/
Draw-Tite/
Class III/
2 Inch Hitch/
3500 lbs GTW/
Visible Cross TubeItem # 75876
Retail:$205.85
Our Price: $114.79
You Save: $91.06To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
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 A-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 
2014 - 2018 Subaru Forester
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.
Speaker 1: Today, in our 2018 Subaru Forester, we're going to be installing Draw-Tite's class three, 2-inch trailer hitch receiver, part number 75876. The receiver tube's going to be visible at the back, and if you get down low, you will be able to see the cross tube, however it's tucked underneath pretty far. So most of the time, you won't be able to notice it.It's a class three, two inch by two inch receiver. It's going to work great with ball mounts, bike rack carriers, and just about any other accessory that you can think of. It's uses a 5/8-inch hitch pin, which does not come included, but you can pick one up here at etrailer.com using part number PC3. The smaller hole in front of the hitch pin hole will allow it accommodate a J-pin, which will come in and contact the shank on whatever's inside your hitch, acting as anti-rattle device.
Features plate-style safety chain loops that have a very wide opening, so it will able to accommodate just about any size safety chain that you can imagine. It has a 525 pound tongue weight, which is the force going down on top of the receiver, and a 3,500 pound gross trailer weight, which is how much that it can pull behind it. Now when using a weight-distribution system, the tongue weight's going to remain the same. However that trailer weight is going to extend to 4,000 pounds.And now to help you in deciding on accessories, I've got some measurements for you. From the ground to the top inside edge of the receiver tube, it's going to measure about 13 1/4 inches.
This is useful when deciding if you need a drop, rise or a raised shank on any accessories you're using. From the center of the hitch pin hole to the rearmost edge of the bumper, it's going to measure about 5 1/2 inches. This is important when deciding if you need an extension for your shank or when purchasing any folding accessories to ensure you're going to have clearance when putting it in the upright position.Now that we've gone over some of the features, let's show you how to get it installed. We'll begin our installation by lowering our exhaust. Before you lower it down, you'll want to put a strap in place.
We're putting the strap in place to make sure we don't cause any damage to our exhaust system when we lower it down. To lower your exhaust system, we'll need to remove three hangers. There's two located on each side of your muffler, one on each side. Then there's one located just here in front of your driver's side rear axle. To make it easier to remove the hanger, a little bit of spray lubricant will help it slide off easier.
Then you can just take a pry bar and pry the hanger off. Do the same for the remaining two hangers. Once all your hangers are removed, you can go back to your strap and give yourself a little bit of slack to lower it down out of your way. Now remove your heat shield. Take out the four bolts using a 10 mm socket. You can set this aside, as we'll be trimming it and re-installing it later.Now if your vehicle had a dual-exhaust system, there may be additional hangers that you'll have to remove to lower your exhaust, and there'll also be another heat shield on the opposite side that you would need to remove. Remove the four rubber plugs on the bottom side of your frame rail. You can use a flat-bladed screwdriver to pry up underneath to get each plug out. After removing the four plugs on one side, remove the four plugs on the opposing side. Now take your coiled fish wire, and starting at the rearmost hole, put the coil then in and run it up to your frontmost largest hole, which is your access hole, where you'll be feeding through your components. You may have to stick your finger in the hole to guide the fish wire down back through the hole. I like to bend the very end of the fish wire to prevent it from pulling all the way through. Now slide on your spacer and thread on your carriage bolt onto the coiled wire. Then push them both up into the frame and feed them back through with the fish wire. Repeat this same process on the two remaining holes on this side, and all three holes on the opposing side.We now need to trim our heat shield. I've gone ahead and made a mark outlining what we're going to cut out. This will allow clearance for our hitch and the hardware that runs through it. We can use a pair of tin snips or a cutting wheel to trim your heat shield. We're just going to use some tin snips. Now that we've trimmed our heat shield, we can reinstall it. Then re-tighten them with a 10 mm socket. We've now got ourselves an extra set of hands to help us lift our hitch into place. We'll go up over our passenger side exhaust first, and then you'll want to feed your fish wires through and raise it into position. Then lift it up into position, remove your fish wire, place on a conical tooth washer with the teeth facing up towards the hitch, followed by a nut. Once you've got a nut started on both sides, the hitch'll hold itself into position making it easier to install the rest of your hardware. Then repeat this same process on the other side. And now torque all of your hardware to the specifications in your instructions using a 13/16 socket.We can now lift our exhaust back into position. Again a little bit of spray lubricant will make it slide on much easier. Repeat that for the two remaining exhaust hangers. You can now remove the strap that you used to support your exhaust, and you're ready to hook up your hitch and hit the road.And that completes our installation of Draw-Tite's trailer hitch receiver on our 2018 Subaru Forester.
