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Installing a hitch can often be a daunting task, but this Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver is designed with simplicity in mind. Its fully welded construction bolts directly onto your vehicle's frame, eliminating the need for any welding. Perfect for do-it-yourself enthusiasts or anyone looking to save on professional installation costs, this design ensures you can get on the road quicker with less hassle.
Keeping your hitch in pristine condition is easy with this model. It's made from sturdy steel that is then powder coated in a gloss black finish. This dual-layer protection makes it highly resistant to corrosion, excellent for long-term use even in harsher weather conditions. This means less time worrying about rust and more time enjoying the ride.
The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver is tailored to fit your specific vehicle type, offering a custom fit that aligns perfectly with your car's frame. With a Class III rating and a 2-inch receiver, it's versatile enough to handle a variety of towing needs, whether it's carrying your mountain bikes or hauling a camper. It maintains a subtle and sleek appearance without compromising on functionality.
For those who need a hitch with a robust towing capacity, this model can tow up to 4,000 lbs gross trailer weight (GTW) and supports up to 600 lbs tongue weight (TW). Whether you're planning a cross-country adventure or just a weekend getaway, this hitch can support your needs with confidence.
Safety and aesthetics combine with the stylish round-tube design of the hitch. This choice not only enhances the look of your vehicle but also provides a sturdy attachment that holds up under stress. Its round design may also allow for better clearance and easier access when attaching bike racks or other hitch-mounted accessories.
You get added peace of mind knowing that your hitch is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. You can rely on the hitch’s performance, knowing that Curt stands behind their product for a lifetime of dependable use. Whether you're tackling rugged terrain or adding that extra cargo space for a family trip, it's a dependable choice you can trust.
This Curt hitch has more towing capacity than my 2017 Subaru Outback Wagon can handle, but felt this 2 inch receiver would offer extra stability for a loaded bike rack.
The install was straightforward following the directions & videos. Took me more like 2+ hours as I didn't want to make a mistake. One big recommendation is to buy a tapered drill bit as recommended. I first tried drilling a 1/2" hole & attempted to enlarge it with various abrasive/cutting bits chucked in the drill. That makes a sloppy hole & takes lots of time as the frame's steel is much harder than expected. So bought a tapered bit which made a perfect hole in seconds. If I recall correctly you need a 5/8" hole. Also bought some plastic plugs and glued them in the unused holes with silicone caulking.
Connected the wiring harness ground wire to an existing bolt (secured with an extra nut) rather than drill a new hole for a screw.
Have used the hitch for the bike rack, and for towing a small boat, and it works as it should.
Went with the Curt 13206 for our 2014 Outback after researching prices and weighing options for factory vs. aftermarket hitches and wiring. Our intended uses -- some light trailer and camper towing, plus cargo carriers and bike racks -- were a good match for the Curt's ratings (which exceed the Outback's ratings, just a bit of extra assurance). We also liked the more-rearward placement of the hitch opening.
The hitch and accessories arrived quickly from etrailer, with no shipping damage. We were pleased with the aesthetics of the Curt hitch in person (rounded tubing, good finish, quality welds). It might not be the most "stealth" offering out there, but appears very solid and not at all conspicuous once installed.
The installation was fairly straightforward, got it done solo in the garage in a couple of hours. The hitch was a tight fit around the spare tire well, had to scrape down a bit of the factory undercoating on each side to get it into place (something a few other customers mentioned). The rubber exhaust hangers also took some awkward wrestling -- probably would have been easier if I'd had access to a lift.
Also installed the Curt 56040 wiring harness and Tow Ready mounting brackets (18140 + 18144) for the flat-four plug. Again, relatively easy jobs with the how-to demos on etrailer. Since I had the rear flooring pulled out to put in the wiring, I decided to enlarge a couple of existing taped-over holes in the cargo area to fish the hitch mounting hardware into place (rather than enlarging holes on the underside of the vehicle), as suggested by previous reviewers.
Similarly, I routed the flat-four harness down through an existing rubber plug in the spare tire well (added some split-loom), and connected it to the Tow Ready brackets on the hitch. I thought this would be a cleaner and more convenient solution than running wiring through the rear hatch when towing.
