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This custom-fit trailer hitch with a hidden cross tube installs behind your vehicle's rear bumper, leaving only the receiver visible beneath it. Aluminum and steel alloy construction is durable and eco-friendly. Powder coat finish resists rust.
Features:
Specs:
The EcoHitch Hidden trailer hitch is designed to be as inconspicuous as possible. The hitch's cross tube bolts onto your vehicle's frame, behind your rear bumper. No drilling or welding is required. Once the hitch is installed, only the receiver will be visible beneath your bumper. This means that your vehicle can maintain its stylish, from-the-factory look, and you won't have to do any major modifications to its body or frame.
With a combination of aerospace-grade aluminum, steel, and stainless steel, each EcoHitch is made of a strong metal alloy that will withstand the test of time. The lightweight alloy is composed of recycled materials. Traditional steel hitch manufacturing can use coal or oil, which can contribute to harmful gas emissions. The EcoHitch's recycled materials limit the carbon footprint during manufacturing, so you get a sturdy trailer hitch while also helping the environment.
This EcoHitch trailer hitch is tested for durability and sturdiness. Using Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA), individual points of stress on the hitch can be detected and remedied. Designers can accurately test the hitch to ensure that it will meet or exceed SAE J684 standards. The EcoHitch Hidden trailer hitch is carefully researched and strength tested for a durable, high-quality hitch that can resist damage while on the road.
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.
Tech Tip
No drilling required for installation , Requires temporary removal of bumper/fascia during installation , Fascia trimming required
Complete Towing Package for 2012
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Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (83 Customer Reviews)
This custom-fit trailer hitch with a hidden cross tube installs behind your vehicle's rear bumper, leaving only the receiver visible beneath it. Aluminum and steel alloy construction is durable and eco-friendly. Powder coat finish resists rust.
This was a hitch for a 2013 Passat. I was able to bend the bumper alignment tabs and put the bumper back on with the receiver.
Trailer light converter was a direct fit, however, it took the times as long to install than the receiver.
I added a circuit to the fuse panel and ran the wire to the trunk under the plastic trim.
The fitment was perfect and the install videos can't be beat! Thanks
Mark
9/21/2024
Has worked perfect for our needs!
I ordered this hitch on a Monday and had it on Thursday and installed in on Friday. The Eco Hitch feels and looks well made. I’m 65 and installed it by myself with no issues. I watched the available installation video that Etrailer provides and found it to be very helpful. I find the 2” receiver to be more adaptable for different applications. If you have a Volkswagen Passat and want a well made hitch I would recommend this one.
Quick service. Easy enough for a 70 year old to install in his driveway. Took about an hour and a half after watching etrailer.com video.
Michael
5/15/2023
Still working great. Absolutely no problems. Would recommend.
Directions/video are spot on. Took about 30 minutes to remove bumper cover, metal bumper and bend tabs / remove center bracket. On installation I wasted time trying to trim the foam pad, just toss it like the instruction say. Install straightforward, trim the bumper cover per instructions and fit was fine. Install took a bit over an hour because I wasted time with the foam pad and then didn't get the bumper cover engaged with the proper slots at the bottom edge of the trunk lid so had to back track a bit with that.
High quality hitch...Works great!...Perfect fit with good installation instructions!!
This hitch was incredibly easy to install. The video tutorial on the site was super helpful. I'm a novice, so it took me a couple of hours to complete on my 2012 VW Passat TDI.
I went with this hitch for my 2015 VW Passat TDI because it's mostly hidden with the cross tube behind the bumper. It looks great on the car and the install wasn't too bad (took me about 2 hours), but the instructions leave a lot to be desired. A few tips if you go with this hitch:
- Go slow when removing the bumper cover to make sure you don't damage any of the clips. Start from one wheel well and "peel" the bumper cover away. You may have to pull harder than you think, but make sure you've removed all of the fasteners.
- To install this hitch, you remove the impact foam behind the bumper cover, then the impact bar. You then line up the hitch to those same holes and place the impact bar on top. The instructions tell you to thread one of the new bolts in backwards on each side so that you can more easily line up the hitch and impact bar while you start another bolt. This works fine on the driver side, but the DEF tank for the TDI is on the passenger side right behind the bolt holes. I wasn't able to thread a bolt through from the back so I used another line up tool I had and then started the first bolt. No big deal, but slowed me down a bit.
- The impact bar has tabs on the back that need to be bent/removed so that it can sit up flush against the hitch. The instructions either don't mention this or I missed it - I ended up bending them until they broke off and then touched up the bare metal with some flat black paint to prevent rust. This is separate from the metal tab attached to the body of the car that has to be folded up to make room for the cross tube (the instructions do mention this one).
