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Draw-Tite/
Class III/
2 Inch Hitch/
4000 lbs GTW/
600 lbs TWItem # 76227
Retail:$265.87
Our Price: $194.81
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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 
2013 - 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon
2010 - 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon excluding Sport
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 on our 2017 Subaru Outback Wagon, we're going to be installing Draw-Tite's Class 3 2 Inch Trailer Hitch Receiver, part number 76227.Now this is what our hitch is going to look like when it's installed. It's got a 2 inch by 2 inch receiver, and it's rated for class 3. It features hoop style safety chain loops, and these are nice because they have a nice large opening so it's easy to accommodate just about any size safety chain.It uses a 5/8ths inch hitch pin and clip. One doesn't come included, but can be picked up here a etrailer.com with part number PC3. The smaller hole, located behind the hitch pin hole, allows you to use a J-pin. A J-pin's nice because it'll press up against any accessories you have installed on your hitch, and acts as an anti-rattle device.It features a 600 pound tongue weight, and that's the force going down on top of the receiver, and a 4000 pound gross towing capacity, that's how much it can pull behind it.
Make sure you check your vehicles owners manual to ensure you're not exceeding its towing capacities.And now I've got some measurements for you to help you when deciding on accessories. From the ground to the top inside edge of the receiving tube, it measures about 15-1/2 inches. This is important when deciding if you need a drop, rise, or raised shank on your accessory. And from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge of the rear bumper, it measures about 3 inches. This is important when determining if any of your folding accessories can be placed in the upright storage position without contacting the bumper.We'll begin the installation at the back of the vehicle.
You'll need to open up your lift gate, and this will give us some access to some hardware that we'll need to remove.On the inside of each taillight, you'll see two plastic screw pins, unscrew the center of the pin and then pull the pin out. Do this with the bottom pin as well, and then repeat the same thing on the other side.Once both pins are removed, you'll then remove the plastic panel. You may need a flathead screwdriver to kind of get behind it to help pry it out. Now you can just pull your plastic panel off.We can then remove both bolts that hold in our taillight. Use a 10 millimeter socket to remove these bolts.
We can then remove our taillight assembly. You can do this by pulling it rearward until it releases. Then press in on the tab on the electrical connector located here, which will allow you to disconnect the plug. Remove both bulbs by twisting it counter clockwise and sliding the bulb out, and then set your taillight assembly aside. We'll repeat the exact same steps on the opposite side.Underneath your taillight, you'll find a small circular panel.
Use a small flat bladed screwdriver to pop this out, and we'll remove the 10 millimeter bolt located behind it. We'll do that on both sides.We're now located on our drivers side fender well. Here at the top of your fascia, we're going to need to remove this pin. Push in the center of the pin, and then you can pop it out. If you have mudflaps installed, you'll need to remove the three Phillips head screws here. And there's one pin located underneath, use a flat bladed screwdriver to pop out the center and then you can pull the tab out.Then remove the final pin holding the mudflap on. This one's located on the inside behind the tire. It removes in the same manner. Then you can drop your mudflap down, and repeat those same steps on the other side.We'll now remove the seven pins located along the bottom. These remove in the same way as the other ones.We're now ready to remove our fascia. Now just pull outward, and that'll release all the tabs. Once you get to the back, you'll have to kind of pull upwards slightly to get it off these tabs. Once you've got one side loose, you'll want to switch over to the other side and do the same thing. Once you've got both sides released, you'll want to pull out towards the center making sure to keep it supported so it doesn't fall down.You'll want to disconnect the connector that goes to your backup sensors. There's a tab located here, you'll want to push that in and pull it away from the other connector. We can now take our fascia, and set it aside to where it won't get any damage.We'll now remove our bumper beam. If you've got any rust penetrant, it's a good idea to spray that on the bolts before removing them. And we'll now remove the eight bolts that hold on the bumper beam, using a 14 millimeter socket.We can now remove our bumper beam. I left a couple bolts on each side, just hand tight just to hold it on. Remove both of those, slide the bumper beam back and set it aside.The center tab located at the bottom will be in the way of the receiver, so we'll have to bend it up and flat against the panel.We'll now raise our hitch into position, put it up on our studs. We'll then put our bumper beam on top of it and sandwich it. If you're doing this by yourself, I'd recommend putting your hitch up and just finger tightening a nut on each side just to hold it in place so you can grab your bumper beam.Now that we've got our bumper beam, we can take that bolt off, raise our bumper beam into position, and