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Perfect for light-duty towing, this custom, vehicle trailer hitch receiver features fully welded, gloss powder coated steel construction. Drawbar sold separately.
Features:
Specs:
At etrailer.com we're committed to the products we sell, and to our customers. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff are available via both phone and email to address your questions and concerns for the lifetime of your hitch. The technicians at etrailer perform hitch installations on a daily basis, making them a valuable resource for do-it-yourselfers. The one-on-one, personal service you'll receive comes straight from an expert in the towing and automotive field. We've installed it, we've wired it and we've towed with it, so whatever your question, we can answer it.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (163 Customer Reviews)
Perfect for light-duty towing, this custom, vehicle trailer hitch receiver features fully welded, gloss powder coated steel construction. Drawbar sold separately.
Been using for a year and it's holding up great. The install video helped make it a smooth and easy process. Nice for little things like bike rack or even something bigger like a trailer with two motorcycles on it. Great product
The hitch went on with no problems. A perfect fit. The wiring harness was even easier. Found the plug near the compartment where the spare tire is and just plugged it in and ran it through a hole in the bottom of the compartment. Took less than a week to receive at a very good price. Saved over 300 from having it installed at uhaul.
The order process was easy, the receiver was well packed and arrived quickly. I installed this in my driveway on a 2003 Subaru Forester with no rust. The directions were clear. The fit was perfect. On a 1-10 scale of mechanical experience I'd give myself a 5. I had no issues and completed the instal in 30 minutes. I pretreated fasteners with penetrating oil and used silicone spray on rubber. I used a channel-lock pliers to remove the rubber exhaust hangers.
My favorite part about placing this order were the confirmation emails. George emailed; not a robot. George kept me informed throughout the whole process. Jeff installed the hitch in 30 minutes. I like the low profile. We are looking forward to using the hitch to tote our bike around.
I received a hitch for a 2006 Subaru Forester yesterday, and installed it in less than 2 hours (this vehicle has 210,000 miles on it, and some existing bolts, etc. were somewhat difficult to remove due to rust, etc.) - it fit perfectly.
This is the 4th hitch I've purchased from Etrailer (2009 Tacoma, 2014 Subaru Legacy, 2006 Mitsubishi SUV) - they've all been very well built, and we've had no problems installing any of them. And the online videos are very helpful as well, you get a clear idea of what needs to be done before you even start, so you don't waste time messing around.
I was a certified welder in my younger days, and I am impressed with the build quality of the hitches - we used to build our own hitches, so I know what's involved - it would take many hours of labor to build a hitch comparable to the ones from Etrailer. They're a real bargain.
Thanks!
Fast shipping, high quality construction, and very easy installation. I didn't even need to jack up my Subaru. I only needed a 1/2" drive ratchet with long extensions, torque wrench, and help from a buddy to hold up the hitch while I bolted it in place. Could not be happier. The electrical was breeze. And the Euro ball hitch helps keep trailers level. The e-trailer videos took all the guess work out, and were much simpler than a black-and-white instruction manual.
Awesome- easy to install. Just make sure you watch the correct video for your vehicle!
It has a pretty low profile. Is not really even visible in the one picture I have right now. But I have a 1.25 to 2” adapter you can see and a nice solid bike rack attached and I love this setup.
I will update this according to etrailer's response and efforts to reconcile.
I will do my best to be constructive, yet the fit of this hitch is anything but. Let me explain.
First, the detail on the paperwork is barren at best. Second, it has the bolt measurements completely wrong aside from the provided bolt (for the exhaust mount?) which doesn't match up with the vehicle when the hitch is seated . The bolts that are on the vehicle are 14m and 17m. Not 12m as indicated on the install sheet. So that was a hassle when preparing to find out that I needed different tools/so much for prepping.
Also, the tear down to allow hitch access to frame is more extensive than indicated which leads me to believe your company leaves these details out in order to sell the "easy fitment" solution.
The breaking point for me though came when I removed the passenger side bolts which also secured the vehicle's EVAP system and can not be reinstalled with this hitch/will not allow the reseating of the EVAP system's mounting bracket. So, in essence, this hitch DOES NOT fit this vehicle.
After all this and full day of futile compromise I now have come to the conclusion that my plan to install the hitch, rent a trailer (already reserved) and move my 4BR household this weekend has now become a nightmare of uncertainty and an embarrassment to those counting on my decision to go this route. What do I do now? I guess it's a last minute scramble to find (hopefully) a truck rental or a moving company who specializes in exorbitant fees towards folks in my predicament, one which the hitch was a resolution away from...for naught.