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (515 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 A-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.I'm very happy with the hitch so far on my 18 Forester XT. It's more visible than the ecohitch, but it looks good. I had never really done any work on a car, had no lifts, etc, and was able to do the install. A couple notes on install: 1. Prying off the exhaust hangers was really hard. I couldn't do it. As others have suggested, for an Forester XT (dual exhaust), I definitely recommend just removing the mufflers. They come out of the hangers much more easily, and you don't have to use a strap. It's more steps, but I really can't imagine having room to get the hitch up with that stuff in the way. 2. Lifting the hitch was difficult, but not impossible for one person (assuming the mufflers are out of the way). 3. It seems like the only really annoying mistake you could make (I almost did but caught it in time) would be to either let the fish wire slip into the frame after you have the hardware on the wire, or, after you've removed the fish wire, let the carriage bolt get knocked up into the frame as your putting the nut on. So watch out for that. 4. Gloves and eye protection made things much better. So, the video make sit look quite a bit easier than it was for me, but I'm glad it did, because otherwise I wouldn't have tried it, and it went just fine. 566923
No problems after a year, just took a road trip with a heavy bike rack on it, good times!
Andy S - 09/20/2019This was my first order from etrailer.com and I'm very pleased with the experience. The hitch and wiring harness were easy to identify for my 2017 Forester and the videos were a big help in getting it installed correctly. Best of all, the price was excellent and I was able to select a shipping option to get it all here quickly. Some hitches for the Forester require you to remove the bumper - this one didn't and was a big selling point since I did the installation myself. It's a stout build and there's no reason to think I'll have any issues whether I'm towing the boat or taking our bikes out to the trail. Overall, it took about 2 hours from start to finish for the install on the hitch and harness. The only issue was that the box was damaged on delivery. That's a shipper problem, not etrailers. There was no damage to the product so no harm, no foul. I won't hesitate to order from here again. 565155
Installed in just about 1 hour, I needed to step drill the center hole for clearance for plates and carriage bolts. The fish wires worked great and easy install. My Subaru Forester is ready to go camping and fishing. Thank you etrailer. 552634
It’s been working great , I’m going to need to purchase a new bike rack from you, haha
David - 08/11/2019The hitch is every bit as sturdy and high quality as you would expect. I put a Curt on my other car a few years ago , but decided on a Draw-Tite this time. They both seem quite similar, but the Curt mentioned needing a stabilizing strap in some cases, whereas the Draw-Tite did not. I don't know if this is an actual difference of just a perceived one on my part. I watched the installation video on etrailer.com a few times, and went to work. I'm reasonably handy around the house, but not particularly inclined toward automotive stuff. Still, it was a breeze. I finished in about an hour and a half. I did buy some specialty tools to help make the job go more smoothly (e.g., deep socket set). Otherwise, it went exactly as shown. I was even able to do it myself, though having an extra set of hands to hoist it into position would have been helpful. Since I didn't, I left the wires on the end of the bolts, and fished them through the holes in the hitch, to make sure I didn't accidentally push a bolt into the frame. I only pulled them off right before I was ready to add the washer and nut. I also did it on flat ground with no lift. A little tight, but no big deal. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this without the etrailer video as a guide. But it really helped and went exactly as they demonstrated. 408752
Less than 1 year old and already has significant visible rust. This is on a garage kept vehicle! Works well and price was fair but product should not look like this in such a short time. 565700
Rust will sometimes form from moisture in the air and salt on the roads. If rust has started to form you can take find sandpaper and sand it off as much as possible then cover that spot with a rustoleum type of paint. It is a good idea to check over the hitch for any scratches or deep gauges and paint over these areas to prevent future rust issues. I have attached a help article on preventing rust.