get one started. And we'll get one started on the other side.Once you've got a nut started on each side, it'll hold itself into position, making it easier to install the remaining hardware. We're going to use all the hardware that we just removed to reinstall our bumper beam with the hitch behind it. Now tighten down all your hardware using a 14 millimeter socket. Now torque all of your hardware to the specifications in your instructions.We now want to cut out an area for our hitch to fit. Refer to your instructions for exact measurements, then use a cutting that will cutout the area that you marked. You can now use a file to clean up the burrs. We did cut through the middle of our center attachment point, but that's okay because we won't be using it. That's the attachment point that we bent up to make clearance for our receiver tube.We can now reinstall our fascia. You want to get it lined up on each side, and before we go in we're going to plug our electrical connector back on, work your fascia up making sure not to pinch your lighting components behind it, get your center tabs lined up and check your outer tabs. Then you can just start pressing it back into place.Once you've got all the lower fasteners installed on your fascia, if you had mudflaps ensure that you reinstall those next. Then we'll reinstall our taillights. And your cover panels will be reinserted.And that completes our installation of Draw-Tite's Class 3 2 Inch Trailer Hitch Receiver, on our 2017 Subaru Outback Wagon.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (84 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.by: Neil10/07/2018
This trailer hitch receiver seems to be the best one available for my 2016 Subaru Outback. It has a towing weight and tongue weight rating higher than any of the others (and way over the car's limits), it's much easier to install, and only the hitch receiver shows from the rear of the car (no cross bar). It took me about 2 hours to install, working very carefully and using an etrailer video. No need to jack the car up, drill any holes, or use any additional hardware. You will need a torque wrench, something I have but maybe not everybody has it in their toolbox. One odd thing in the video, they tell you to discard the foam bumper support, but the written instructions say to put the foam piece back. Also the size and shape of the cutout in the bumper flange are different in the video from the written instructions. I followed the written instructions in both cases. It's possible that the foam support makes it harder to get the plastic bumper back on, but I managed. The hitch receiver looks great and works fine with my Thule bike rack. If I ever get a small trailer or pop-up it will have the strength to pull a lot of weight. The product arrived with a big hole in the cardboard shipping box. It appears that the box was stacked on top of something soft and then the weight of the hitch receiver (very heavy steel) caused it to punch through the box. etrailer was very responsive when I sent them a picture, they told me to unpack and inspect. There was no damage. The receiver square hole was covered with a plastic cap and taped, so the part that punched through was not scratched or damaged. I do think they should package it with this in mind, with a little more reinforcement of the box where the hitch receiver tube protrudes. 572424
by: John09/22/2018
I have to admit I was a little concerned about the instastallation, but it went as planned. I took my time and it went smoothly. Delivery was fast and price was great. Hitch is a perfect fit and looks factory installed. Buy the wiring harness. It’s a snap. 567855
by: Thomas07/17/2018
Everything went well on this project from ordering the product, delivery as promised, quality of the hitch and ease of installation. The only thing that slowed the installation was removal of the rear wheels to get access to the mud flaps. No Big Deal. Highly recommend. 542667
by: Paul08/13/2018
So I received this hitch in just a few days after placing the order, I opened the box to look it over as heavier items like this commonly get dinged during shipping. I needed to repaint a couple small spots, 10 minute fix. I ordered this hitch for my daughters 2016 outback to keep the vehicle looking sharp as the only thing visible after installation is the receiver. I prepped my tools per the instructions, opened an installation video on my phone and took it step by step, it was surprisingly easy and every one was please with the results!! 553424
by: BenF09/09/2018
The first hitch sent to me had a manufacturing defect that made it impossible to install (the bracket on one side was not welded straight). Etrailer customer support tried to help me work through some options to see if I could get it installed, but ultimately shipped me a new one. I want to be clear that this was not the fault of etrailer. This completely appeared to be a defective product from Draw-Tite. Unfortunately, I had to get my bumper off completely before the defect became apparent. The second hitch installed quite easily. It took me about an hour and would have taken less time if I hadn't dropped the 14mm socket INSIDE the bumper. Took a little ingenuity to get it out. I was also a bit to conservative trimming the fascia and had to trim a little more off several times after trying to reinstall the fascia (trim a little, try to install, trim a little more, try and install again). Including these two items, the most difficult part was getting the mud flaps (I think that is what Subaru calls them) reinstalled. Those things were a pain. One bit of advice I