While I found you professional and enjoyable to work with and the product presenting a generally acceptable quality, not fitting the vehicle renders these benefits useless and most importantly costs me dearly in both time and further expense.
I could never recommend this path to anyone, friend or foe. I wish I had a better report...more for me though than anything else, painful to say the least, rendered by etrailer.
I am an OTR driver who spends 3 months out on the road so the small window for me this week to move has been turned upside down, sideways and when I say nightmarish, I mean a complete disruption of life and a madness that no one should have to experience by the negligence of a company who seems to have put sales above reality and truth. It feels criminal. This has wrecked everything. I've been robed of so much and scrambling now to figure out what to do. I have 4 days with desperate stares in my direction as to what what we do now.
Thank you? For a huge lesson, seemingly where not to patronage, unless you or the techs have some sort of resolution for me. I expect a call from you to discuss the options in front of us. This is bad.
Mike L - 03/28/2019This hitch is legit, made out of nice thick steel. The fitment is is perfect and it hides nicely under the bumper without showing to much metal.
I have an invidia catback exhaust and I had shorten the mid section by 1/2 inch so it would clear the hitch. Original hangers still work. The exhaust tip was a little close to the hitch so I put some adhesive foam just in case it would hit.
OK ...... The left hand plate with the four bolt holes was BENT and the holes would not line up !!! ....... I am a car builder and fabricator so I was able to bolt up the left side then use that fixed side to lever from the right and straighten it out enough to line the holes up and get it fitted
BUT
Your average person may have trouble if they get a bent plate as did
Tyler M - 06/21/2021First of all I’m getting annoyed on how this is not fitting properly. I’m battling installing my this and hitch is off. Seems like the welding job done on this hitch for my 2005 Subaru Forester XT is trash, garbage. I have a Turbo XS exhaust and that alone won’t fit. Took it off and install my stock muffler barely fits. Stripping my bolts and exhaust hangers are not on. I had to grind off the bolt on the exhaust hanger because it wouldn’t fit. Probably have to zip tie it to the hitch. Etrailer, keep in mind most people have aftermarket exhausts and not everyone has stock exhausts. Very poor job on this hitch.
Mike L - 07/26/2019Love our trailer hitch!! Was an easy installation, we had it on for 15 minutes and was alright using it to haul our bikes to the trails! Thank you etrailer! Very happy with our purchase!
DISCLAIMER: POORLY DESIGNED ITEM****
Giving it two stars because I managed to get it to fit and giving it the benefit of the doubt on towing capability and weld strength. Purchased for a 2001 Subaru Forester. Seems like the item was designed by an individual who looked at one or two Subaru models and said, "eh, they are all pretty much the same" as this item pretty much fit on my vehicle. Background on myself, 5+ years automotive technician experience. Took me 45 minutes (with no experience expect at least 1 hour). This thing was a nightmare to install, if you are doing it solo you need a floor jack. It was almost too short to fit, I wound up taking off support brackets and bending back some sheet metal brackets so that I could get the hitch receiver in place on the frame. The support brackets were unable to go back on due to fitment (the hitch itself will act in their place its ok). This is not mentioned on the instructions, if you have an 01 Forester keep that in mind. The second strange thing is this brass bolt/nut combo that is suppose to go through a hole in the receiver on the muffler side. The hole is drilled but it is completely pointless and irrelevant due to fitment. If anything that hole should be lined up so that the muffler mount bolt/nut combo will fit better next to the receiver. This thing is a mess, if you are purchasing for an 01 Subaru Forester I would NOT recommend this item. Customer service individuals and follow up seemed nice and this seems like a good website to work with.
Thanks for making buying this fast and easy! This comes with light instructions, so I highly recommend using online tutorials for the step by step process and knowing how much torque you need for the bolts.
As described, this hitch is supporting my bike rack for 2 mountain bikes. Installation was easy after cleaning rusted nuts welded originally to the frame of Subaru Forester 2017. Once I re-threaded them and bought proper metric bolts, installation was very easy. Will buy another one for my Subaru 2014.
Works great
Straight out of the box and on the vehicle. The hitch fit perfectly and the only thing that slowed me down was putting the bolts back on. It took me time as I did it myself, but was a surprisingly easy piece to put in. Excellent product! The picture is not great, but the part fit wonderfully.