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Heather A - 09/17/2018The packaging was not sturdy enough and the box arrived with one end having been taped up by USPS. One end of the hitch had broken through the box and the paint chipped off from being exposed during shipping. The box seemed too big for the item. I would suggest etrailer (or the drop shipper) bubble wrap or use cardboard for the ends of the hitch and then have the hitch pull-tied down inside the box so it stays in place during shipping and won't come loose and bust out of the box. Otherwise it fits as described on my 2018 Subaru Forester. NOTE: Pay close attention to the instructions, **On the Forester you have to remove and trim the muffler heat shield. DO NOT replace all four (4) heat shield bolts when you go to attach the hitch, leave the rearmost bolt out** The hitch will hold the shield on and if you replace the rearmost heat shield bolt it will interfere with hitch mount and the hitch will not sit flush on the frame. The installation video does not cover this, but the written instructions do, so it can be confusing. 571764
As others have noticed, my box arrived torn and taped up, but the hitch and mounting kit were undamaged. I installed this hitch on my 2014 Subaru Forester by myself in my garage in about 2 hours. There's just enough clearance to lay beneath the vehicle without the need for ramps or jack stands. The only thing I changed on the installation is that I only used three bolts to reinstall the modified (cut) heat shield, because there was no hole in the hitch mounting plate for the fourth bolt and it would have prevented the hitch from laying flat against the frame. To set the hitch on the six mounting bolts, I first lifted the drivers side so the bolts just protruded through the holes to set the washers and nuts on the bolts. I then lifted the other side over the mounting bolts, installed the other three washers and nuts, then finger tightened all six nuts and checked the overall fit before tightening them fully with my torque wrench, making sure to leave enough room for the exhaust system hook located directly against the hitch mounting plate. Overall, an excellent fit that holds my Thule bike rack nice and level!! 199983
The item arrived in perfect condition no damage to the packaging with no missing parts or extra parts for that matter. I installed this on a 2016 Forester 2.5i, I took my time so the installation took me a few hours by myself. Following the advice of reviewers I removed the muffler this was a definite advantage and allowed me to perform the install without raising the vehicle at all - much safer left on the wheels. I used a heavy piece of cardboard similar to what an appliance or even like this hitch came in with to lay on, this gave me enough head room to work, a creeper would have been too high. If you’re thinking I’m skinny, for your reference I’m 5’8” 180lbs (not thin) so you can extrapolate to your size. After reviewing the installation video I was prepared to enlarge the forward most hole in the frame in which to pass the wire threaded plate and bolt through, happily this was unnecessary, the forward most frame hole with the plastic plug removed was large enough to accept the plate and bolt without modification. Another reviewer mentioned removing the cargo area foam witch gives you access from above to make it easier but it was real easy to thread the plate and bolt through from underneath. Following the advice of another reviewer I used the small dimples on the muffler heat shield to center a hole saw bit, these dimples do match up perfect as a previous reviewer mentioned. I would advise anyone else who does this to not go above a 1" hole and ideally use a 3/4" bit to create the hole. Once drilled I was able to install the heat shield on top of the hitch plate and use the hitch bolts to double as heat shield bolts and still clear the top of the muffler. I was prepared to use a floor jack to support the hitch bracket but because I didn't raise the vehicle there wasn't much room to do this, once I grabbed the bracket and laid down under the vehicle it wasn't difficult at all to support the bracket on my body this really shortened the distance it had to be lifted, I threaded