have for other DIY installers, though the instructions don't specify it, I highly recommend that the 14mm socket you use be a deep socket. A standard socket is not quite deep enough to gain purchase on the bumper bolts when taking the bumper off. First time around, I had to use a crescent wrench to get things started. Before the replacement hitch came in, I purchased a deep socket and it made things much easier the second time around. I greatly appreciate Brittany at etrailer helping me through the issue of the defective product and the speed at which the replacement got to me. The only thing I would recommend etrailer change is the difficulty rating. It is really quite simple to install this hitch. I have relatives that purchased one of the hitches that require drilling into the frame for their 2017 Outback. They purchased from a local retailer who also installed professionally. The installer remarked to them that it was one of the most difficult hitches he had had to install. By comparison, I expect this one is much much easier. 563143
by: John F.07/24/2018
I bought the hitch, wiring harness, and window deflectors. I think the deflectors took me all of 15 minutes to install and the hitch about 45 minutes and a half hour for wire harness. The harness isn't hard to hook up it's just finding it in your car. All and all very easy installation and really like it because I had given up my pick up and this is a great alternative to having a pick up not to mention double the fuel mileage. Went back to the dealer to get a hitch and they wanted $750. . with wiring and did it myself so thank you everyone at Etrailer for helping. When I place the order I could not have ask for a nicer person to help me out and the follow up to make sure I got everything and was satisfied. My only problem now is my buddy wants me to order another one and do his car with it so that will be coming up in a week or so. Thanks again. 545369
by: Bob08/29/2018
I ordered my hitch and got it just 4 days later. I backed the car into the barn out of the sun at 9:45 and had the hitch installed and the car back on the road by 11:30 by myself. The hardest part was getting the clug clips out because of the dust and mud. Putting the bumper cover back on was time consuming, too, but I wanted to make sure everything fit correctly. I even located and replaced a missing plug to make sure all holes were filled. Installing the Tekonsha wiring harness went as per instructions, except I had to remove one cargo hook to allow the fender cover to lift enough to gain access to the vehicle harness. I ran the trailer plug under the interior padding and under the door gasket and will secure it to the hitch receiver with tie wraps. Looks good on my 2013 Outback 3.6R imited (don't mind the dust from the barn floor). 559454
by: Larry07/30/2018
I purchased the Draw-Tite Max Frame Hitch Receiver for my 2017 Subaru Outback. The people at Etrailer were great to deal with and helped me to make my choice in purchasing the correct hitch receiver for my Outback. I wanted a hitch that was like a custom fit and the Draw-Tite Max is the one. The instructions were easy to understand and it took about an hour to install. The service from Etrailer was great and they were always there to help me with my questions. I also purchased the Hopkins Plug in simple wiring harness which was very easy to install. 547834
by: Nina07/09/2018
Product arrived amazingly fast. Took it to a body shop to get it installed, they were at first skeptical that I ordered online but then very happy to see what great product it was. Very happy, thank you! 539679
by: Robert06/05/2018
We received the trailer hitch we ordered even faster than promised and without any problems and with free shipping. Though it didn't come with any installation instructions these were readily available form the etrailer website. The trailer hitch fit our 2018 Subaru Outback just as the folks at etrailer said it would and went on without a problem. 517552
by: Bruce08/11/2018
This is a great hitch for my 2018 Subaru Outback. It fit behind the bumper beam was excellent and everything went back together without any issues. I particularly liked the fact that I didn’t have to throw away the foam cover that came as part of the 5 mile an hour bumper. The written instructions coupled with the video of the install using the comparable eco-hitch was all that was needed to do a good job without mistakes. The one thing missing in the instructions though was no mention of the electronic bumper distance sensors for the backup camera. This needs to be disconnected to remove the bumper facia. Also, I would recommend the height of the cutout for the hitch should be increased about another 1/4” to 1/2”. The recommended height is tight and although it fits, it is right up tight against the drop portion of the hitch frame. Also, I read reviews by others that questioned whether or not there are enough threads grabbed by the nuts you place back on the studs after installing the hitch behind the bumper beam. After I completed the install with the Draw Tite hitch, I found there was just enough threads to grab and properly torque the nuts onto the studs, but only about 1-1/2 threads showing after the nut. I would have liked to have a bit more threads to spare than this. I also matched this hitch with a new bike carrier for mine and my wife’s bikes. I tested it out and everything worked as planned. 552795
According to Draw-Tite, having 1-1/2 threads showing above the nut is acceptable. Any less than that would be a problem, but as long as the stud protrudes a bit from the nut, youll be just fine.
