/
Draw-Tite/
Class III/
2 Inch Hitch/
675 lbs TW/
4500 lbs GTWItem # 75270
Retail:$205.85
Our Price: $144.75
You Save: $61.10To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
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Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.
Features:
Specs:
Draw-Tite's Tested Tough program provides testing standards far superior to those outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the go-to source for engineering professionals.
Each Draw-Tite trailer hitch receiver undergoes extensive fatigue testing and static testing with the ball mount that is either supplied or recommended for use with that particular hitch, thus ensuring results that are applicable to real life use. Fatigue testing is also conducted on hitches rated for use with weight-distribution systems.
In addition, Draw-Tite performs static testing on a simulated automobile, as opposed to the rigid fixture used for SAE testing, resulting in a more true-to-life scenario.
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.
Installation Details 
1999 - 2017 Honda Odyssey
California residents: click here
Video of Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today, its 2015 Honda Odyssey. We're going to show you the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver, 2 inch, Class 3, receiver hitch. This is what the Hitch looks like when it's installed on our Odyssey. Now you will notice that it does sit below the bumper and also you can see the receiver and the crossbar. Let's take a closer look at the receiver part now on the very end of the collar here. It has a nice round finish to it and we go into the 2 inch opening here, you'll notice that there's two holes. This hole here is 5 inch in diameter for a Class 3 hitch pin or your favorite locking hitch pin.
The smaller diameter hole here is for a J-pin stabilization pin. That's for accessories that goes into your hitch that do not have their own anti-rattle device. This plate here for reseda change has a little more cleaner appearance than a simple loop on the bottom. A cross tube goes into our frame bracket right here, where it reaches up into the frame of the vehicle. From there use existing holes so there's no drilling required with this hitch. It's actually fairly easy to install. Now the tongue weight on the hitch is going to be 675 pounds, which is the weight that pushes down on the ball and the gross trailer weight is going to be 4500 pounds.
When you add a weight distribution assembly to gross trailer weight that goes to 5000 pounds and a tongue weight that goes to 675 pounds. All this double manuals to make sure your vehicle is ready to produce this kind of capacity. Next we're going to give you some measurements to help you out selecting some accessories such as a ball mount, a bicycle rack or a cargo carrier. From top of the receiver opening down to the ground would be about 13 inches. From the center of hitch pin hole to the outside edges of the bumper would be about 6-3/4 inches. All right now we're going to show you how we install the hitch. We'll start off with the passenger side and lower exhaust.
We'll spray it down with some lubricant and we'll go ahead and fry off the rubber hanger. On the driver's side, we need to remove this panel. There'll be three plastic fasteners on the outside edge, 12 or some couple more on the back side. To remove the plastic fastener, take a flat plate screwdriver, pop open the centers and you can pull off the ridge. Sometimes you have to pry it out as well. All right, some vehicles will have this extra trim panels here and one other fasteners is hidden behind it. So we need to go ahead and loosen this up by taking out these two screws with a phillips screwdriver. That front Tyre is a bolt extra move using a 10 millimeter socket.
Now there's another 10 millimeter bolt right here ready to be moved. One final bolt right here using a phillips head screwdriver. Then we go ahead and take this panel down. Now this is an optional part here, you can leave this off when after you have your hitch installed or you can put it back on. The next step for getting our vehicle ready is we need to clean up the three holes that has threads in them. Once again we'll use the spray lubricant on them and we'll use a toothbrush to help clean up the threads. On a newer vehicle, this is not much a problem but with the older vehicle kits, more dust and debris will get inside. Take one of the hitch bolts and make sure they fit right in okay. This is our driver's side done. Repeat the same thing over the passenger's side. Okay, our van's ready. Let's go ahead and get our hitch ready. To do that we need to take these plates and put them on top of the hitch and while we're here, I'll show you how the harbor works. This is our hitch bolt, we tested it earlier. This is a counter toothed washer, always make sure the teeth goes up towards the hitch and everything will attach to the van in this fashion. Now the hard wire will be the same for all six holes. We'll tape these in place and they'll go easier when we put up there. I'm just going to use some plain old packing tape. Now you notice on the end of the hitch going toward the front, there's two holes. We want to use this one. This one's typically used on older vehicles. At this point, we can go ahead and put our hitch up in place. You definitely want to get an extra set of hands to help hold it up and put it in place. Now, with one bolt on each side holding up the hitch, let's install the rest of the hard ware. For our loot, we can go ahead and move our plates if we want to and this one here I like to rope it so it doesn't interfere with this bracket. Right, we're done with our passenger's side. One more time over at the driver's side. Now we can go ahead and tighten down the bolt using a 19 millimeter socket and then we'll torque the bolts down as done in the instructions. Back to our panel here, this is optional if you want to put this up. Otherwise you can put the mud flap back into place. If you want to put this back up, all we have to do is make a small modification to this bolt torque right here, just elongate it this way and it'll be enough clearance for it to go into place. This still will be tight but it will work. Again if you choose to, we'll go and put our panel back up into place. Then you can re-assemble your mud flap. With this hole made a little bit oblong, that gives us a little bit of wiggle room to move our plastic around. We can re-install the fasteners. Back to the passenger's side, we'll go ahead and re-install the exhaust back on to it's rubber hanger. We have our exhaust back in place. That'll finish it on the install our hitch on this 2015 Honda Odyssey.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (1442 Customer Reviews)
Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.Bought a trailer hitch for our 2009 Honda Odyssey. The only hitch (get it) was that it was delayed in shipping by one day. The delay was by UPS, not etraler's fault. We live in a remote part of California, so that's not very unusual. The hardest part of the instillation was getting the rubber exhaust hanger free. A squirt of WD40 took care of that. It bolted up perfectly, as if it came from the Honda factory. I also bought the trailer wire kit. My biggest anxiety was getting the interior panels off without damaging the clips. They came off easily and the wire kit installed as easy as the hitch. Overall, it took about 2 hours from start to finish. That includes getting out the jack, stands, tools, being interrupted by my two year old a few times and cleanup. I chose etrailer because of the price for a Draw-Tite hitch. I had found cheaper hitches online, but didn't know the brands. I trust Draw-Tite. We are in the market for a vintage camping trailer and this is what we need to pull it. I told my wife that this was easiest part I've ever installed. It went as straight forward as the instructions showed. Thank you etrailer. 501948
Our hitch is still working great. When the time comes to get a new vehicle, I’ll be looking to etrailer if it doesn’t already have a hitch. I’m very happy with my purchase.
