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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.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (660 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.
Instructional video was of great help in taking the required sections of the car apart. The hitch fit perfectly. The welds and material are top notch. The powder coat was excellent. It did only take a couple hours to do. This hidden hitch is worth the extra cost over the one which hangs down below the bottom of the rear facia. The only thing I did different was on the cut of the bumper facia where the hitch pokes through. Theirs was larger than it needed to be. I cut a rectangle just a little larger than the hitch itself and slid the bumper in upon assembly. It took a bit of measuring, and re-measuring to make sure the cut was going to be in the right place because you only have one shot. Also, I reused the foam which goes between the actual bumper and the plastic rear facia. There was space for it so I put it back in.
Greg F - 12/09/2020This hitch has been flawless & has allowed me to expand my adventures with the Family. I have it mounted to a Subaru Outback & I primarily use it to hold my 1UP USA bike rack. I routinely have 4 bikes on the back & never have any issues on or off road.
This hitch was easy to install. The video directions for my specific vehicle were good and easy to follow. It didn't require any drilling or alterations to the vehicle. I like that the hitch is out of sight when it is not in use. I put the etrailer rubber hitch cover on it when not in use, and you have to look really hard to tell that there is even a hitch back there.
The items ordered took a little bit to arrive but never the less everything went great. The installation was simple and the type of hitch i purchased flows with my rear Bumper Cover and is basically UN-noticeable. I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you
Straight forward, relatively easy install. Great stealthy fit. Slight corrosion after one year but still in good shape. Solid mount has held up well. No issues.
I have a 2019 Outback. I consider myself a slightly above average gear-head with (mostly) proper tools. My observations: 1) I referenced the video for the 2017 Outback, and found it very accurate for the 2019. I got my hitch installed, along with an electrical harness, in a couple of hours in my garage. 2) My Subie has optional mud guards in the wheel wells. You need to take these off before trying to remove the rear bumper fascia! Three Philips head screws along the edge of the wheel well. One push-pin inside the wheel well. One push-pin along the bottom of the fender. Removing the mud guard reveals a push-pin in the bumper fascia that you need to remove in order to get the fascia off. 3) A deep socket really helps when you are trying to unbolt the bumper beam. A 9/16" socket works just as well as a 14 mm when removing/installing the bolts. 4) I used a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel to cut out space under the bumper fascia to accommodate the new receiver. Used pliers with flat jaws to crimp the trim material provided onto the rough edge. I'm really liking the minimalist appearance of the finished receiver installation!
This went on a 2019 Outback. The directions were for earlier models, but everything was identical. The video for 2016-2018 Outbacks was the same process for the 2019. My guess is that the bolt/ hole pattern is slightly different on the 2019. It took longer than I expected, because the little plastic retainers and guides below the taillights were very tight and difficult to disengage without breaking them. Also, I was able to keep the foam piece on the bumper and still install the fascia. Installed, it looks identical to the pics for 2016-2018 models.
This is a very well built product. Arrived well packaged. Installation was super easy. This will primarily be used for bike transport but may also see a trailer. I'm pleased and would definitely purchase it again
Great product, fit and finish are perfect. Installed in under 2 hrs by myself taking my time. eTrailer is a fantastic company, their product selection, descriptions and install videos are top notch.
Great product for a fair price. Love the online reviews which lead me to my decision. As always, super fast delivery! A+
It is very well made and does not affect ground clearance.
Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
The installation of the hitch on my '17 AllTrack was fairly straight forward with a couple of caveats. The Instructions did not address the parking sensors on the sides, or the harness plug behind the bumper cover. There was also considerably more trimming required than what was referenced in the instructions, both width, and depth. The instructions covered both their 1 1/4" and 2" receivers. Finally, there was no tool list in the instructions. Thankfully etrailer had a comprehensive video on how to do it that I was able to follow along with. Total time from start to finish, including jacking the rear of the car up and taking the wheels off, and polishing my exhaust tips, was just over two hours. The craftsmanship of the hitch is great and if the instructions were more clear I would have given it five stars.