the wires through the mounting holes, used one hand raise the first side up and the other hand to get a nut and bolt started, then I just slid over to the other side threaded all the wires through and repeated the process by getting another bolt started - nothing to it. Getting the muffler off and back on was pretty easy everything is metric of course, I used 2 small ratchets one with a deep well socket and one with a shallow socket this made it easier to find and hold the blind nut side. I plan on using the hitch to pull a small boat and for a bike rack for which I also purchased the J-pin W/barrel Lock & Anti-rattle. All in all I'm very pleased with the hitch it is very heavy duty high quality item much better than the OEM version. I usually don't write lengthy reviews but I wanted to include all the details for anyone with doubts about purchasing and installing. 284049
Great price. Quick shipment. Was a little worried about fishing bolts through the frame but that was the easiest part. Jack stands make a one man job easier. About a 2 hour job by someone who has never done this before. 560183
the hitch is just what i was looking for. there is plenty of room under the 2015 forester so you don't have to raise the frame or body. 1 person installation took 50 minutes (not a mechanic); the video is very helpful, follow the video instructions and you won't have any problems. the only suggestion when installing by yourself, I used a small stepstool (6") to elevate the receiver tube, this made a 1 person installation easy since the major part of the hitches weight is balanced on the stool, not the installer. NOTE, use of the silicone lubricant for the removable of muffler from the hangers made that job easy (both on and off). 161351
Works great, installed on 2015 Subaru Forester. Easy installation, very helpful video, install went exactly as video described. Great product and customer service. I use the product to haul my drift boat and utility trailer.
steve l - 11/20/2015So far good, but just got it yesterday, need time to install. 437528
Easy install for 78 year old male.
Art H - 09/29/2018Third hitch and wiring harness I've purchased from Etrailer (3 different vehicles). Most difficult hitch to install. Easiest wiring harness to install. Just myself and didn't jack up vehicle. Took 3 hrs. The muffler was the hardest to remove and put back on. Pretty much followed the videos for installation. Hitch doesn't stick out beyond bumper. 398225
Great product, good price, helpful customer service, fast and free shipping, exactly as described. The installation went off without a hitch. bada bum. I used part of the box to cover the ground when completing the install, and followed the instructions just like in the video. There was no need to jack up the car at all as there was plenty of room. A second pair of hands was extremely helpful to raise the hitch and get one bolt on each side. After that a quick hit with my impact driver and then torqued to spec the hitch was secured. Why buy any of the other hitches when when this one installs without any modification to the cars frame/unibody. The heat shield needs to be trimmed with tin snips or removed all together to complete the install as indicated in the videos. The hitch is made from very heavy steel approx 3/8" thick and is assembled in Mexico however, I knew that before I bought it because their customer service staff was excellent. I have no doubt this hitch will outlive the rest of the car. Thanks etrailer.com for offering a great product and all the support & research that comes with it. 200998
Everything was in the box as hoped. I haven't had the chance to install the new hitch but anticipate it will fit as designed. The hitch is painted in a gloss black enamel and should work well for our purposes which is to use the hitch to install our bike rack on. We purchased the 2 inch receiver so that the bike rack could be used on the Forester and also the truck or other 2 inch receiver hitch. This hitch will allow us to take the bikes with us in a safe and useable rack and will also serve as a light duty, class one, hitch for pulling a small trailer or boat. 432415
Works great and carrys the Yakima Bike rack and two mountain bikes without a problem.