Dave C - 04/28/2019
This is the first of two of these bolt-on hitches that I have purchased for our vehicles, and after one year of use, I am very satisfied with this item. Installation was relatively easy with some basic tools, and the hitch has worked flawlessly for use with bike racks and cargo baskets. etrailer has competitive prices on so many great products, and the BEST customer service you will find anywhere. Installation photos and videos are second to none. Thanks etrailer! 564876
I would rate this hitch 5/5 except the receiver was just a bit wider than factory-installed one I have on my Suburban. The ball mount rattles a bit due the excess play - not sure if that's by design. Installation was simple - thanks to ETrailer's videos. Didn't have help so I propped one side with a trash can. 92100
I have grown to accept the rattling of the receiver. My neighbor said what do you expect, its for a trailer! :-I would say the only negative thing about the hitch is it sits low enough that the receiver rubs cement on an inclined driveway. In short, one year later, Im happy I bought it.
TJ V - 01/27/2015The fit to my 2002 Honda Odyssey is great. However, I did not use the spacers that off-set the hitch lower down and away from the frame as the bumper did not interfere with the installation. The round tube construction for this hitch passes through the side plates were it is welded together on the inside of the plates. I like this hitches design because the round tube has the best moment of inertial for a cross member where the weight contribution to the vehicle is minimized and the strength is maximized, therefore the efficiency of the design is optimal. After several days with the new hitch installed we realized a new clunk was coming from the tail pipes flared end bashing into the round tube that is outboard of the side plates. This clearance was too small and when the car went round a right hand corner the exhaust pipe assembly would move on its hangers and bang into the hitch. So I took a hacksaw and cut the tube flush with the side plate and there are no more clunks! This would be a very good improvement to make in the production of this product. But would require the round tube be jigged at an angle and clocked correctly prior to welding the side plates at assembly. 406543
Free shipping delivered within 3 days! The bracket ends were sticking out of the box and had minor cosmetic scratches which did not affect installation or function. Hitch is over 40lbs, oversized & bulky shape so not a surprise to see that. I read installation would take hours and required ramp to raise back end but that was not the case for me. We're in SoCal where there's not much rain so cleaning mounting holes on the frame was really easy. A single spray of WD-40 and I was able to hand screw all 6 bolts. I only had to pop the tail pipe off the last rubber mount to get at the bolts on right side. I used 2 car jacks to lift up & position the hitch to be mounted (see pic). In fact not raising the back end allowed easier installation for me. The longest time was spent nudging hitch to get that last bolt in. Total job time - about 2 hrs from opening box to completion. Excellent hitch, strong solid feel, and much easier installation than expected. 341499
Well built product shipped expeditiously in a heavy cardboard container. UPS had ruptured the box in several places and one side seam with staples was completely open. However, the accompanying installation hardware, wiring harness box and American Flag hitch receiver cover were well packaged and taped securely on the center of the hitch; they were intact and undamaged. After the hitch arrived, I watched the installation video once, then assembled recommended tools, to include one jack stand and an electric trouble light. Using one side panel removed from the shipping box as a pad to keep my clothes clean while lying on the concrete floor of my garage, I checked the "give" in the rubber exhaust suspension donuts and decided to proceed without removing the exhaust pipe hangar. Inspection of the six pre-drilled holes in the frame of my 13 month old 2013 Honda revealed that they were clean. I placed the right end of the hitch on the exhaust pipe and used the jackstand to support the opposite end of the hitch. The spacers were placed on the hitch and bolts with washers were started, then tightened in an alternating manner. The most challenging part of the process for this 73 year old man with moderate arthritis was reading the index on my torque wrench (the type with a pointer) through bifocals due change soon. Holes in the hitch aligned perfectly with the predrilled ones and installation was completed in less than 30 minutes. Wore gloves and emerged from the job clean. A superb unit that looks good on the Odyssey. Have installed hitches before but this job was made far easier and quicker due to hitch construction and perfect pre-drilling of holes. Highly recommend this economical unit over other pricier national brands that I have used in the past. 120131
I didn't think I could do this until watching the videos on this site. Very straight forward. This is on a 2002 Honda Odyssey installation in 2018, 16 years with no tow bar. Start to Finish installation of this tow bar 3.5 hours. - 3 hours of cleaning the rust out of the under carriage nuts. This included 1 trip to the local auto parts store to purchase Performance Tool W1231 20-Piece Engine Brush Kit. This kit is a life saver at getting rust out of the nuts. - .5 hours installing the tow bar. I will say that if you have rust in your under carriage nuts, then there is not a way that I could figure out to get the rust our with out disconnecting the muffler from the back support bracket. The jack stands that I had were too tall to support the tow bar so I needed a 2nd person to help. If I had the correct support, then putting the passenger side on the muffler (with the last bracket attached) would have worked no problem. The rectangular steel spacers can cause an issue on the holes closest to the bumper. They need to be twisted slightly because of a screw holding molding to the bumper. Great product so far. 467077
As advertised and very solid. The hitch was relatively easy to install and I did it w/my 12 year-old son in less than 45 min. start to finish. It worked very well for our Thule bike rack on a long family vacation--no negative issues. The packaging that the unit arrived in however was sort of a joke. Much/most of the hitch was exposed and cutting through the box in multiple spots--box looked like Swiss cheese on delivery. I was very glad that etrailer had thoroughly shrink-wrapped the essential/needed bolts to the actual hitch or they would have been long gone through the box. The hitch was already dinged a bit (through the top coat) due to the poor packaging, so I know that I'll see rust in those spots sooner than later given our WI location. 101603
Still a great hitch at one plus years. Solid, no problens except for some paint chipping off with noticeable corrosion at those spots...probably due to road salt and that it was scraped up during original delivery.