Brett - 03/03/2021Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Hitch is excellent quality, fit my 2010 Prius almost perfectly and installation was technically very easy. I'd recommend heeding the advice to mark where you're trimming the fairing before removal as it doesn't appear to be dead center once removed. Besides a few of the 10 year old brittle bumper clips breaking, installation was as easy as the two other hitches I've installed. It fits almost snug against the bottom of the bumper, my rack hasn't bottomed out on anything yet amazingly, ends up being fairly close to the rear axle.
David - 02/11/2021Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Looks great, had some difficulty placing the underbody plastic panel on the driver side back on due to the length of the bolts (see attached picture 5899). I had to remover and re-insert them from outside inward so the length of the bolt went towards the spare tire (it does not hit it), Overall looks great and will see how it handles towing my small trailer.
Patrick H - 12/17/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Just finished installing this a few moment ago and I have to say that it really looks good on our 2014 Outback 3.6R. The low profile of the receiver barely extends beyond the line of the mufflers. I dont think it will be as much of a consideration when backing into a parking stall as other systems that I have seen. There were minor issues that I ran into with the install, so it took me about 3 hours to get this mounted at home with no extra help. I also decided to do the bumper removal method. I felt comfortable removing the trim, and it had the added bonus of giving me more room to work. If you dont have an extra set of hands to help align the hitch to the bolts, you can use a ratchet strap thrown around the hinges for the rear hatch. Hook into the loops where you normally place your trailer chains and take up the weight of the hitch. This will allow just enough support so you can have both hands to start aligning the bolts to the hitch. Lastly, I decided to torque everything down and suspended the muffler before I reattached the bumper bar and trim. The part that was the most difficult for me was getting the dual exhaust remounted onto the rubber bungs. I ended up having to grind off about 3/4-1 inch of the rearmost post on the muffler to get it back into the bung hole. I look forward to pulling a trailer and seeing how everything holds up down the road.
Lincoln C - 09/26/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Great product, fast shipping, super easy to install; there are videos that walk you through the install process every step of the way. The hitch fits perfectly behind the bumper. I use the hitch for a tandem bicycle rack. I have a friend that also has a VW sportwagen and tows a camping trailer.
Michael P - 09/18/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
It has been a solid receiver it does shows some rust around the welds I don’t know why but will see in the long run,the manufacturer doesn’t include important info as the receiver has degrees to compensate for off roading so when you mount your bike don’t expect to be completely straight flat. It tends to lean towards the back glass and if you add a swing arm it’ll be more noticeable(Yakima hold up evo and the Yakima swing arm) due to the fact that Yakima also tend to compensate and prevent dragging whatever you attached to it. I don’t know what it was but the Yakima hold up whenever I’ve installed on my Tacoma it hold quiet and solid but on the eco hitch tends to be a tad loose and tend to rock up and down even do the knob is tighten as it was on my Tacoma. I’ve ended up changing my rack with different brand and that seems to fix the tilting issue but otherwise I’m good with the hitch. Should I be concerned with that rusty spot?
Heather A - 10/15/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Item arrived in excellent shape. Installed on a 2009 CRV. I had a body shop do the install since they have lots of experience with bumper covers. They said it was easy except that they had to tap the holes for the bolts due to 10 years of corrosion and contaminants. Took a few hours to complete. Rock solid and looks as good as you can expect for an aftermarket hitch. Would purchase again.
David - 06/26/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Installation was easy and i like how sturdy the hitch is mounted, great workmanship on the product it self (welds,squareness,sharp edges,etc.) Definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a solid 2'' hitch. My only recommendation to anyone that is installing it don't do it outside when its cold because you could break some of the clips while removing your bumper.