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Mike L - 08/13/2018by: Dennis06/03/2018
I purchased this hitch because I did not want to drill holes in the chassis of my new 2018 Outback. I also liked the idea of the hidden crossbar. The lower cost compared to competitors offering similar hitches and the free shipping clinched the deal. While I was apprehensive about the installation process, i.e., removing the bumper fascia and beam, it was actually pretty straight forward and easier than I had envisioned. I don't think this option was any more difficult than than the installation of the chassis mount hitch would have been. While a class I hitch would suffice for my immediate need -- towing a small utility trailer -- this option allows for future opportunities that may arise, and at virtually no additional cost. 516493
by: Chris K06/05/2018
Ordered this hitch, because we weren't to thrilled with having to drill holes in the frame to mount the other type. It was not as difficult as were anticipated. We did watch the video, but it shows a 2017 Outback and the Eco-friendly mount, so we did experience a few slight differences. We didn't receive new mounting nuts or the piece of trim seal with this hitch, but it was much less expensive than the Eco-friendly one. Our 2018 Outback also had mud flaps to be removed, that didn't show in the video, but was pretty simple to figure out how to remove them. In the video, it says to discard the foam piece over the bumper, but in the instructions says to reinstall. We reinstalled it and everything fit without trimming anything, which was great, as I think this foam really helps to support the facia. In the video, it says to bend up the middle facia tab and cut a larger hole than stated in the instructions. I found that the smaller hole recommended in the instructions gave plenty of clearance for the hitch and if I trimmed the tab slightly to clear the hitch, I was able to reinstall the middle facia pin and didn't need to eliminate it. Just made me feel better with one more anchoring support. Overall it took us about 1 1/2 hours. One person, could do it, but I was definitely thankful for the extra set of hands my daughter provided. Plus a good father/daughter experience. Overall we are very pleased with the finished product, the quality of the hitch, quick shipping and service from etrailer and we would highly recommend both the product and company! 517981
by: Tim06/27/2018
Perfect. I like that I can keep the the stock bumper bar in place. 527649
by: Christopher07/02/2018
Installation on a 2015 Outback took a couple more hours than the 45 min listed for pros in the manual, but that's on me since I wanted to work slowly and ensure I didn't damage any clips or fittings. I've installed a hitch on another Subaru prior and have also done considerable DIY mechanic work, and this was easily the cleanest install with zero hiccups that I've encountered - the only squirmy part for those averse to permanent alterations is the fascia cut, which done nicely and slowly (I used a Dremel) will look OEM. The hitch mounts directly to the chassis studs on which the bumper rests and is secured by 8 nuts, so it's a simple mount that doesn't require fishing anything through holes with a coil, or grinding, etc. It does, however, require a torque wrench to ensure that nuts are securely and evenly torqued to the chassis after completion. NOTE: 1. There are two installation manual versions - the b&w printout supplied with the kit, and the downloadable color PDF, which is much more highly detailed. I'd advise the installer to access it from a smartphone on the etrailer site while working, as it is more helpful than the printout. 2. There are TWO different sizes of bumper fascia clips you will remove in this process if you have mudflaps attached to the bumper fascia - I don't think the manual noted this. One is smaller and has a sorta leather grain texture on the clip head - one is smooth and larger. The smaller clips are for the mudflaps - the larger for the rear bumper mounts. Keep all clips, screws, and nuts with the respective components during disassembly to avoid future confusion. 529197
by: Trey06/16/2018
Been looking at hitches for awhile, mainly for a hitch bike rack. I thought about the normal draw tite or Curt but decided on this one due to the fact that it "hides" most of the hitch and it's how the factory hitch would be installed. Plus removal of the heat shield and drilling wouldn't have to happen. Installed in about 1 hour. Very happy with this purchase! 522676
by: Kaelin06/01/2018
