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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.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on our 2019 Subaru Outback wagon, we're going to be installing EcoHitch's class III two inch hidden trailer hitch. This is what our hitch is going to look like when it's installed. It's a class III, two inch by two inch receiver, so it's going to be great for all of your towing needs. It remains hidden completely behind the bumper, and all you can really see here is our receiver tube sticking out the back.It uses five eighths inch hitch pin. Now, one does come included with the hitch, but you can pick one up here at etrailer.com. And features plate style safety chain loops.
They have a nice, large opening, so they should be able to accommodate just about every size and shape of safety chain. You do want to verify in your vehicle's owner's manuals that you don't exceed any of its towing capacities.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 receiver tube, it measures about 17 inches. This is important when determining if you need to drop, rise, or raise shank on any of your accessories. Now, from the center of the hitch pinhole to the edge of the rear bumper, it measures about three 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 our installation at the back of the vehicle with our hatch open.
We're going to need to remove both the left and right side taillights. We'll start with our Phillips screwdriver to remove the small plastic pins located on the inside.You'll unscrew the center of the tab. Once it pops out, and then pull the whole pin out. We'll repeat that for the three remaining tabs, one on this side and two on the other side. We can now remove the taillight covers.
Those just pry off. We're just going to use a trim panel tool here to help that. Behind that, you'll find two bolts that we're going to remove using a 10 millimeter socket. We can now pull our assembly rearward to remove it. Once you've got it pulled off, we're just going to remove the bulbs from the housing. Just twist those counterclockwise and they pull out, and unplug the electrical connector here. Now we can set the assembly aside. We'll repeat that on the other side.Underneath your taillight assembly, you'll see a small plastic cover. We're going to use a flat-bladed screwdriver to pop that cover out, exposing the bolt behind it. We'll then remove that bolt using the same 10 millimeter socket. We'll do that on the other side as well. Next, we're going to move into our inaudible 00:02:53 wheel area and remove the fasteners here so we can get our fascia off. You'll find one here at the top. Take a Phillips screwdriver and we're going to press in on the center of it. That will allow the pin to be released. You can then take a flat-bladed screwdriver and get behind it and pry it out.Down towards the bottom here, if you have the splash guards like we do, there are a couple fasteners we're going to need to remove. You're going to find one behind the wheel here. We'll use our flat-bladed screwdriver. We'll pop out the center of the pin and then we can remove the entire pin. Then underneath, if you pull the mud flap down, you'll see there's a fastener located here. We'll need to remove that one as well. Now underneath, going around the perimeter, you're going to find pins that we need to remove on the bottom. There's a total of five. Those are all going to remove by popping up the center and then just pulling the pin out.Now we can remove our fascia. We're going to start on one side, pulling outward to release the tabs. And now that both sides are loose, we're going to grab an extra set of hands to help us pull the fascia rearward. Check for any electrical connectors that may be present. We found one here on our driver's side, so we're just going to disconnect that. There's a release pin you press in there and then pull it out. And now we'll set our fascia aside where it won't get damaged. We can then take the foam off of our crossbeam. We can set that aside. We're not going to be reinstalling that. And now, we need to remove our crossbeam here. There's four bolts on each side we're going to take off using a 14 millimeter socket.We can now take our crossbeam off and set it aside. We can now set our hitch in place, sliding it over the studs that was holding our cross piece on. Now, I would recommend taking a nut and just threading it on there, turn to keep it from falling off, while we grab our cross brace. We're going to line it up. We'll have to make sure we take that nut off that we we're using to support it. Line all those holes back up, and set it into position. We'll now use the new nuts that come included with our hitch and install those onto the studs. We'll then tighten down all of our hardware with a 14 millimeter socket.We can then go back and torque all of our hardware to the specifications found in our instructions. Gone ahead and marked out our fascia per our instructions how we're going to need to trim it for it to fit back on with our hitch in place, and I'm just going to use some tin snips to cut that out. There's now a trim piece that comes included with your hitch that you can install onto the fascia where we cut it out. This'll just help make it blend in nicer. This'll just simply slide on, following the edge that we just trimmed. Any excess you have left over, you can just trim that off. Now we can reinstall our bumper fascia, and we're just going to follow reverse on how we removed it to get it reattached. And with our taillights back in place, we're all set. That completes our installation of EcoHitch's class III two inch hidden trailer hitch on our 2019 Subaru Outback wagon.
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (6 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 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. 582178
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! 582362
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. 756521
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. 730221
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 714457
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. 659052
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