Have to say that the how-to videos and notes from etrailer, along with the tips, tweaks and suggestions from other customers, made these tasks much, much easier and saved a lot of time. Thanks again for the thorough product selection and documentation, and great service.
Laura E.
3/27/2017
Thanks so much for your business and your review, John! Just a quick note - even though the hitch may exceed the capacity of your Outback, the maximum capacity of any towing setup is limited to the capacity of the lowest rated component.
John L.
3/17/2018
Thank you for following up. All is well one year along, were very happy with the hitch and accessories.
This is the second hitch I have purchased from etrailer.com. The first one [for a 2006 Outback Wagon] went on so easy, I purchased one for our 2018 Outback. This one was a little more challenging to install. But, after watching the video, I decided that it was within my abilities. I am no seasoned mechanic by any means. I change my own oil and do other minor repairs. I have included some pictures of the install. My most important tool was my covid-19 approved second helper. By clamping the hitch to the floor jack, I was able to maneuver and position the hitch with minimal effort. Without it, it is certainly a 2 person job.
Etrailers instructions are very clear and well written. Watching the video for your specific car is extremely helpful. The one hour install time is right on the money. The more experience and better tools you have, the faster it will go. Mine took longer, because I'm not that experienced. In the video, the mechanic used a stepped drill bit. This made the install go much smoother. Use a face shield, because the filings are very hot if you are lying on your back while drilling.
I am very pleased with etrailer.com and will go to them first for my towing needs.
Steven
8/18/2021
After one year, the hitch is still looking great! No signs of rust, corrosion or unusual wear. I check the mounting hardware as recommended, and everything is still as tight as when first installed. Still very pleased with my purchase!
I would say it was not the easiest thing to install for the first time but it turned out great. To get this mounted, make sure you have right tools, plenty of time, and nice weather. I installed it in the middle of the winter, at night, and my tools were not so great. I also lost a bolt inside my frame and had to retrieve it. However, now I can install it in 1/4 of the time it took me to install the first one. The etrailer staff was very helpful to answer my questions and ordering was very easy.
The hitch looks great! it goes very well with the body but it is visible from underneath the car. I used it to pull a small rental trainer and used my bike rack on it. It worked great.
I was recommended this hitch by a coworker and I would recommend it to you as well.
One suggestion I would say is to add an anti-rattle pin lock. It makes a tremendous difference.
Kevin
7/26/2019
After about one year, the hitch is doing great! Had many trailers pulled by my outback.
The Curt hitch was shipped promptly and arrived without issue. After backing up on a pair of car ramps the accessibility to everything was easy. I strapped the muffler so it would not drop then removed the muffler from the hangers. Spraying WD40 on the hangers definitely makes it easier. I used a step drill to enlarge the holes to pass the bolts through. I was not able to locate a 17/32 drill bit so I used a 1/2 bit which worked fine. My wife assisted in raising the hitch and securing the first two bolts. Taking a leisurely approach we finished in 1:45 hours. Looking forward to using our Thule bike rack in the hitch.
Hobie M.
3/12/2019
Great! The Subaru has been busy with the bike rack attached going to various rides. The car has also be pulling our catamaran to the lake. Great hitch, easy install, great buy!
Very nice quality product. Shipping was fast, and the box arrived in one piece, considering the size and weight. The installation was relatively easy, with most common tools found in the average garage. It took me 2 hours with some minor help from a second set of hands. I opted to go the route other folks were recommending, by going in via the wheel well area of the 2016 Outback. This did turn out to make it a lot easier than expected. The hitch straddled the under carriage well, and the bolts lined up perfectly. My only minor complaint was having to deal with 2 mufflers (3.6 version has dual exhaust), but they were easy to remove and made the process of installing the hitch so much easier. I'm only using this for a bike carrier, and it fits perfectly. Mission accomplished, and thanks eTrailer for a very affordable and easy to install product!
Kevin T.
7/25/2017
Fantastic product that simply works! No issues at all.
Jena was very easy to work with on the phone and knew her stuff! I received the hitch and wiring harness in two days, and all the accessories I needed were included. The quality of the hitch and accessories was excellent!