Firstly, this hitch is BEEFY, and a piece of cake to install. No holes to drill in the frame. Directions are simple. Cannot be beat for the price. Secondly, there was a minor (1 day) delay from the manufacturer, George from etrailer contacted me immediately to let me know, and had some other options ready if i couldn't wait (the forecast was up to a couple weeks backordered, luckily this turned out to not be the case.) Pleasure to work with, and really made me feel confident in ordering thru etrailer. I will be ordering from them again in the future. 515315
by: BK09/07/2018
Received the hitch faster than they stated it would take. All the parts were there. The directions were clear and I took my time doing each step slowly. I found the video of the installation a while ago, but could not locate it again when doing the work (user error), but by taking my time, I figured it all out. I was able to do the work myself and had the opportunity to by a new tool, torch wrench, so all was good. I was nervous about cutting out some of the trim to fit the hitch, but read someone else's review where they cut at an angle to keep the center clip. I followed that one person's review and was able to save the center clip. Thanks! From start to finish, it took me approximately 2 hours because I took my time. I could do it much faster if I do it again. I like the look of the finished hitch and happy I did it myself. Dealership wanted $750 for the hitch and wiring, so I saved many $$ doing it myself. Thank you e-trailer for the detailed instructions and giving the ordinary person the ability to do our own work and save some coin. 562412
by: Eric08/26/2018
kudos to Subaru and Draw-Tite for making this so simple. Looks and fits great. Like that the receiver is flush with the bumper - no shin damage while walking by the back of the car. One note the directions did not from my notice let you know to remove the back up sensors - not a big deal but as you pull off the cover/shroud you need to reach in and unplug the wire harness - towards the driver's side - very visible. If you were pulling too hard you might harm something but probably not such as to disable any functionality. 558392
by: Larry06/05/2018
Excellent fit. 517912
by: John07/21/2018
Everything arrived quickly and although the package was beat up the trailer hitch was fine. Took about 2 1/2 hours to install without jack / lift. Reattaching the fascia was the most difficult part. Note that the push pins on the mud flaps (outback) are a different size than the fascia push pins. Couldn't find the video instruction for the outback, so I used that from the Ecohitch. Everything was identical except the the required fascia cutout. This is an incredible company! I have used them before and will continue to use them in the future. 544443
by: James06/19/2018
I purchased and installed the Draw-Tite Hitch on my 2018 Subaru Outback. The product was installed easily per the instructions. I had no issues with the installation. The product looks great on the car. The etrailer representatives I spoke with prior to purchasing were extremely helpful with making my decision on which hitch to purchase. I was surprised how knowledgeable they were in the products. They really made me feel confident in product. 523929
by: Chris06/09/2018
The hitch looks great on my 2018 Outback and was faily easy to install. I had to jack the car up on the back end to allow the tire to drop down enough to get one of three screws loose to remove the mud flap. My facia has backup sensors and the only difference from the video and instructions is a single wire disconnect similar to the taillights. Very easy to disconnect and reconnect. The only complaint I have is mine came minus the trim piece that is shown in the video were you cut the facia. Since the facia is now not supported in the middle I’m concerned it will flap when the wind catches it when driving. Irritating that it was missing. Install time was under two hours. Minus one star for missing part.. 519764
by: Richard07/04/2018
Relatively simple install on my '15 Outback for a 2" mount 4-place bike rack I already had. Love that it mounts in OE position, but with a 2" receiver the OE doesn't offer, has no bar showing below or reducing ground clearance, requires no drilling/cutting as some others do, and was $100 less expensive than that other hitch. A little tough getting the fascia clipped back on because to the bumper bar and foam being moved back a bit because of the thickness of the mounting flanges, but manageable. As an afterthought, I could have used a Surform rasp to trim a bit off the face of the foam to gain a little extra clearance, but all is well. Very happy with product and quick delivery. Would have been a single day had the UPS truck not broken down. Also was boxed where some vendors ship these items bare, with resulting scrapes and bends. Great service and product from etrailer and Draw-Tite! 529898