I’m super impressed. The material is good quality and super durable. The installation was super easy and was made perfectly for my 98 forester
Everything was as advertised EXCEPT installation issues (possibly pertaining only to a 1999 Suburu Forester). While production qualities of the video demonstration were questionable, nevertheless after reading its transcript in conjunction with viewing it multiple times I became clear about the essence of the install. The predicted install time (ie actual wrench work after having watched the video multiple times, etc) would have been accurate EXCEPT for a detail pertaining to re-threading of the bolts back into the car frame to secure the trailer hitch. The problem was that the nut-plates inside the frame were not held securely in place via a weld, rather Suburu chose some method that was not reliable. As a result, the very act of removing the chassis bolts tended to slightly miss-align the nut-plate lying behind the chassis-holes. This caused no end to heartache, adding something like two hours to the install! So excessive finesse and tedious adjustment of nut plate with hole using a screw driver was needed to overcome the problem. While we did succeed, nevertheless I was nearing the end of my rope, and anticipating failure in the current trend, I conceived of a solution just in case further finesse failed. Here it is if anyone finds it useful.
Obtain the appropriate length/thread/diameter metric SET SCREWS (probably Allen-head), and finesse them into the nut-plate WITHOUT the Hitch in place (a far easier proposition). Then using these protruding set-screws (with long enough length) to serve as “place holder studs” remove ONE a a time (with an Allen wrench), and replace it with its bolt counterpart; do this until all set screws are replaced with bolts.
Apart from this unfortunate occurrence (which I consider Suburu’s poor design choice, not Curt’s), service was great from eTrailer, and I am a satisfied eTrailer customer!
Dave L.
Patrick B - 06/03/2013Nice looking hitch, hides well. Install was fairly straight forward. Took me about 1 hr to install with air tools (I'm an ASE Master Technician-this is on my own vehicle). Did not come with new bolts, wasn't advertised as such, I just missed it; other advertised hitches on etrailer.com came with hardware. Existing bolts were too short to make me comfortable towing anything near capacity-I will replace the factory bolts with longer ones soon. Hitch mounting flanges were a little bent inwards that required some persuading with a pry bar and held with a vise grip to get the bolts started. Tip to installers-once the hitch is in place, start ALL of the fasteners with a few threads; then once they are all started, then torque to specification. This will prevent fighting the hitch on subsequent bolts.
I would DEFINITELY buy from etrailer.com again, great experience.
Patrick B - 10/22/2013Very good fit. Didn't notice an exhaust bracket bolt was included as it was wrapped in the plastic around the hitch frame. It would of made the job easier if I had seen it or knew it was coming but none of the tutorials or packing slips mentioned it. Definitely recommend. This was for a 2008 Subaru Forester.
Rob G - 05/26/2016Great product and service. When I need trailer hitches etc. I will be sure to go the E trailer. It will be used to support bicycle racks.
bill P - 05/12/2016I received the hitch in a few days. The box was in rough shape, but the hitch survived with no damage. The installation was no problem ('06 Subaru Forester) , except the rear left muffler hanger did not align perfectly with the hole. As a result, the muffler hanger is touching the hitch and causes a very annoying vibration.
A little tough to get installed, but, once on, the etrailer hitch receiver worked great On my Subaru Forester. I have a heavy-duty bike rack that is often tasked with carrying bikes loaded down with gear, and my hitch has never shown a sign of not working properly. It works as well as it would if the car always had a hitch. Great product. My only complaint or regret is that the hitch receiver placed the bike rack in such a way to obscure my license plate.
Installed on a 98 Forester. I was impressed with how well it lined up with the holes, including allowing the charcoal canister bracket to remount in its location, etc. Would have been nice if it came with new fasteners, but there was adequate length on the stock ones. The captive nuts in the car's frame are not actually welded to the frame, but are threaded into a large steel plate that is somewhat loose inside the frame member. This means you need to use a screwdriver or similar to poke them around to get it to line up, but this has nothing to do with the trailer hitch.
I did have to remove the three rubber exhaust mounts near the muffler (two behind and one in front) in order to let the exhaust sag enough to slip the hitch receiver into place, but I did *not* need to actually undo any fasteners, which was good. The flat bar on the left of the receiver fits perfectly above the muffler, which is a place I've seen other brands foul.
The only gripe I have is that the safety chain loops are welded in such a place that they interfere with the "L" shaped part of the pin you use to secure a tow ball. Even using all Curt brand stuff, you can't rotate the pin enough to get the clip on. Cutting the L part of the pin shorter was easy work with power tools, but would suck if you were trying to use a hacksaw. Perhaps other pin designs wouldn't have the issue.
Overall very satisfied, build quality looks good and it really tucks up under the car with no reduction in clearance.
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