I installed everything in less than 4 hours, and had the trailer hooked up. It pulled perfectly and all the lights worked!
I am very happy with the customer service and the appearance and operation of the new hitch!
Ken P.
1/17/2018
I works great and I am happy with it!
I had purchased this same hitch last year
so I could add protection to the bumper and rear hatch.
Since moving to Portland six years ago, my wife has been rear-ended four times and I have been hit twice while stopped at traffic lights.
The hitch allowed us to use a “step/protective” insert.
She was hit again two weeks ago. The collision destroyed the step but saved the bumper. As a result, I’d estimate the damage to the BMW was $4000-6000.
As a result, I’ll be installing a similar hitch on my Subaru. ( I was hit last summer while driving my ‘63 Triumph TR3.)
Jeffrey
5/13/2020
The product purchased and installed by me was a 2x2 hutch. Installed on my Subaru Outback. We retired and mired to Portland ,Oregon six years ago. Since arriving I have been rear ended 2x And my wife 4x. I ed bumpersteps into the hitch. Now when rear ended in stop and go traffic the replaceable bumper absorbs the blow and saves expensive bumper repairs. My wife and I have each saved thousands of dollars in repairs. A bonus are the many other uses of a hitch.
This hitch looks great. Thanks to the video available on your website i was able to pick the perfect hitch for my needs. This hitch IMO has perfect aesthetics for the Subaru Outback. Very heavy duty hitch and well made. Received it very quick. You guys at etrailer are great!
Debbie
11/14/2017
The Curt Hitch still looks brand new and functions perfectly.
Love the receiver, can’t wait to do the install.
This is my third hitch from etrailer. Each time has been the same easy purchasing process, great price, and quick shipping. There is good support and follow up from them as well. Here is my feedback from this installation on my 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6 touring:
- I have installed a bunch of hitches over the years and this one went pretty smoothly. Watching the video helps a lot so you don't have to keep constantly referring to the instructions while you are working.
- I needed to enlarge the frame holes bigger than the instructions said to because even though I could pass the plate washer through the hole, the carriage bolt itself definitely needed a bigger opening. I used a corded Dremel tool with cutoff wheels to cut the holes to the necessary size.
- since the fish wires have to be reused, BE CAREFUL unthreading the bolts from them the first time so you don't stretch or twist them out of shape. Doing so will make it much harder to fish the second set of bolts through the small holes that you drill in the frame.
-A few tips that made this more convenient for me.....Like others have said, I strongly recommend use of either ramps or jackstands so you aren't cramped under the car. I also suggest some carpet remnants or pieces of foam flooring to lay on. Additionally, a rolled up sheet or an old pillow doubled over helped me keep my head and neck from getting fatigued and strained because you have to look up and see what you're doing. Safety glasses are a must to keep dirt and metal fragments from falling in your eyes as you wrestle with exhaust hangers and drill/enlarge holes. And for the exhaust hangers - spray them liberally with lube and they slide off and back on with way less effort. Really liberally.
Total install time 2h40m. I am not a car mechanic but an avid tinkerer and only slightly mechanically inclined.
In all I am very pleased with the product and it was hundreds and hundreds less than having a dealer install a hitch. Thanks etrailer!
I have used a Curt trailer hitch on a 2016 Subaru for over a year. I am very satisfied with the product.
The price was reasonable, performs as expected, the hitch shows no signs of rust, and looks good on the car.
I installed the hitch following the excellent video instructions on your website without problems. With the help of another person, the install took less than one hour. I use the hitch with a Thule bicycle rack.
Thank you
I decided to buy the Curt hitch for my 2016 Outback because I wanted a rounded tube crossbar (aesthetics) and I wanted the receiver to be far enough back that I would have plenty of tailgate clearance with my bike rack or any other carriers I might use it for in the future. There are other receivers that are more tucked back and less visible, but I felt added clearance with accessories was more important to prevent damage to the car. I also wanted a 2" receiver because there are more accessories/racks available than what you can get for a 1-1/4" version, even though my car is not rated to tow anywhere near the max capacity of a 2" hitch.
