Video Transcript for Easily Install Your etrailer Hitch Receiver - 2025 Mazda CX-50

Hi, everyone. Jesse here with etrailer. Today we'll be taking a look at, and I'll show you how to install the etrailer custom-fit trailer hitch receiver on our 2025 Mazda CX-50. Adding a hitch to a smaller crossover like the CX-50 really makes a ton of sense. It's going to give you the ability to add extra storage space outside the vehicle, whether it be something like a bike rack or a cargo carrier, or you can even do some towing with it. Just remember, if you plan on doing any kind of towing with your vehicle, there are a few other things that you're going to need to add on to get it ready to go.

That includes trailer wiring to stay safe and legal on the road. You'll also need a ball mount amongst some other things. So if you have any questions or concerns about what all you need to get your vehicle ready to tow, reach out to us. We'd be happy to help you out. Here's a closer look at our hitch installed on our neighbor's vehicle.

The cross beams are going to be hidden behind your fascia, and Mazda actually has a removable panel here. So you have a really nice, clean, almost factory look. All you can really see is your receiver. Now on that receiver, you have a standard 2-inch by 2-inch opening. Behind that is another standard 5/8-inch pinhole.

The pin clip, not included with the hitch. However, we have many options available here at etrailer. Also, any accessory that you add on will most likely come with one included. On the bottom, we have a wire-type safety cable loop. Very easy to access with whatever style safety cable you might have.

For example, an S-style like that, or even a large clevis like this. Now we'll take some quick measurements starting with our ground clearance. From the ground to the top of the inside of the collar is right at about 13 inches. Then from the center of our pinhole to the edge of our bumper, we're sitting at about 5 inches. That's a number you'll want to keep in mind for any folding accessories that you might add on to ensure they don't make contact with the vehicle. As for the weight capacities with this hitch, we have a gross trailer weight rating of 3,500 pounds. That's the amount of weight that you can pull behind the vehicle. Then we have a maximum tongue weight of 525 pounds. That's the amount of weight pushing down on the hitch. Always be sure to double-check your vehicle's owner's manual, compare those numbers, and go off the lowest rated component. All in all, if you're looking to add a hitch to the back of your CX-50, you really can't go wrong with the etrailer option. As for the installation, it's really a pretty simple process. It's just a matter of removing this panel that I talked about, and you will have to do a little bit of cutting behind it. If you're not looking to do that yourself, then check out our installer locator. You can find someone local to you. They'll be happy to get you set up. If you are looking to see how this gets installed, then follow along, and I'll walk you through the process. To begin our installation, we have some pushpin fasteners to remove, so I'll just work my way down the line. Now I am using a trim panel tool. You could also just use a flathead screwdriver. We're trying to get under this centerpiece and then the entire thing will come out with it. Now with those removed, we can pull down on our fascia and reveal two Phillips head screws that we need to remove. (drill whirring) (drill whirring) Then we can remove this little cutout here. It's just held in by those two Phillips head screws and some clips. So just kind of get it worked out. And with these clips, it'll help to just kind of push down on them as you're pulling this piece back. That's going to release them, and we can set this aside. Next, we'll be cutting our bumper support out. So I just kind of marked along the lines from that hitch opening. And then I'll be making these cuts using a multi-tool. (device buzzing) Now right above our tailpipe on both sides of the vehicle on the outside of our frame, we have a couple holes that are actually covered up by tape. Sometimes you can just get a finger under it and peel it off. But we have one right there and then one a bit further back. It will help to use a flathead screwdriver or a razor blade to kind of get up under that to get it started and peel the rest of the wear off. Now I'd recommend grabbing an extra set of hands. I have my friend, Scott, here to help me out. We're just going to lift this up into position and we'll get it lined up with the rearmost hole because there is two sets. Or there's two holes on the front side. So that's going to help us determine which one we're using. On ours, we're going to use this first one right here. Let's get a bolt started, so it'll hold it up for us to get the rest of our hardware installed. When we're installing this hardware, you want to make sure that each bolt has a conical tooth washer and you want those teeth on the washer facing towards the hitch. Now we can tighten our hardware down using a 3/4-inch socket. (device buzzing) Now we'll take our torque wrench and torque everything down to the specifications in the instructions. (metal clanking) All that's left is to reinstall those pushpin fasteners. Other than that, that's going to do it for our look at an installation of the etrailer custom-fit trailer hitch receiver on our 2025 Mazda CX-50.