by: Robert07/21/2018
E-trailer is very easy to work with. The website is user friendly and very easy to navigate. I easily found the products I wanted and placed my order. My order arrived in 4 days and consisted of the Draw-rite max-frame class lll trailer hitch receiver custom fit for my 2015 Subaru Outback All items were in good condition upon arrival. I followed the installation instructions as written and had the hitch completed in 1 hr and another 20 minutes for the wiring harness. I would recommend E-trailer and their products to any diy. Excellent experience. Thanks 544169
by: Kim06/30/2018
Hitch is awesome and looks great. Paula the sales operator provided me with amazing customer service. I had originally wanted to order from etrailer but a local installer talked me into ordering from them. After a week passed and found that hitch would not be in for another week, I cancelled that order and called etrailer. Paula was amazing walked me through then whole process and helped me get exactly what I needed. Hitch arrived 2 days later and I had it installed the next day. Paula saved the day 528649
by: Greg07/30/2018
The product itself was great. But the Included instructions were a little weak; thankfully, the online videos filled in the gaps. The etrailer videos were good but glossed over the bit I found tricky, how the mid-bumper was held on. It turns out it is several clips. There is a video about removing bumper cover of a 2008 Subaru Outback that is ONLY pertinent to the 2016 outback we own in that it shows how these clips are released. Basically just tug quickly (not hard, quick) slightly upward. 547964
by: Eduardo07/13/2018
Installation instructions make it seem that its alot harder than what it actually is. Super simple even with only one person doing it! Some of my bumper clips were a little hard to get undone but even with that everything went super fast! 541057
by: David06/03/2018
Installed this on our 2016 Outback. Install wasn't too bad. Went pretty quick. Hardest part was getting the bumper fascia back together and making sure the corner was flush. Ended up using a razor blade and Cutco scissors to get the notch cut out on the bottom of the bumper. No drilling required. Much more affordable compared to the EcoHitch, and quality is just fine. 516606
by: Daric06/12/2018
EASY install!!!! I mean WOW! It was truly a one person job and took a total of 2 hours... and that was with zero experience, just watching youtube videos for pointers. Hitch looks great and works VERY well with our 2016 Outback! Great buy! 520956
by: Cary06/07/2018
Looks to be a quality product, it installed easy. I have not towed with it yet so only 4 stars. Worth the money for sure! 518596
by: Kristopher06/16/2018
I highly recommend etrailer as well as this hitch for the Subaru Outback. The etrailer website is easy to navigate. Shipping was fast and the product arrived on time. The hitch looks great on the Subaru. So clean because you only see the reciever and not difficult to install. I'll be shopping at etrailer in the future. 522724
by: Dave05/27/2018
Nice quality hitch at a great price. Not very difficult to install, but took me about 2 hours. I’d suggest cutting the bumper 5” deep instead of the 4.5” they suggest. Mine rubs a bit, but I’ll trim later. It’s flush with the edge of the bumper so my shins are safe. I see no reason to spend more on the similar product from the other manufacturer. 513170
by: Mark06/23/2018
E-Trailer has been great! Ashley was really helpful as well as John's answers to my questions. So much information is available through videos and reviews. I purchased the Draw-Tite hitch 76227 for my 2018 Subaru Outback Touring and the 118467 T-one Wiring Harness. The video made installation very simple. Some notes: I was able to cut around the center pin on the bumper cover to keep the fastener. The center of the cover is 2" from the center of the pin hole as the instructions say, not half way between the tailpipe cutouts. I should have paid more attention when reattaching the bumper cover as I slid it over the lower metal brackets the first time. Never force anything! Back up sensor plug just requires a squeeze on one end to release. It helped to back up on my ramps and have a helper to hold the bumper while removing and cutting the hole. I just used a mat knife and scored it numerous times. I cut my hole 3.75"w x 4.5"h. Could have given the height