Dave R - 09/14/2018Perfectly dimensioned hitch to fit around my 15 Forester's spare tire well, leaving a non-obtrusive mount point. Straight-forward installation, although it did take me quite a bit longer than 40 minutes. I expected this because I'm not a gear-head, and I like to take my time to do things right. I liked this hitch because any novice tinkerer could install it and no mods to the frame were required. The installation videos from etrailer definitely gave me the confidence to be able to install without any issues. I went with this one over the Curt, since I read that the Curt requires the use of stabilizer straps to maintain the warranty. One star off due to poor manufacturer's quality control. I ordered 2 of these from A->zon, and had to return both immediately because they had severe gouges and chips in the paint through to the bare metal. One even had a rusted weld. The gouges were all in the exact same spot on the inside plates, which would be impossible to occur during shipping. The one I received from etrailer was the best of the bunch, although it did still have small marks in the exact same spots. The marks were small enough that I just hit them with some Rustoleum to prevent my new hitch from rusting out immediately. Since they are on the inside face (facing the tire well), no one will ever see it. I do appreciate that etrailer repackaged the hitch into a better box so that the sides and socket didn't also get scratched in transit. 539209
Hitch Receiver was ordered on Wednesday, arrived on Friday, with free shipping! Box was damaged, but the hitch was in good shape when I went to unbox it. Install video on the Etrailer website was very helpful when in came to installing. It is possible for 1 person to install this as long as you have some blocks of wood and WD40. It was still a balancing act at times to get the hitch up into place. Our Subaru has dual exhaust which made it a little more difficult to get the hitch into place but it fit as is should with a little monkeying around. Overall I am very satisfied with this receiver hitch for just over Probably took about 2 hours to install. Would recommend to anyone looking at buying one!! 502009
I received my Draw-Tite 2" hitch receiver shortly after placing my order. The box was a little battered from the shipping process and the two mounting flanges had cut through the cardboard but the hitch was in perfect shape. It is a very solid, well-engineered piece. I watched the installation video to make sure I had all of the necessary tools to knock out the job before getting started. I watched the step about the fish wires a second time to make sure I understood what was going on. Then I gathered up my torque wrench, metric deep socket set, small socket set (for the heat shield), a long-shanked Torx driver (to use as a pry bar for the muffler hangers), and my tin snips. The installation was straight-forward. The hardest part is getting the hitch into position without a helper. I didn't feel like there was enough room to use my floor jack to support it so I just wrestled it into place and threaded one nut on each side of the hitch to hold it steady. Then I installed the remaining nuts and torqued them to 50 lb-ft. Once installed, the hitch is rock solid and barely noticeable on my 2014 Forester. I quickly installed my 4-bike tray-style bike carrier. Super happy with the end result! 248138
Just put the hitch on 9/27/18. I never used the written directions to install the hitch. Only used them for the torque specs. The video of the install was fantastic. It was easy to follow. Took about an hour and a half to install. 569557
Solid product. With the videos, install of the hitch, wiring, and ball took under an hour. My only complaint was that my hitch had a couple spots where paint was chipped away and lot of lumpy bubbling on it. I would ask for a replacement and send it back, but I'm having to haul things this week and don't have the time to return. Outside packaging didn't seem damaged when delivered. 428534
Thanks for all the interesting reviews/comments on hitch installation on Subaru Foresters! Great service by etrailer folks. A few of comments that might be of interest to future DIY hitch installers. 1) An inquiry to etrailer help line about the heat shield: They recommend definitely cutting out a portion of the heat shield as described it the instruction video. Interposing the aluminum heat shield material between the frame and the hitch attachment site may pose a problem with torque. Basically, just follow the installation video and all will go well. Some may dispute this but I will go with etrailer recommendations. 2) If you don't have the proper tools, find a willing relative/friend who does or have a mechanic install the hitch. A torque wrench will run you $50-$60 and the step drill bit cost $45. The step drill bit did work extremely well and I'll use both tools in the future. But buy a few more tools and you will soon match the cost of professional installation. 