Paul P - 10/19/2014Thanks for the reply. We recommend using an automotive grade spray paint as a touch ups on your hitch for the scrapes and chippings that you are noticing.
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Rachael H - 10/21/2014I just installed this Class 3 -2''hitch on my 2010 Odyssey. Great hitch for a great price. My van was 7 years old and the 6 holes were very rusty from WI winter driving. Definitely just order the (12x1.25 Metric tap [from other on-line retailer] right away to clean the nuts out if your van is over a year old. I spent 3 hours scrubbing with a battery terminal wire brush and lots of WD40. The tap is a very rare metric size that I could not find an any auto parts store. Car ramps are handy also. I did this install solo. Good Luck! 414609
Great no problems.
GB - 08/25/2018I was caught in a pinch. 5 days before our trip to the beach, found out my 2 nieces wanted to join us for the trip. More the merrier but the space would be tight. We were taking 5 golf club bags with us, which meant 7 people in the van along with 5 golf club bags which would take up the entire trunk space. Needed a cargo carrier ASAP for a much needed space. I had used the hitch from Etrailer before and knew the product was first class, but the time restraint made me hesitate ordering. I called Renee at etrailer and asked about the delivery time frame and she assured me that it usually took 3 days from MO to MD. So I placed my faith in her and placed the order. She made sure the delivery left the premises the same day, about an hour or so to be exact, and sent me a follow up email, with when it was shipped. Sure enough it came to md by Friday morning and I was able to install it that same morning. The attachment was a breeze as it took only 6 bolts to the existing frame to securely attach it. Great job etrailer. The vacation was saved. 139119
Real VALUE to this product. (saw some beat-up Trailer Hitches on Craig's List for almost what I paid for this one) Note: start on the passenger side when installing as there is the exhaust pipe you have to work around. Also watch the washers they are side sensitive. 572832
The conical toothed washers should be installed so that the concave, toothed surface is against the hitch so that the washers flatten out as the bolts are torqued.
-- Mike L - 10/09/2018I love the hitch but I had some trouble with the installation on my 12 year old Honda Odyssey since the holes were very corroded. Even though I sprayed the holes with WD-40 and used the 1/2" wire brush on the holes it wasn't enough. I finally obtained the proper sized thread tap (12mm x 1.25) and was able to thoroughly clean the bolt holes so that I could complete the installation of the hitch. I suggest that you either include a tap with the hitch, or offer to sell the proper sized tap, and strongly recommend the use of the tap when installing the hitch on older cars. 151869
Its working fine
Joe L - 09/18/2015This product was easy to install. I don't have many tools, and frankly, you don't need many! The product was shipped via UPS ground. That same day I received two emails talking me my shipping had been upgraded and I received it in two days. I installed it the next day and it took me about an hour. Admittedly, most of that was trying to pop out the plastic pins from the facia on the drivers side of the van and removing the mud flap that was caked with dirt. Other than that, it was 6 bolts, washers and shims. I had to get my 17 year old daughter to hold up one side while I bolted in the other. There was no drilling at all. By the way, Honda wanted $933 for the part and another $400 to install. UHaul charges a little more than etrailer for the part and would have totaled out at $285 installed. If you have a hill for a driveway, you may find that once you install the towing ball into the hitch, it sits low. You can rectify this by putting the ball on the "bottom" then flipping it over so the ball is higher. Great service, great product! 89476
Very well built. Seems to be the strongest hitch available for the Odyssey. Better design compared to others. Great price on Etrailer.com! 576503
I wanted a trailer hitch for my 2010 Honda Odyssey for a small trailer or bike rack that would not drag when coming up my sloped driveway. Titus answered my call at etrailer.com and explained that the particular one he recommended would be the least obtrusive and least likely to drag coming up the driveway. I also ordered the electric connection kit. Installation was so smooth that you would think I was an expert. The hitch fitted just as custom as it was supposed to be. Even the instructions were selected specifically for my Honda Odyssey. The etrailer videos about hitch installation and electrical installation were so accurate you could have recorded my installations and it would have showed it to be just as smooth, easy, and trouble free. I could not believe it myself. Everything went as smoothly as the etrailer videos. If you look at the attached picture you can barely see the trailer hitch. If it weren't for the etrailer logo on it, you probably would not notice it at all. It is smooth, tight, and trouble free. I could not be more pleased with the service or the product I received. Great job, etrailer. Thank you, Titus 7770
I recently received the 75270 for my 2007 Honday Odyssey EX-L and could not be happier. The entire kit was extremely well documented and the hitch was well made. All the holes lined up perfectly and the installation went smoothly. A few general comments: *Preparing the holes:* Some folks had recommended getting a tap and re-tapping the holes. I thought about it and decided not to because I was afraid of stripping the holes It took something like two hours of extensive WD-40 use and scrubbing to clean out the six holes, but the bolts eventually went in without a problem. I live in the Northeast and so had 7+ years of water, salt and general grime build-up. Hopefully it will be easier for others. (As a reminder you should install the bolts BEFORE putting on the hitch to make sure that holes are properly cleaned out.) *Removing the tail pipe hanger* I was hoping not to have to do this as some here said it was not necessary. However, as I looked under the car, I realized that there was no way to get the torque wrench in there with the tailpipe in place. Hence, I had no choice. Fortunately, the directions were clear (thanks eTrailer!) and it was not hard to do. *Installation* The one thing I almost messed up was not realizing that you have to install the side above the tail pipe first. This is required because you have to angle it to get above the exhaust. There were no issues, but it is a word of warning because I started on the other side and had i not noticed, I would had to start over. (A big thanks to my friend who was helping me said "you should check out this side." Boy was he right!) 183559
The hitch fit perfectly, minimal effort required for installation, was done in under an hour...…….had the new bike rack fitted into it and carrying bikes right away! During install, all holes were perfectly centered to utilize the factory welded nuts in place. Would recommend this hitch to anyone. 575113
What great service!!! Purchased Thursday morning 4/26 and received the hitch by Saturday night 4/28. ETrailer hitch was perfect and helped me out of my recent hitch fiasco (see below). I had an eye on this hitch on eTrailer for about a year. Eventually though, I would up purchasing the same model from an alternative retailer that was selling on Amazon, bc I had a $100 Amazon gift card. The other seller shipped me the hitch UNBOXED. Just a hitch with a shipping label attached. Hitch was beat up, dented, scratch, and bent. So unprofessional. Etrialer's mint condition hitch came wonderfully packaged and boxed. I was able to mount it with no problem at all. Really appreciate their install video as well. eTrailer will be my sole retailer from now on. Would not even consider using anyone else. The product itself was also great. Easy to install and mount various hitches. Only using for light loads like cargo basket, bike racks, etc. 502507
Purchased a Draw-Tite MaxFrame 75270 trailer hitch from etrailer about a year ago. The install on my 2012 Honda Odyssey was a walk in the park thanks to the video on the eTrailer web site. The product quality is fantastic, the shipping was fast, and the price was great. Very pleased. 570752
I ordered both the hitch and the wiring kit for my 2013 Honda Odyssey. Both were easy to order, delivered quickly, with excellent follow up by the staff. I did need to call to learn the torque specs and to get some help on how to best clean out the holes on my van. I received a call within hours to help me out, and a follow up a few days later to ask if I had any other questions. 424803
couldn’t be more pleased. I highly recommend etrailer to any in need of similar products.