just about ?" more but fit was tight. Actually could be a little narrower but fit looks great. By using the Draw-Tite hitch, I could reinstall the foam cover on the bumper rail with no issues. Hardest part was seeing the markings on my torque wrench. I probably would not have attempted this without the videos. Mostly I want to hear warnings of what to watch out for as I'm doing the installation. The backup sensor plug was a trick since I had to use my magnifying glasses to see the clip or I might have broken it. I sprayed the bumper with Amsoil Metal Protector before installing as suggested. Fit and alignment was perfect, no adjusting needed. The Draw-Tite hitch weighs less than the Eco-Hitch which helps keep overall weight down when not towing and the foam piece fit since the mounting plates are a little thinner. The cut out is smaller too with the DT. As for the wiring harness, the 2018 Plug is right where the video says it is, just hard to reach and a pain to set free. Don't give up. I couldn't figure out how to remove the tie down loop or it would have helped. Finally got it. I just routed the harness into the spare wheel area. No tape included. End result looks great! 525858
by: Jeff07/08/2018
E-Trailer has been great! Fast delivery. So much information is available through videos and reviews. I purchased the Draw-Tite hitch 76227 for my 2018 Subaru Outback Touring. The video made installation very simple. I was able to cut around the center pin on the bumper cover to keep the fastener. Back up sensor plug just requires a squeeze on one end to release. It helped to have a helper to hold the bumper while removing and cutting the hole. I just used a mat knife and scored it numerous times. I cut my hole 3.75"w x 4.5"h fit looks great. By using the Draw-Tite hitch, I could reinstall the foam cover on the bumper rail with no issues. I probably would not have attempted this without the videos. 539221
by: Paul08/17/2018
Absolutely a plug and play installation. Literally the hardest part was bringing myself to cutting the fascia. The guidance on YouTube for the other hitches was thoroughly enough to give me enough confidence to take on the project myself, instead of paying someone else $150.00 to do it for me. I did try to save the attachment on the fascia near the hitch mount, I am hoping this will give a more secure mount using all of the push pins. I wasn’t even close to feeling confident, but now a close friend want to do his, and I am certain the two of us can get his done in 45 minutes or less. 554966
by: Ryan R05/31/2018
It took me awhile to find this hitch, but I'm glad I did as it's the perfect combination of an aftermarket hitch that installs like the OEM one! Safety and increased functionality all in one! First, I'd wanted one to install as the OEM one because I figured (and read) this was ideal for safety. Mounted this way it wouldn't change how the crumple zone in the back worked. Where other hitches that mount underneath the frame may be able to push up the crumple zone if ever in an accident. I also wasn't crazy on the idea of drilling into our Outback to install an aftermarket hitch, but I really wanted a 2" receiver with a higher tongue weight rating. In addition to requiring drilling new holes in our vehicle, the crossbar was visible on all other hitches I could find. I couldn't order this one any faster when I finally found it. It installs like the smaller OEM hitch would, it has a 2" receiver with great weight ratings, and the crossbar is hidden! We'll mostly be hauling bikes with this thing (Thule T2 XT Pro), but a small utility trailer and likely boat is in our future as well! The Outback will be ready now! 514184
by: Russell06/18/2018
The installation of the hitch was straightforward. Watched the install videos many times so I only needed a couple of glances at the instructions to remind me of the next step. The only hiccup was that my 14mm socket was too short so I had to run to the tool store to get a longer one. I have not actually used the hitch yet since I don't have my bike rack yet but I really enjoy how you only see the receiver. 523568
by: James06/19/2018
Clever design and everything went together as advertised, although the Subaru plastic fasteners on the wheel well were delicate, so I would caution others to be careful. Also, the measurement for the cutout in the directions was not accurate, and despite measuring what I thought was exact center, I ended up a 1/4 inch wider on driver's side, which is annoying, but at least it cannot be seen unless you get under the car. Looking forward to using it soon. 524221
by: Charles06/01/2018