The installation took me about 2.5hrs, of which the most time consuming parts were prying off the rubber exhaust hangers and opening up slots in the frame holes to allow the carriage bolts and spacers to be fished through. I strongly suggest a carbide cutting tool like the Dremel 9901 which should make quick work of slotting the frame. Also a set of tin snips will make quick work of the exhaust shield trimming, which is very straight forward. Other than those tools, you should have anything else you might need in a basic mechanics set of tools.
The finished product is not 100% stealth, but it is tucked up about as far as it could be without having to trim the body work (like with the OEM 1-1/4" hitch). It is relatively unobtrusive, except when specifically looking for it (like I was when decided on which receiver to get) - a layperson walking by is not going to noticed it hanging down. The black tends to blend with the bodywork and shadow under the car . If you have an Outback with the optional shiny roll pan guard, a black receiver might stand out more.
This is a fantastic value from etrailer considering not only a low price, but also an incredibly helpful set of videos and photos of the installation. Do yourself a favor and watch their model-specific install video to demystify the process - the installation instructions from Curt are relatively vague without the video supplement. I highly appreciate etrailer's product and model-specific videos and reviews and that is partly why I give this 5 stars.
After a bit of research, I decided on the Curt 2" hitch for my 2017 Outback, primarily because I intend to use it for bike transport and appreciated the bit of extra room in front of the gate it allowed. My order arrived in just a few days. The box came with one small hole punched in the side, but the hitch was in good shape.
I did a lot of reading and research before I started the installation. The online video as well as the pictures and tips from other readers were helpful in giving me a good idea of what was involved. The whole install process took about 90 minutes, not counting prep and clean up. I easily found a step drill at HF, but was surprised by the lack of local availability for a 17/32" drill bit. Most places stopped at 1/2" and then jumped to larger sizes. Lucky for me, I found I already had a 17/32" bit in my bin of odd bits.
Once I made my way down through the layers of interior pieces around the spare tire, it was an easy matter to enlarge the front holes (covered by a circle of black tape) to 1 1/8" so the plates and bolts could easily pass.
After the inside drilling was done, I used some of those drive up ramps (and jack stands) to allow easier access to the underside of the vehicle. The tip with the spray lube and cargo strap worked as advertised with the muffler and hangers. My Outback is pretty new, so the hangers slid off and on without a problem. The only real "difficulty" I encountered in the installation was fishing the wire from the big hole in the trunk to the small hole underneath. I ended up using a reverse fish from the other direction with a piece of safety wire. It was much easier to spot and grab the wire through the big hole. I enlisted the help of an assistant (wife) for a few minutes to hold one side of the hitch in place while I got the first nut installed. I left the fish wires on until the last minute.
Drilling the second set of holes wasn't too tough. I used a center punch and about 4 different size bits to work up to the final dimension. I put some paint on all the bare metal and installed a 3D printed a plastic cap with silicone sealant to cover the access holes in the trunk area.
All things considered, I'm quite happy with my purchase. I saved HUNDREDS of dollars over what the dealer quoted me, even after buying some tools for the job. I'm 59 and my skill level is "amateur maker/tinkerer". I've done a fair amount of work on cars and planes, but just don't do that much of it anymore.
This is my second hitch from etrailer for a Subaru Outback. This time around it only took me about 1.5 hours, with a friend helping out. The hitch fits like a glove and looks amazing. I know that some folks have mentioned the hitch could you use a bit more packing in the cardboard box, but mine arrived in fine shape, with no damage. Since this is now my second Curt hitch on my second Outback, I can say the quality is outstanding, and it's SOLID. I'm still a fan of installing it from the spare tire compartment/cargo area of the car and enlarging the forward-most access holes already provided in this area with a step-drill bit, as others have stated. This allows for easy top-down access while fishing the bolts, and made it easier for me to line everything up right the first time. The included instructions do help, but the online videos are so much better. This product can be installed with your typical tools in the garage, but it might make it easier to plan a quick trip to the local hardware store, and pick up the recommended tools in the instructions. I had my previous hitch on another Outback for 2 years, with a Thule bike rack and 3 bikes on it for many months out of the year, and it never failed me; rock solid product. Thanks again etrailer for excellent pricing and fast shipping!