3) Safety. Work with the car on a flat hard surface. Cement garage floor is perfect. Make sure the car gearshift is in PARK and put on the car's emergency brake. Elevating the car on lifts or jacks is not necessary and adds unnecessary risk for the occasional DIY. Wear safety glasses or better yet goggles. Expect your face as well as the rest of you to be covered with road dirt that falls down on you while working under the car. The stepped drill will cause small hot pieces of metal to fly everywhere...Eye protection glasses very important! Use gloves while cutting the aluminum heat shield to avoid cuts. Only time I did not use gloves was fishing the bolts thru the car frame. Gloves will prevent a lot of nicks, cuts and scratches to your hands. 4) Collect all tools ahead of time and make sure they are all available next to the car. (see photo below). With the muffler removed from your car, its hard and noisy to drive your car to the store to pick up an extra tool. Likewise, check to make sure all the parts are present and all nuts thread into the bolts. 5) A good light source and heavy pad to lay on will make it an easier and more comfortable installation. 6) Figure out ahead of time how you will raise the hitch to bolt it on. An extra set of hands is ideal, but other reviewers offer many ingenious one-person methods. I zip tied a square piece of wood to the center/bottom of the hitch (see photo) and slid an additional number of square boards underneath the hitch until the pile of boards raised it to within an inch of the bolts that had been inserted in the car frame. Then a slight lift up to secure the initial bolt on each side. Zip ties cut off to released initial board after hitch attached to frame 7) Before you start installation check out the underside of the car and get oriented. The installation video is from the perspective of a car on a lift with the instructor STANDING underneath the car. You will be LAYING on your back in a confined space looking up...a much different perspective. 8) Finally, Subaru Foresters are not really vehicles for towing...1000 lb max (1500 with electric brakes). Hitch is great for larger bicycle racks. Besides a bike rack, I will buy a small 5X8 ft lightweight trailer for moving the occasional bulky items that don't fit in the back of the Forester but nothing really heavy (think screen door replacement or a few sheets of 4x8ft plywood). Also, small 400 lb.utility trailers are typically rated for 45mph max speed limit so I will only use the trailer for short distance drives on secondary roads to local stores. Rent a truck for bigger/long distance moves and avoid disasters. Good luck with your next DIY and other adventures. 571986
The Draw-Tite trailer hitch is everything it's advertised to be. Installation could not have been easier. I attached the hitch to a Subaru Forester without using any power tools. I backed my vehicle up onto a pair of old car ramps I had from back when I use to change my own oil. This gave me sufficient clearance to lower the exhaust and complete the installation. The video on available on etrailer was invaluable in showing how easy it was to install. I'm not a craftsman by any stretch, but was able to install the hitch in less than an hour. I also purchased a MaxWorks Aluminum Cargo Carrier, Model 70108. "Some assembly required" certainly applies. The finished product is excellent, but putting it together was more work than I expected. The instruction manual has you attaching the top and lower frame before attaching the hitch tube. In my opinion, the hitch tube should be attached first because attaching the top frame to the lower frame first hinders your ability to square up a screw driver to tighten the small bolts and lock nuts. I had to run to the local hardware store to replace four of eight bolts/lock nuts due to stripping the bolt head. Other than this, this is a nice product. 228017
As good as when I bought it a year ago.
Steve B - 09/29/2016I installed Drawtite hitch # 75876 on my 2015 Subaru Forester. It arrived in good condition and there were no parts missing. The installation went without a hitch (pun intended) and it fits perfectly. I think the key to my successful installation was the instructional video on etrailer's website. It was very clear and concise. There is however one thing I would like to add for an even better installation. Instead of trimming the heat shield to allow for bolt access and have it dangle, I drilled two holes in the shield, threaded the bolts through it and clamped it between the car's frame and the hitch. If you're concerned that the heat shield will somehow interfere with secure bolting, it won't. Subaru intentionally marked the heat shield with two small dimples for drilling position. I drilled holes 1/16" larger than the bolts and the hole position was perfect. I should mention the dimples are very small, so wipe the heat shield to help find them. There's an R and an M on the shield and the dimples are within those letters. (See photo.) Lastly, this hitch is rated for heavier towing than a Forester can handle so choose wisely. I'm using it only for my bike rack and cargo carrier, so I will never exceed 2500 lbs. of towing weight. Thank you etrailer for the excellent video! 443694
Its working out very well, thank you. Whats important is that I noticed other installers used my review to locate the two dimples on the heat shield for a more secure installation. It helped me and Im thankful it helped others. On another note, I did just notice a typo in my review that you might want to correct if you can. In the next-to-last sentence I state 250 lbs. of towing weight which should read 2500 lbs.