Easy to mount, took about thirty minutes. Note that for the 2018 Subaru Outback, when you cut the bottom bumper fascia for the hitch to come through, measure from the sides to find center - the fastener hole is NOT in the center of the bumper, it is off by a few inches. 515137
by: Dan08/04/2018
This hitch installation on a 2018 Subaru Outback had me a little worried before I started. Removing and reinstalling the plastic bumper was what I was worried about. I was thinking that the realignment was going to be an issue. As it turns out this was by far the easiest hitches that I ever installed. I had a 2017 Outback that got rear ended with a different style hitch then this one. The other style of hitch had the same weight ratings but mounted the the uni-body frame stiffening the crumple zones on the car. The car was totaled, you decide for your self. This hitch is mostly hidden from view and it mount to the same bolts as the rear bumper. Much better looking and mounting design in my opinion. I am hopeful not to put it to the crash test though 549793
by: Richard06/24/2018
I received my Draw-Tite Hitch in a cardboard box with no damage which sometimes occurs with heavy parts. I was a little anxious about removing the bumper on my wife's new Subaru, but it went like clockwork. etrailer's instructions and ecohitch's video made it easy. It took me just under three hours from pulling my tools out to putting them away. I took it easy but I'm 72 so bouncing up and down to remove/install the lock pins slowed me down. Perfect Fit. I did use a powered jig saw to cut out clearance for the receiver. The bolt on hitch keeps the integrity of the crumple zone. 526147
by: Lance07/18/2018
I have recently ordered, received and installed a trailer hitch and roof rack for my 2018 Subaru Outback. Shipping was in good time, order was correct and installation was easy. Great instructions and how-to videos online were very informative. Etrailer will be first on my list when I need something for my cars. 543163
by: John08/25/2018
etrailer shipped my hitch almost immediately after ordering. I could have had it installed on my car within less than 48 hours. Installation is straightforward, although removing the bumper and the bumper fascia on my 7-year-old Outback wagon was not an easy process. The hitch receiver looks great and works great with my Saris bike rack. 557967
by: Matthew06/21/2018
The hitch seems well-built. Installation wasn't too bad. It would be helpful if the instruction video included more detail as to removing the rear fascia. Getting the rear fascia off without damaging it is much more difficult than the video implies. Also, there is no detail on the video as to removing the fascia portion over the bumper which I found to be the most difficult part. A 14mm deep socket is needed to remove the bumper bar. That information should be included in the directions and video (the directions only indicate a 14mm socket is needed. 524843
by: Jeff09/15/2018
Product fits perfectly: exactly like the videos on the website. The electrical cord for lights plugged into existing wiring. I just watched the insall video to learn to install it. the hitch seems very heavy duty. The salespeople on the phone described it very accurately. I will be purchasing more from this company in the future. 565501
by: Allen09/21/2018
Great hitch, easy to install 567379
by: Eric08/30/2018
The hitch arrived quickly and got it and my Subaru to County Line Auto Body and they installed it with ease. The Auto Body shop told me that they use etrailer all the time and their products are almost like OEM. I look at my Outback and the hitch looks like it was put on in the factory! We've used the hitch a few times now to carry a bike platform rack and it's awesome! 559907
by: Chris B08/26/2018
The Draw-Tite 76227 arrived on time and undamaged from etrailer. I installed it on a 2012 Subaru Outback with no problems, with the help of a friend and his lift. The fit is great. On the 2012, the center clip hole for the bumper fascia is actually right in the center of the vehicle. So the trimming instructions were not quite right. But we measured instead of following instructions, so all went well. We did have to trim the fascia 5 inches deep instead of the prescribed 4.5 inches in order to get fascia to line back up with clip holes and not hit receiver. I would recommend this hitch for the Outback of you don't want to drill holes in your frame and are not scared to take the bumper apart. 558419
by: Greg08/31/2018
I love my new trailer hitch. It was fairly easy to install. The video was invaluable. 560394
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