Nick G - 08/24/2018This is a piece of cake. A heavy piece but a piece nonetheless. My son and I installed this in an hour or so. We had to wait for a driving rain to let up so I beat him two out of three games of eight ball. Then we used a leaf blower to dry the carport and we spread some cardboard and crawled under the Odyssey. The video was extremely helpful and we had it up and torqued to spec in no time. No pictures, sorry. It was dark and wet. But we had a good time and it looks and works great. Thanks. 418937
I dont use it a lot, but its working great.
Harry M - 08/18/2018Hello George, Well I received the package which was a bit damaged but no damage to the hitch. Removed all the necessary items from the Odyssey and proceeded to install. I did not have the luxury of a lift so I installed it on my garage floor. I saw it was going to be a bit awkward for a 76 year old to handle so I decided to make a couple of blocks out of 2" X 4" . The finished blocks were, one was 9" X 12" and the other was 9 1/2" X 12". I placed the two blocks just inside the welded frame and it laid very secure on the frame surface. The 9" block was used on the opposite side of where I was installing the 19 MM bolts in three places. The 9 1/2 height was the height needed to get the bolts started, when snug place the 9 1/2" block on the opposite side to secure the remaining three 19 MM bolts, torque to specs and installation of hitch is done. (I had to call your help line to get the proper torque needed specs would be helpful if that information was on the installation instructions). The only thing that I had a little problem with was the hole locations were a bit tight but after loosing the opposite side I got the bolts all in. The biggest problem with the whole job was re assembling the mud guards and the existing panel on the drivers side, I wish I had paid more attention when removing them, would have been much easier then. I had some questions and sent them in for etrailer review regarding a bike rack I intend to use this hitch for. I need a rack that will accept two bikes and the bikes have to be supported by setting on the wheels not hanging. With the blocks I made one person can do the installation just be careful and patient. Thanks for a good product and very good service. Sorry no pictures, job is complete. Arnold 377193
The hitch itself was as good if not better than expected. Installed on my 2011 Honda Odyssey. I live in the Midwest, so the rain/snow/road salt it has been exposed to over the past few years have not been kind to the threads on the frame-nuts. Driver's side didn't take much cleanup due to the plastic panel (definitely replace). Passenger's side was another story. I initially tried to use a penetration lubricant and work the bolts back and forth until I snapped the nut welded on to the frame. NOW what? I had to grind off the bold and retreive the nut from inside the frame, then fish the bolt inside the frame and spot-weld it (recommended if you also happen to break off a welded nut). Talking to a friend of mine, he asked if I was using a tap to re-tap the threads. After that no issues. Suggestions: 1. Unless you live in an area of dry, warm weather OR are installing on a brand new vehichle, give yourself 3-4 hours to complete. It takes 10-15 minutes just to remove the plastic panel/mud flap. 2. If installing on a non-new and/or your car is driven in adverse weather conditions, skip the little brush in the video and find a metric (not SAE) tap and die set. (might be able to borrow one from your local auto parts store). 3. If replacing the the plastic panel after install, the video says to drill out the hole bigger, but they fail to give you any further instruction. The reason you have to drill the hole is because the hole that lines up for the little bolt that secures the panel to the vehicle no longer lines up. You need to drill to the backside of the panel if possible. I drilled the hole bigger as they suggested, but it still didn't line up. I ended up going back with a round file and filing a notch even deeper than the hole. 162321
can you tell me what size metric tap you used?
-- comment by: trey m - 12/15/2014The installation instructions indicate that the hardware used to install this hitch are M12 x 1.25 x 35 mm bolts. So the correct tap that you would need is an M12 x 1.25.
-- Rachael H - 12/16/2014I recently completed installing the 75270 trailer hitch on my 2016 Honda Odyssey (haven't actually towed with it yet). The install was pretty easy. I watched the etrailer.com video a few times and reviewed the manufacturer instructions. I also referenced the Honda hitch installation instructions. I installed the hitch by myself which made things a little tricky, but not too bad. I drove the rear wheels up on some blocks to give myself a few extra inches of working room. Most of the installation went just as shown in the video except that I didn't feel it was necessary to drop the exhaust. There was enough access for wrenches just by pushing the tail pipe to the side slightly. I was able to support the hitch one one side with some blocks and then get the center bolt installed on the opposite side. Once both center bolts were in place, everything bolted up pretty easily. The little spacer blocks provided with the kit are a little "hokey" but manageable. One thing to note, the instructions state to torque the bolts to [specs]. If you reference the Honda hitch installation instructions and standard torque specs for 12mm Class 8.8 bolts, the stated torque is [specs]. So there is a some ambiguity there. My only real gripe (and the reason I gave 4 out of 5 stars) was because in the video it shows the tech replacing the appearance panel on the left side after the hitch is installed. Unfortunately, the front edge of the hitch interferes with the panel, so installing the panel is impossible to do unless you modify it slightly and use a longer 6mm cap screw. Of course none of this is discussed in the video. I probably got the whole hitch installed in 30 minutes and then spent another 30 minutes monkeying around with getting the panel back on. Overall, it looks like a solid, well built hitch and I look forward to using it. Steve 338521
The hitch has been working just fine the few times I’ve used it so far. No issues. Thanks.