- You need to cut a fairly large hole in the black plastic trim of the bumper. I masked off the measurements per the instructions and made the cut with a rotary tool. I thought this would be the most difficult part of the install, but it was done in 5 minutes and came out great.
- To put the bumper cover back on, start from the center and push the bumper onto the clips under the weather stripping of the trunk opening. "Stretch" the cover around to each wheel well making sure the plastic trim is above the hitch but below the 2 remaining mounting tabs underneath. Give the cover a light tap as you work your way around to secure it into the clips.
I'm glad I went with this hitch in the end because it looks almost like it came from the factory, but I'd stick with the Curt or the Draw-Tite if you're installing yourself and either don't enjoy this kind of stuff or don't have much experience working on cars.
I was a little concerned about installing this myself when I ordered it. But it was actually significantly easier than I expected and the experience educated me on how easy it is to remove my bumper cover. A couple of details that could have been clearer in the instructions would be regarding the two areas that need to be modified on the car. I included some pictures. The center lower bumper support needs to be removed. I just used a crescent wrench to bend it until it broke off and then painted the bare metal for protection. When reinstalling the bumper over the hitch you will need to bend a few tabs. This was easy to accomplish with the rubber mallet but you could use a hammer as well. Cutting the bumper cover was the scariest part but don't be afraid to tackle it. The cut you make is hidden from view and once the bumper is installed, you will never see ti again. I used a Dremel with a cutting wheel.
The hitch took 2 people 1hr to put on, and was not that bad even though it looked like a pain to do judging from the install video.
It does sit a tad lower than I had hoped for, but still 12-13" off the ground and is very functional. It will scrape when you go off a very steep driveway, but your muffler would to that anyways, so it actually protect your car!
Felt a tad heavier than I would have hoped for but, you need the weight to handle towing and carrying weight.
It is a solid hitch, excellent quality.I have a 2014 VW Passat TDI and I spent a few hours to get the job done because this is my first time to do it lacking experience. All efforts worth.
I was happy to find a 2” hitch for my 2015 Passat TDI. The quality of the hitch is excellent and it’s made in the U.S.A. The only negative is the instructions included are a little vague. Also, the images on the instructions could be improved if they were in color and printed on better paper. The install was about two hours. I have an extensive background with automotive repair and modification. If you lack the experience I would recommend a professional install. All in all I would definitely recommend this product and manufacturer.
Good product. Has been used a couple of times but has held up quite well
Easy instal! Longest part is removing the bumper cover. For TDI applications, the bolts on the passenger side extend and impact the DEF tank, be careful when installing. I did not encounter any leaks but wanted to caution you.
Have not towed with it, nor do I plan to, but it’s a rockstar for my Kuat dual bike carrier!
This wasn't too difficult to install and the videos that are on the website made it that much easier. I use this to tow my kayak trailer with my 2012 VW Passat TDI. I bought the wiring harness you install in line of the brake lights so I didn't have to make any cuts into the factory wires and it has worked perfectly over the last year. I have probably put about 1000 miles using this hitch and I haven't had a single issue.
This has worked great for my VW Passat. I use the hitch receiver for my bike rack, which has done great (writing this a year later). I highly recommend it!
Works well. Sturdy.
Works great, had it installed at uhaul for $100.
Super easy! Never done anything like it before and it took me less than 45 min. Looks great!
I had purchased the hitch, coil over air bags and wiring harness, all products were top shelf top name and top quality, absolutely no regrets. Customer support and service were real professional and very knowledgeable. I’m still using etrailer for more products, now some of my friends are too.
The quality of the hitch is excellent and it fitted the car very well. It mounts right to the sub frame so is way more solid than the other types I looked at. I tow a Miska Neo 5 x 8 aluminum enclosed trailer with vee front and it tows well.
The service from etrailer.com was excellent with easy ordering and fast shipping.
What more could you ask for?
Very satisfied with this Echo hitch for my 2014 Passat. Hitch is very solid with high quality materials and fabrication. While Installation isn’t easy video instructions were excellent and easy to follow. I recommend this hitch to anyone with a VW Passat!
Product design, fitment and installation is superb. Had no issue installing an under that under 45 minutes.
Luke
2/20/2023
its been working great for my receiver hitch bike rack, and a small watercraft trailer!
Very excited to find a 2" receiver for my "small car". I know it's not needed for the rated towing capacity, but being able to use most accessories like bike racks, and storage platforms without needing an adapter, and making a 4 bike rack stick out even further is awesome!
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Edd
9/11/2024
This was really easy to install and bumper went back like it was supposed to. Definitely a good choice!