove the bumper. It looks great and can’t wait to start using it for biking.
It is a perfect fit, great product we really like it.
I will be calling. I paid top dollar for a very specific hitch for my Highlander and the box came destroyed and badly mishandled as well as the packing total sub par. I expected so much better from this company. I ordered a much cheaper bike rack and it was bagged, individually boxed, padded like crazy and arrived perfectly from Amazon. And this expensive hitch arrives damaged and “barely boxed”
Perfect fit! Excellent instructions.
Fit well but a bit difficult to install. Lower side plate bolts are very close to hitch bolts. Hard to access hitch bolts. Also bolts have to be tightened in a specific order to install the hitch correctly. All the bolts have to be snugged up first to locate all the pieces and center the hitch. Then the bolts for the hitch to the frame get tightened. The lower side plate bolts have to be loose to access the hitch bolts. Then the upper side plate bolts can be tightened and finally the lower side plate bolts.
Also why mix metric bolts and English/SAE bolts? Couldn't all the bolts be metric? Then I can use one set of tools.
Finally I could not remove the muffler from the rear support bracket. I've worked on many exhaust systems and even have the special pliers for pushing out the support hooks. You can't move the exhaust system enough to pop out the hooks. The support bracket had to be removed and reinstalled in order to get the hitch above the muffler.
Folks at etrailer helped me get the right hitch and install video made very easy to install. This is my third hitch I’ve purchased from etrailer great company to work with.
For highlander xse after installation you need change your exhaust hanger lower your exhaust tips. Looks ugly but this is the only way to make it fits
Instructions were thorough. I used a scissors hydraulic Jack as my “second pair of hands(as I didn’t have an overhead hoist) , and, took my time with the install.
Looks good on our new Highlander after all was done.
Perfect hitch. I really like the fact that it is hidden and you only see the receiver. Installed by myself without any issues. Note: Get some extra plastic push clips for the bumper and side plastic. You will probably break some trying to get them out.
Installed on a 2022 Highlander. Easy install and it looks great - you can only see the hitch extension!
Do you have a question about this Trailer Hitch?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Gwendolyn Y.
7/30/2025
That price quote is pretty shocking to see so I'm glad we had just what you needed, Mark! What have you been using the hitch for?