Steve M - 02/05/2018Just finished the install on my 2006 Honda Odyssey. My first attempt did not go well. My suggestion to anyone is this. First, after you unpack just take out the mounting bolts and see if they fit. The mounting holes on my car were super rusty. No amount of cleaning could get the bolts to thread in. So, put the hitch in car and went shopping for tap, 12 mm x 1.25. No one near me had one. So I ordered one on the internet. Next, you have very little clearance on the passenger side even with the tailpipe off of its rubber mount. I did not want to remove any more than that. Now your tap will not fit with the T-handle. I used an 11/32 nut driver to line up the tap with the hole. Make sure it is straight, very important. Next I turned the tap using the open end of an 8 mm wrench. The other sizes had too much slop on the square drive. With some penetrating oil and some patience I was able to fully clean out all 6 holes. You need to get them really clean where you just the thread the tap with your nut driver and feel zero resistance. After that all went well. It helps if you have someone to hold up one end of the hitch while you try to align the other side. I used two jack stands to hold up the hitch. It was a small struggle but not too bad. Also now that the threads were clean the bolts went right in with my fingers. I put all the bolts on, left them loose to make minor adjustment, then tightened them with a 1/2 ratchet and 19 mm socket. I also ordered the trailer wire harness and that thing was just plug and play. Very easy. For the nut on the the ball you will need a big pipe wrench. And finally, the only thing I did not like about the this hitch was the openings on either end of the tube. Not a deal beaker. I went to Home Depot and bought two 1 1/2 inch PVC end caps. I ground them down on my bench grinder that had a wire wheel on it. You need to remove a good amount of material but the pvc is still tough. I left maybe 1/4 inch from the top of the cap not grooved. I also sanded off the writing on the tops of the caps. The wire wheel treatment left the caps with almost a thread appearance on them. This helped lock them in the tube. I spray painted them with Rustoleum gloss black paint, then tapped them into holes almost an inch deep. They are not coming out. And now no holes. Good luck. I'm very happy with the product and the customer service. 479485
Honda Odyssey hitch installation I COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION ON SATURDAY MORNING...I DRAFTED A STEP BY STEP WRITE-UP ON HOW I COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION....I INCLUDED SOME TIPS SUCH AS USING A 1/2" CU TUBING WIRE BRUSH TO CLEAN OUT THE BOLT HOLE THREADS AND USING A SCISSOR JACK AND BLOCKING TO LIFT THE UNIT DURING INSTALLATION. ( A CRITICAL TIP FROM MY BOSS WHO IS A LONG TIME TRAILER USER AND AUTO AND BIKE MECHANIC)..YOUR INSTALLATION VIDEO'S WERE VERY HELPFUL PARTICULARLY ON THE WIRING INSTALLATION...I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH SOME ACTION PHOTO'S...I AM STILL SHOPPING FOR THE MOTORCYCLE TRAILER!!!.........MY EXPERIENCE WITH E-TRAILER HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING...EXCELLENT SELECTION OF TRAILER PRODUCTS...VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING...VERY QUICK DELIVERY...VERY GOOD INSTRUCTIONS AND EXCELLENT VIDEO ON THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION. 4907
This hitch was as easy to install as everyone said. There are many great suggestions. I did not put my van up on the ramps and regret not doing it but I still managed to install it by myself in 2 hours. The first hour was spent on prep. I did not follow everyone's advise and get a tap to clear the threads. I thought that the nuts looked clean. I was wrong. I looked around for a tap and could not locate one until I went to my local Napa store. They ordered it on Saturday and had it on Monday from their DC. It is a 12.0mm - 1.25 Spark Plug Tap. This tap and WD-40 cleared the threads but it was a slow process to make sure the threads were not damaged. I also removed the exhaust from the hanger to get in with the tap and hitch. I do not know how you can clear the threads or install the hitch without moving the exhaust out of your way. I am really grateful for the idea of using a floor jacket in place of a second person. It helped lift the other side in place and also by adjusting the height I could get the hitch to pitch forward and back to get the plates in. Between the videos and everyone's great reviews with useful tips I am glad I bought the hitch from etrailer.com. I still have to install the wiring but that is a job for another day. I bought the rack to carry bikes but want the wiring just in case I need to pull a trailer. 291019
Once I got the weld nuts cleaned out, the hidden-hitch couldn't have been easier to install on my 2004 Odyssey. By far, the most time consuming part was cleaning out the 10 years of road grime that had built up in the holes under the car. After reading reviews here, I decided a tap was necessary and set out to find one. After visiting both NAPA and AutoZone with no luck, I finally stopped at CarQuest, where they had the right size tap (M12 x 1.25). Armed with a can of WD-40, a wire battery terminal brush, and my new tap, I set to work. I am SOOOO glad I bought the tap as I think the job would have been nearly impossible without it. With the tap it took 10 or 15 minutes per hole to get the bolts to turn easily. I did end up taking the exhaust off the rear-most hanger, but that was a simple process. I sprayed the metal arm with WD-40 and the rubber holder slipped right off (it was also pretty easy to put back on). The holes in the hitch lined up perfectly with the holes in the frame. I installed it myself, resting one side of the hitch on the exhaust while I got the other side positioned. I initially installed the hitch with the 6 metal spacer blocks that came with it. After reading a few of the reviews here and watching the video that didn't mention them, I decided I'd rather have the extra 1/8" of clearance and removed them one at a time so that I didn't need to uninstall/reinstall the whole hitch. Hopefully it's a decision that doesn't come back to haunt me, but I don't see that they serve any purpose. I don't have a torque wrench, so I snugged up the bolts as tightly as I could with my socket wrench. I'm going to try to borrow one from a friend just so I install it per the manufacture instructions. But I'm only planning on using it to haul bikes around for now, so I'm not too worried... 137532
Shipping was very fast and the installation couldn't have been easier. From out of the box, to completely installed was 20 minutes. I didn't bother with removing the tail pipe from the mount. There is plenty enough give to get a socket and extension around it. I also didn't have to chase the threads with a tap or brush of any sort. Even with 170,000 mile on the van, they were nice and clean. Although we live in San Diego and don't get any weather; so your mileage may vary. Bottom line: another well designed product from a well run company. 142727
David,Just a side note about the hitch. We have found that with a medium load of camping gear and four 2 adults, 2 young girls passengers the hitch will scrape in a lot of driveway schools, banks, gas stations, etc. approaches. And this is without a trailer being towed. I am very disappointed in that aspect of the product. It may work for the a bike rack or the occasional rototiller rental. But I would encourage you to look at some other options on this site. At least, call and ask the staff for their input.