Perry D - 10/18/2018installation was simple and it looks good on the vehical 562923
After pricing hitch installations locally ($700 at Subaru—nearly fainted??), I watched a few videos and decided to purchase the #75876 hitch for our 2015 Forester and do the job myself. The cost savings were significant and I had all the necessary tools so why not? I’m so glad I did! Once my tools were lined out and vehicle positioned on ramps the install took about 90 minutes (yes, it really does go that fast). The etrailer videos are very helpful and describe the step-by-step procedure perfectly. Some notes on my install: I chose to remove the muffler only and left the tailpipe in place. It was easy to remove and provided plenty of working room. It is unnecessary to enlarge the 4th service hole (which some videos say you must do) since plate and bolt fit right through the existing opening (very happy to see this). Feeding the wire and hardware through was super-easy. For raising the hitch I chose to use a floor jack and this worked fine. My wife assisted by simply stabilizing the hitch on the jack while I raised it to the bolts. It was aligned easily with the first two nuts going on. At that point, the jack was removed and all other nuts/bolts tightened and torqued to specifications. Next, I trimmed out the heat shielding and placed back on. Finally, the muffler wash reinstalled and....Presto! It looks great and is ready for our hitch bike rack. I highly recommend this product for DIYers who have the basic tools. Installing this hitch (in my case, on a Forester) was easy and fun to do! Thanks etrailer! 572999
This is the 2nd trailer hitch I have purchased from Etrailer. I spent $7 for the upgraded shipping at the hitch arrived 4 days after I ordered it. I installed this hitch on my 2015 Subaru Forester XT. The installation video was dead on, I followed step by step and it took about 45 minutes using a cordless impact, a few deep well sockets and a couple wrenches. -I used my floor jack to raise the hitch and align the bolts. A must if you don't have a second set of hands. -Using the hole saw saved a lot of time to trim the heat shields. I used the dimples as suggested and it was close enough to re install the shield. I bought the hole saw at Home Depot for under $10. -I used a lot of penetrating oil on the muffler hangers, made it a lot easier to remove and reinstall. Reinstalling the mufflers was the most time consuming step, but was well worth it to have the access to get the bolts. -The hitch is tucked under the bumper, my thule bike rack fits perfect and is much more rigid than when I had it installed on a 1 1/4 receiver on my old car. -There is no visual obstructions in the rear when the bike rack is installed. -I saved about $300 using this setup over the factory hitch. I would highly recommend Etrailer. The customer support is excellent and this hitch was a perfect match for my bike rack. Thanks Etrailer! 177592
From April to October, I had the bike rack installed on the trailer hitch and used it almost on a daily basis. I took several extended road trips with my mountain bike, and the hitch performed excellent. I remove the bike rack during ski season, but once the trails are snow free again, I will be using the bike rack and hitch on a daily basis. I am still super happy with the hitch I purchased from ETrailer and will definitely be buying towing products from this outstanding company.