Minja - 09/04/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
Product was not welded straight, II had to use some force to make it square with the car, see details. Once I was able to adjust the shape of the hitch square. it fit excellent and tested with a bicycle rack. I originally went with this product because it sits higher than the rest of the alternatives on the market, and the stealth mounting is a win for sport car appearance.
Dennis K - 07/19/2020Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
I have been very satisfied with this hitch. It was the only 2" hitch that I could find for my 2012 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. I was willing to spend more to get this 2" hitch so that it would accept the bike rack and cargo carrier that I already owned without using an adapter. The hitch is very durable looking and performing. I installed it myself while referencing the etrailer installation video on the product page. I like the clean look of the hitch with its hidden cross tube. When trimming the fascia, I trimmed more than needed when following the supplied directions. If I were to install this hitch again, I would switch the length and width of the trimming dimensions. I ended up with more of a square cutout that was the larger of the two dimensions. Reference my photos. The finished job still looks attractive. Later, I installed a trailer wiring kit from etrailer, and the added width did leave me a nice path for routing. Trim seal for the edges was provided, but I opted not to use it.
Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
I was actually going to order the other hidden hitch option but this was a quicker delivery which I required. As mentioned by a previous customer the size of the cut out should be 5.5 inches, not 4' as stated. At least on a 2021 Odyssey. The other direction quirk is that it calls for an additional cutout for the exhaust protector on the "bumper fascia." It also includes a small closeup picture of where to cut. But this picture doesn't match anything on my car. And because its a close up I really have no idea if its part of the bumper or what. It may be that Honda changed its design, but I struggled to find where I was supposed to make the second cut and then simply ignored that step. There is a pinch point on the driver side where which, if one is unaware, makes it slightly challenging to reinstall the bumper. The bumper sits flush to the hitch and a separate splash "shield" that needs to be reinstalled between these two points. It is too tight and I solved this by trimming that part of the shield that would have made contact with the hitch. Other than that, I would say it looks %100 better than my previous model that was fully exposed under the frame. Once your spouse gets over the shock of having their new car in pieces in your garage, the install is pretty straightforward and all the Honda pins and screws are easily removed and reinstalled.
Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
High quality product at a fair price. Installation went smoothly for the most part. My previous car had a custom hitch that cost a bit more than this etrailer hitch (same price, but in 2004 dollars). When I got my current car, I called the place that did that hitch, but they had stopped making custom hitches. Fortunately, they pointed me to 306-X7284. They said if I ordered it, they would install it for $400. Yikes! Having just spent money on a new car, I didn't want to have to cough up more than necessary to get it ready for my bike rack. So, I watched the provided video, and read the reviews and figured I could handle it. The job wasn't too bad. I was able to do it in about 2.5 hours. I just followed the instructions on the video. The bolt fisher is included, which helps a lot. A note for anyone else who doesn't have a garage or lift. I have a gravel driveway and I didn't have any trouble installing the hitch while the car was sitting on the ground. Having it lifted up might reduce wear and tear on the installer, but it's not necessary. I just used the box the hitch came in to lie on while I worked, and it was fine. And, a note for anyone who will need to do the job without assistance. The only tricky part was getting the first bolt in (the one that goes where the bumper attaches). I had to use something under the hitch to support the unattached side while I put the first bolt in, otherwise I couldn't get the bolt to line up. It was fairly easy, just use a box or whatever you have handy. The fascia is large, but very light, so I didn't have any trouble handling it alone.
Jennifer L - 02/16/2021Review from a similar Hidden Hitch in Trailer Hitch
The hitch was perfect and a super easy install. Probably two hours at most from start to finish. Trickiest part is the plastic clips for the bumper cover, everything else was just a few screws and bolts. Once installed it is totally concealed except the receiver and doesn't impact ground clearance at all. The i3 doesn't have any options for roof racks, so this provides several options. I don't plan to tow any heavy items, but will use this for yard trailer and hitch mounted rack.
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