-- comment by: David - 08/18/2014Thank you for the follow up David. With the Honda Odyssey that has minimal ground clearance anyway adding any of the hitches that we currently carry will further decrease the limited ground clearance. If you would like, you could use a device like the # UF48-979022
Ultra-Fab Steel Mini-Roller for Trailers and RVs - Weld On - 1-1/2" Wide x 2-1/2" Tall
$38.21 to make the transition easier when entering and exiting areas with an incline. This particular one will need to be welded directly to the hitch by a certified welder.
Rachael H - 8/21/2014Hi Rachael,Thank you for your suggestion. I realize that minivans in general have some clearance issues. We will likely be replacing the van with a new Odyssey in the upcoming few months, and I will let the hitch go with. Since the installation of this product, I have noticed Odysseys around our town and what the hitch arrangements look like if they are present. There are a number of Curt hitches present and it is tucked up much higher that the Hidden Hitch. I think something along those lines is where Ill look for the new van. Or maybe a factorydealer installed option if it is not priced prohibitively.Thanks again for the great service!David
-- comment by: David - 08/21/2014No problem, happy to help. If you would like recommendations for your new Odyssey feel free to let us know. We can check and see if we have installed a Curt hitch on that year Odyssey and see what the ground clearance measurement is for that vehicle. If you find that at hitch is not feasible, we have other options for cargo such as roof mounted systems, and trunk mounted bike racks that may also work for you.
-- Rachael H - 8/22/2014I've owned this product for 1 year now. My purchase went flawlessly. The product arrived on time. My experience was a good one. I found it somewhat intimidating to install because my vehicle's mounting points, the holes where the bolts go in, were corroded and filled with road grime. I thought I was going to be stuck without the ability to mount it. I called the help line and they suggested that this was a common problem and to simply clean them out. I got a wire brush and scrubbed and scrubbed. A friend suggested I use brake cleaner too, and that helped quite a lot. So after 2 or 3 hours of scrubbing, the hitch went on just fine and I have had no problems. I put 4 bikes on the thing, 1 adult, 2 teenager/smaller, and 1 small kid bike. It feels pretty cramped and I have a hard time imagining putting 4 grown adult bikes on there, but you tube can probably prove it right or wrong in a search. I'm not sure if it's fair or not, but when attached the frame seems a tad wobbly. I don't know what to expect. I haven't owned one of these before, or anything similar. I guess I was expecting it to be rock solid and immobile. But it does sort of wobble around a little under load. I've driven to the coasts with it loaded though, as well as numerous trips around town and have had no issues. Some people might find the strap tie downs a little annoying. I think they're fine. All in all, my expeirence with etrailer was fine. I'd give them 5 stars. My experience with this particular product is fine too. I give it 4 stars for the wobble and the cramped feeling it seems to have fully loaded. I'm not an avid cyclist, just a dad with 3 kids and a pile of bikes on a minivan. Works for me! 436141
By far, the easiest installation I've ever done on my vehicles. To be fair, the detailed video and reviews on this web site were a big part of what made this job go well. I installed this hitch on my 2005 Honda Odyssey. The weld nuts had 9+ years of dirt, debris, and rust on them. I knew I was going to have to clean those threads. WD-40, a M12x1.25 tap, and a battery terminal cleaner wire brush were key to cleaning those threads. If you have rust in your frame's weld nuts, don't try to save money by not getting the tap. You'll be glad you spent a few bucks on it. (I bought the tap online for under $10 -- don't look for a tap at your local big box home improvement store. None of the ones in my area had it -- though I learned later that the local Ace Hardware did!) My technique was to try to gently get the tap started to make sure I was cleaning the threads and not cutting new ones. Then clockwise one turn, counter-clockwise two turns, repeat until the turning the tap was smooth. Then run a bolt through the weld nut to make sure it was clean all the way through. After about 90 minutes of effort to get those 6 wire nuts clean, the hitch went on in less than 30 minutes. Some reviewers said they were able to get the job done without lowering the exhaust. I don't see how - at least not if you have to clean the threads. Lowering the exhaust gave me the clearance I needed to use the tap and made it easier to get the torque wrench on the bolt. I also had to remove a couple screws from the passenger side mud guard to help give me clearance use the tap on the forward right weld nut. Something to watch for -- In order to get the spacers flat against the rail, I could not position the spacers in-line with the rail. For the middle bolts, the spacers had to be skewed slightly -- otherwise they wouldn't lay flat due to a seam in the frame rail. No biggie. Just look at it before putting the hitch up and it will be obvious. Not sure how critical it is. 90% of it was a 1-person job. The 10% was just to have a second person hold the hitch up to get the first bolt started on one side. Then I got one bolt started on the other side. At that point, the hitch was roughly in place. Then finished the other four. If you're handy with tools at all, I highly recommend you try doing this yourself. Tools I used: - battery terminal cleaner wire brush - WD40 with straw - M12x1.25 tap and t-handle - ratchet, extension, and 19mm socket (directions say 18mm!) - torque wrench (with at least 68 ft-lb capability) - channel locks were helpful to loosen the rubber fitting from the exhaust hook Looking forward to using it with our new bike rack. 99709
Buying from etrailer.com was the best online buying experience I've had in 10 years! To start with, they had the best prices and selection, different brands of hitches that fit my vehicle were grouped together, making them easy to compare, and the photos of the actual installed hitches were extremely helpful. After I chose the hitch, the related accessories were shown in a window on the lower right corner of my screen. The most appropriate and best priced products were shown, so it was a breeze to select everything I needed including the wiring, ball mount and ball. I received an email order confirmation (with photos, descriptions & prices of all the parts), followed by a ready-to-ship email with a personal contact and a toll free number. Three days later UPS delivered my hitch (free shipping) and all the accessories, everything was in one large box, well packed and there wasn’t shipping labels stuck on the hitch like some companies do. An hour after UPS left, I received an email acknowledging that the package was delivered and following up to make sure I was satisfied with my purchase. Your company is outstanding; I would hate to be your competition. Thanks for the best product, price & service! Dan A. Clear Lake, MN 12641