Watched the installation video on the Etrailer website and installed the hitch with the help of my dad. It was very straight forward and easy to install. I used the hitch 100% for a dual bike rack. I’ve made countless trips with two bikes, no issues with the hitch. Great product!
It fit perfectly. The added special tooling made the installation a breeze. I have absolute confidence in the strength and durability of this installation. I am looking forward top putting a Curt Hitch on my wife's Crosstrek this month. It will make her Subaru more versatile also. We love to do all sorts of camping and constantly are pulling "something" out and about.
By the way, the finish is excellent and adds to the look of my Outback. The Outlook is a car that just looks better with a hitch.
Total easy install with minimal knowledge and basic tools. I pull a 14ft fishing boat, a small camper, gravel/mulch trailer. So far so good !!!!
James S.
3/5/2019
My hitch is still awesome..
Our Curt Hitch from etrailer.com fits my 2014 Subaru Outback perfectly. It doesn't stick out too far, hang too low and it has the right clearance from the bumper for the bike rack.
Great product, exactly as advertised. Very solid construction with high quality hardware that should last a lifetime. Service from etrailer.com was exemplary so a shout out to George who expedited the delivery of my hitch. Fitting was very easy especially if you refer to the video on the etrailer.com web site. I haven't used it as a bike rack hitch at the moment but see no reason why the Kuat nv 2.0 rack that I hope to purchase shortly should not integrate with this hitch extremely well. In the meantime I'm using it to help form part of a support stand for my large scale RC airplanes as you can see in the pictures. Not a traditional use I know but one that this hitch helps with very well!
Installed the Curt 2” trailer hitch for my 2017 Outback. Very easy to install, I made one change from the factory instructions; I enlarged an access hole for the bolts on the interior of the car rather than the channel as shown in the instructions. I noticed this area when installing the wiring kit. It resulted in a cleaner installation without weakening the structural channels.
After running to the local car wash to vacuum out the trunk, I installed the Swagman bike rack and had a great day!!
The quality of the trailer looks great for the Subaru. This is my first time to install anything on the car by myself. So it took me several hours, especially because I didn't have all the necessary tools ready.
On the installation, lowering the exhaust and remove the exhaust cover took less than 10 minutes. But I spent at least another two hours to enlarge the holes for fish wire, and drill new holes for the nuts. It would be great if Etrailer sells a reliable step drill bit for this purpose.
Other than that, everything else was relatively smooth.
New tools purchased for this: Step drill bit (20$), torque wrench (20$), Aviation Snip (20$) all from Harbor Freight.
I put this hitch on our Subaru Outback to receive and carry a two bike rack. The hitch is very secure and solid. The instructions were clear and the final installation is great. Would recommend.
Hitch installed on 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, approx 2 hours by 1 man. A few installation tips: 1. I didn't remove the muffler heat shield, just drilled through. Removed only 1 screw which interfere with Hitch. 2. When reinstall rubber isolators put some grease inside the holes it makes a big difference. 3. I have removed 2 rubber isolators and the muffler, it makes a lot of room. 4. I choose to insert bolt point by drilling a 1" (enlarge an existing hole as you can see in pictures attached) hole from the trunk. Everything done with the car on the ground, don't forget to wear safety glass!!!
Thanks etrailer.com.
Free shipping arrived in 4 days. Everything was in the box as ordered and in fine shape. Needed this for 4th of July week in the woods of Upstate NY. Will be used as a carrier and very light trailer work.
Do it yourself supplies: Lisle muffler hanger pliers/Step Drill for frame/multiple metric sockets. Since my wife wasn't able to do much lifting I actually removed the muffler and tailpipe as this car is brand new and it was easily removed. With all that out of the way this installation took less than 2 hrs Perfect fit. Great instructional videos, needed to revisit the heat shield portion. Thanks as you saved me a ton of money over Subaru dealer $450-$500 tonnage. PS only cursed once as a hot shard of frame landed directly on the mustache......yowza!
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Charles
3/17/2019
Works fine, no issues.