BM - 03/08/2016Great product worked just like they said it would! Instructions for installation were detailed and easy to follow. 729206
It looks great and works great for my small trailer, bike rack, and back storage rack. 727664
After a year of use, my trailer hitch has performed exactly as intended. This specific hitch is recommended by my mechanic whenever their clients want a hitch installed. 727484
Using the video, this was easy to put on my 2018 Subaru Forester. Recommend trimming the heat shield instead of removing it like some of the videos showed. It's strong and secure. 725342
Easy to install with video from etrailer! Took me a little over an hour to install! Looks great! 721859
I received the Draw-Tite hitch (#75876) on Saturday, just a few days after I placed the order. Impressive, given this isn't a 5 lb box of random online purchases. The box was a bit dinged up but the hitch (and wiring harness) were in perfect shape. Between the printed instructions and the detailed video, install was a breeze. It certainly took me longer than 40 minutes but not much longer. I had my doubts about the fishing method for the bolts. It just looked too easy in the video. Turns out it went exactly like was shown. Having a second person would absolutely help but isn't a necessity. I was able to do the entire install by myself using a stool to support the hitch. As far as less common tools go, the only necessities were a deep 11/16" socket, a couple of different length extensions, and a torque wrench. I'm a reasonably handy guy but certainly not a mechanic. Basic skills are really all you need thanks to all of the info etrailer provides. 719174
Great fit with very good instructions for the install 717646
Works great, does exactly what we needed. Easy installation. 714218
It has held up nicely. 711980
Been using my Subaru to hall my utility trailer for a year without any glitches. The system was easy to install and trouble free. 715403
Pretty easy to install. All parts were good and correct. Installed on a 2016 Subaru Forester XT. For XT owners, I would recommend just removing the muffler rather than letting them hang. I feel they are a little to heavy to dangle like that. Was able to install without even lifting the car up. The hitch looks good. I was a little nervous it would look bad but actually was the opposite. 711474
Was easy to install and seems to be well put together. Everthing that I needed to install was included. I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet, but I expect no issues. 711370
I'm a DIYer from way back. The hitch and wiring plan were accurately described and the installation described matched what was actually encountered. If you don't have the option of accessing the vehicle using a whole vehicle lift or through a floor trench then using floor jacks and proper cribbing will still work. Recommend inviting a friend over to help with the hitch install. No problems with the hitch or the wiring harness. 710960
Works great for me, it is perfect fit for my vehicle. 714940
Hitch installed perfectly, looks great. Great doing business with you. 708486
Wow has it really been a year. This was truly plug and play. I installed the hitch and wiring myself and with a bandaged right hand. The wiring was the easy part. Ran the wiring out under the spare tire soft plug on my 2018 Subaru Forester. Quick and easy! One year later after pulling my tent trailer to many fly fishing lakes and rivers here in Oregon I am totally satisfied! 707881
CAME QUICK, RIGHT PART, WELL PACKED 700555
Easy installation about 30 min, works perfect for bike rack Seems to be holding up well 698882
This was my 10th hitch and 4th etrailer hitch install. etrailer has good, clear instructions. No problems encountered. Everything needed was included. The wires to pull bolts into place are great! 698461
Traded forester in on 2019 worked great when I had the car THANKS AGAIN 698032
Very happy with my purchase. Hitch looks great! Low profile and was easy to install. Took me less than 1 hour total. I would definitely purchase again. Thanks 693608
After UPS delivered package to wrong address, the hitch arrived and installed exactly as represented. It would have been easier to install with a helper but I managed to install, single handed, in less than an 1 1/2 hr. Watching the install video on etrailer site made for a fairly simple job. Very satisfied with product and with help provided by Julie H and Derek S in dealing with the UPS snafu. 691716
I received the hitch and wiring for our Forester in 4 days as ordered. Everything was just right and the I installed the hitch in a couple of hours easily by myself. The wiring instructions in the box were close but missed one important fact about where my wires tied in on the 2015 model that I have. This problem went away quickly when I watched the video on the install which referenced the issue I was having and the problem was gone. I’d definitely buy from you guys again but I would tell everyone to watch the install videos first and you’ll be more than satisfied with your new products. 691530
Easy installed. Perfect fit. 684020
Installation videos made installation as easy as it could be. The hitch is still on and had no problems moving across country with a trailer. Great product and overall experience. 681710
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