Really great product. Fits my 2005 Odyssey like a glove. This was my very first installation and I can confirm that it can in fact be installed by a single person, without raising the car and without removing the exhaust pipe. It did take a while (probably 1.5 hrs total) to complete as I needed to clean the threads in the weld nuts. Following recommendation from someone on this web-site (i.e. one of the reviewers), I had purchased an M12 x 1.25 tap and it made the work super easy (initially tried just WD40 with steel brush with basically zero effect as there was some serious rust build up in the threads). I've positioned the hitch on two jack stands (which supported it at JUST the right elevation) and started "wiggling" it towards the car frame. The driver's side was a piece of cake. It took a bit of effort to squeeze the passenger side of the hitch in between the car frame and the exhaust pipe. Once that was completed, the rest was relatively easy. I forgot to mention that I did try to remove the exhaust pipe, but didn't manage to do so. It would have made the things easier, but in the end I ended up "deflecting" the pipe suspended on the rubber piece by hand in order to be able to work with the bolts on the passenger side. All in all, very nice fit, super strong and sturdy hitch and overall - a really great experience (and tons of satisfaction =). Thanks etailer. 438493
I purchased the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver that is class III to replace a Curt class II hitch receiver so that I could tow a Jayco high walled pop-up camper, and use a Curt weight distribution hitch. The product had some sharp metal edges and flashing from manufacturing that I had to remove and the black powder coat finish flaked off in a couple of locations as I ran the duplex wire for the EBTC wiring kit. The holes for the back mounting bolts didn't align with the weld nut holes of the tow vehicle, and required using a pry bar to get it aligned in order to mount the receiver! The receiver was not secured in the box or packed well (with any sort of bubble of foam wrapping or card board used to keep it from moving around in the box. When I received the package, the hitch had broken through the box at one end and the finish was chipped there. I've previously purchased two Curt Class II receiver hitch's, the one being replaced and one for another car, as well as a bike rack from etrailer. The quality of those we great and package in a way to secure the receivers in the box. Etrailer has always had great customer service and been incredible to deal with. I am pleased with my purchase, but a bit disappointed with the package of the product and those quality issues mentioned. 506537
This hitch fit perfectly and all bolt holes lined up. The instructions and hardware were correct. The only suggestion that I have would be for users to purchase/borrow an M12-1.25 tap to clean out the holes before attempting the intstallation. On our 2005 Odyssey there was quite a bit of dirt and rust built up inthe holes. I first attempted to clean out the holes using a wire brush from a gun cleaning kit and just about a whole can of wd40 and really struggled. When I attempted to install the bolts into the dirty holes I was having to use excessive force to turn them and was nervous about breaking one off. Luckily I was able to borrow a tap to clean out the holes and the rest ofthe installation went flawlessly. If you use the tap you can be sure that when you torque the 6 bolts to the recommended 68 ft-lbs at the end you are actually tighly securing the hitch to the vehicle frame. Unless your vehicle it new....get a tap it will save you 2 hours and make the installation more secure. Would be a nice addidition if you could purchase the correct tap from this website when checking out. Thanks! 21178
Good hitch and pretty easy install. Took about 2hrs including wiring. I listened to other reviews and just bought a 12mx1.25 tap at Ace hardware. I used a ratchet and 9mm socket on the back of the tap. Used chain lube in the wholes and blew out with a air line when done. Propped one end on a jack stand and pushed the other end up to start bolt. The exhaust pipe is fairly simple to get out of the hangers if you use a pry bar like the install video show. Wiring was easy to install, only change I made was I drilled a small hole and fished the wires up under the bumper and thru. Eliminating the the need to let the wire hang out under the hatch. I cut the wires and respliced them together. Then siliconed around them to protect against water and rubbing against metal. They now tuck up behind the bumper cover with easy access. I'd say just about anyone can do this install with a couple tools and a little mechanical aptitude. 545656
You hitch & wiring installation videos were awesome! Everything went very easy overall. I did have to run a tap in the factory installed weld nuts as years of corrosion had built up in them. Thank you for your fast delivery as well! 562772
Super easy install in instructional video. These guys also offer great customer service. Super happy with my first experience with etrailers. Good job guys. 554780
This can be a one man job if you have ramps and a short step stool. The thing that made the install take longer than 30 minutes was that the bolts on the passenger side would not line up if the drivers side bolts were on. I had to remove all the bolts on the driver side and set the hitch on a step stool 12 inches high so that the driver side was about 3 inches away from the mounting location. This was the only way i could get all three passenger side bolts to line up. Torqued to 69 pound-feet and i was done. Three stars for those three bolts. 83466
I had the same problem and it was a nightmare. Why is everyone giving this 4-5 stars then? Box arrived was a joke. The the holes didnt align. Im curious whether the reviews are real or not.
-- comment by: Randy C - 06/12/2015Thanks for your comment and feedback. I see that our customer service team was in contact with you and were able to get this issues resolved.
-- Rachael H - 6/15/2015Ease of installation: 8/10 (thanks Honda for pre-installed threading) - Only “issue” was to remove plastic cover (3x pop-ups, 1x bolt, 1x screw on splash guard) ... I was able to re-install without the bolt however. - You CAN push exhaust pipe out of the way (let it cool first) to install bolts - Bolt size = standard tire/rim bolt size; 1/2” driver with 4” extension worked well for tightening - Used vehicle ramps to raise vehicle 6” - made it a lot easier to crawl underneath to install - Bought 4” RISE hitch for towing; check with manufacturer since NOT hitches all can be reversed!!! Whole kit was $40 at U-Haul (best price in town) - Electrical kit - SUPER EASY watching video (but I broke 2x plastic panel clips re-installing ... probably cheap at store) - Pulled 4x8 from TX to WI with about 1,200 lbs with no issues; still got 18.5 MPG surprisingly! Installing myself (including ramps, hitch set up, & wiring kit): SAVED $200+ over U-Haul quote & $700+ over Honda quote 567813
I cannot grade the towing capability yet, but this review is on installation. Less than one hour from start till I was putting tools away on the same day of arrival. One man job with the assistance of a rolling floor jack. Put rear up on ramps, hit holes with wd40, used one bolt to test run all threads, did not unhook tailpipe, simply insert the plate in, over, and let it rest on on exhaust (majority of weight still supported by jack). Start with left side, place 1 bolt loosely and then continue to switch sides with two at a time. Used torque wrench at 68 lbs to finish securing. Done. Looks great too! Up next: electrical and trans cooler. Thank you etrailer for the product and videos. Bought the hitch bc of such great reviews. 177862
Wonderful. Great towing hitch. Looks clean, sleek, and strong. No problems at all. Well pleased! Have used numerous times for towing.
Jarrett e - 03/09/2016can be a one person job when following the video guide and do a little bit research, this hitch is solid and sturdy, have been loading a 75 pounds ebike for a few weeks without any problem. i built my own ramp using solid wood as many reviewers did. 435930
Still good
figo - 09/24/2018Shipped Quick --- Everything In The Box In Great Shape --- Installed In 30 Minutes ---- Looks Great On The Van ---- The Videos On Youtube Helped Me Make The Call And Purchase The Reciver--- Feels Like A Quality Unit ---- Everything Went Great! Thanks Dell . 114168
Works Great Looks Good On Van Its A Keeper .
Delbert G - 01/19/2015I'm not sure how a hitch install could be any easier. It doesn't require two people because you can hang the passenger side of the hitch on the tailpipe while you start one of the bolts on the drivers side. By a mile, the hardest part is chasing the existing threads on the van. My van had traveled many dirt roads and the grime was thick on the underside. Still, this wasn't a hard job at all. I've included pics of the installed hitch and the 6 bolts (yes, only 6) that are required to do this job. We're going to the lake this weekend and we'll be pulling the popup behind us. We also bought a transmission cooler from this site as well and it's going to keep the transmission cool while we're hauling kids, bicycles, pets, and everything else down to the campsite. 258178
Now that a year has gone by Im happy to report that this hitch has been a great performer. No issues, troubles, hiccups, or regrets about this purchase.
Chris H - 06/08/2017Well, that was fun. This is a nice trailer hitch. It looks good and strong. The instructions were a little misleading, and the fit was less than perfect. You will want to get the tail end of your Odyssey up in the air a little to install this. A pair of ramps (from the local auto parts place) worked for that task. Before you try to put it on, make sure that you can thread the bolts in all six holes. I couldn't, and a half-inch wire brush didn't help, so I went online and bought an M12x1.25 plug tap. You won't find that size in your local hardware store. I used the tap to clean out the bolt holes (welded nuts on the frame). Use plenty of oil. The directions specified an 18mm socket wrench, but you really need a 19mm. At that point, you should hang the hitch from one bolt on each side, and then get all six bolts installed with spaces and washers. The instructions don't say which way to install the conical washers - the bulge should face downward, so that they get compressed slightly by tightening the bolt. It took some heavy-duty wrestling by my son and I to get the forward bolt on the passenger side lined up. There is nothing to pry against except the gas tank, so we had to be very, vary careful. A small sheet of plywood could be used to spread the load. AFTER you get all the bolts into place, tighten and torque them. It looks like a great product, as I said. I only really need it to haul my grandkids' bikes to the park and back, but in a pinch it should handle a trailer all right. 391070
I was lurking the etrailer site for about 3 months, then after reading all the consistent good reviews and watching the very informative video, I decided to go for it. I ordered the Draw-Tite because it was the same initials as mine, no really I did. Package arrived on time, kept an eye on it with the tracking number anyway. The DT hitch had all the necessary parts come with it. The only main flaw was a blemish on the cross-tube's finish. I dont think it will effect the product in the long-run, but I took a pic of it anyway, so we shall see. Installed it by myself, did not remove the muffler, about 45 minutes total and did not rush myself at all. Looks great, exactly as it appears on the website, so far so good. Put my Thule 2-bike carrier on it, works perfect. Adding a cargo rack this Memorial weekend to drive down to San Diego, this will be a true test. About a month in after install, I am noticing a couple "rust" spots in the receiver hole. That's a little weird for my area of Southern Cal, because it doesnt rain and I DO NOT park near sprinklers or water sources while in my driveway. Going to take a pic and let the etrailer guys know about it and see what they say... 81382
Installed quickly on our 2012 Odyssey. It took about 30 minutes. Make sure you have access to a torque wrench. The bolts threaded easily. We haven't towed the trailer yet, but it seems like it would have no issues. Very secure. The hitch does not protrude past the bumper so you don't have to worry about it when backing up. 669994
Easy to install. Fit well. It is beefy. Looks nice. Will be pulling a smaller boat. 668407
The hitch showed up on the date promised and was extremely easy to install myself. Thank you etrailer.com. 668113
Staff was very helpful in choosing the best hitch and the videos on the site are TOP NOTCH to help you install and troubleshoot. Highly recommended. 667803
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