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Imagine a hitch that doesn’t make you dread installation day. The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver offers a bolt-on design, eliminating the need for time-consuming welding. This straightforward installation means you can have it securely mounted on your vehicle’s frame with just a few tools, letting you save time and effort for your next adventure.
Worried about rust and corrosion? The Curt hitch’s powder-coated finish isn't just about aesthetics – though its sleek, glossy black definitely turns heads – it provides a robust shield against the elements. Whether you're tackling the salty roads of winter or the muddy trails of spring, this hitch stands ready to guard your gear with style.
Ever been concerned about the hitch loosening over time? Rest assured with precision robotic welding, ensuring maximum strength and an impeccable fit. This custom-fit is not just a marketing ploy; it's a promise of performance, tailored specifically for your vehicle's frame to handle loads reliably throughout its service life.
When your adventures demand more, the Class III rating delivers. With a substantial gross trailer weight of 3,500 pounds and a tongue weight of 525 pounds, this hitch can handle most trailers with ease. Translation? Whether it's jet skis for a summer jaunt or a small camper for a weekend getaway, this hitch handles it with aplomb.
The 2-inch hitch receiver opens a world of possibilities. From bike racks to cargo carriers, its size ensures compatibility with a vast array of accessories and trailers, making it a versatile partner for all your hauling needs.
Whether you’re rocking a 2014 model or cruising in a spanking new 2025 Forester, enjoy the peace of mind that comes with confirmed compatibility. No matter the year, this hitch is engineered to fit your Subaru Forester snugly and securely, ready to boost your vehicle’s capability at a moment's notice.
Tech Tip
Underbody panel will need to be removed and reattached. No drilling through vehicle frame required for installation , Access holes may need to be enlarged by filing or rotary tool , Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation , Heat shield must be permanently removed for hitch installation
Complete Towing Package for 2021 Subaru Forester
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I'm dissatisfied with packaging, install video and return. First, as you can see the box was not in good condition when I received it. I discarded the box before I decided to return the product as I did not think it was reusable. I have a 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness. Second, You have to remove the plastic panel on the drivers side to access the frame rail. The video stops short for the reattachment of this panel which you can't do, and it's not a part you want half attached. You can't screw two important points of the panel back onto the frame rail because the hitch covers those holes. Third, I decided to return it and had to pay UPS $24 for a box. Customer service would not provide a pack and ship label. I won't be back to this site as a result of this experience.
Hitch receiver arrived quickly and without damage. The etrailer videos are very helpful. Successfully installed on 2020 Subaru. Took longer than expected due to my available tools (particularly needing to have a metal grinding dremel bit to widen the access hole on the frame). But overall straightforward. Tip: leave the fishing wires on the bolts (all 6 of them) for the next steps after you get your carriage bolts seated. Had to put them all back on. Very helpful to have another person hold the hitch receiver up when bolting it on.
This is my third hitch mount from etrailer for various cars/trucks I've owned. Quality is top-notch and instruction videos were very thorough. They also bolstered the packaging in response to some other reviews I saw where the box was damaged in shipping. Mine arrived in perfect condition. Special thanks to the other reviewers who suggested simply unbolting the muffler rather than dropping the entire exhaust and the ones who zip-tied the hitch to a floor jack for raising it into place. Just use 2+ zips if you do or the ties might break while you're raising it like mine lol.
Less than 3 hours from start to finish. I probably spent more time with setup/cleanup/and waiting for paint to dry on the frame holes I ground out than anything else.
When I told a friend that I needed a trailer hitch to accommodate the bicycle rack I wanted to buy, he recommended etrailer.com. It turned out to be a great decision. They were friendly, professional, and helpful. The trailer hitch is perfect, and the mechanic who installed it for me agreed. I highly recommend etrailer,and also this hitch.
Karen
12/16/2024
I have had zero problems with this product after one year. I may be selling my SUV. If I purchase another, I wont hesitate to buy this etrailer product again.
Excellent quality. The clean welding, finish, and gloss paint make this barely seen Curt tow hitch disappear! Installation with bumper cover removal was two plus hours, but no surprises! This product should sell for double the purchase price.
Etrailer is my Go-To online shop for anything Trailer or Cargo related. They have great prices, fast shipping, and great videos showing us the installation process. As for this product, Curt always makes great Hitches and they never disappoint. For home installers, use a floor jack to lift and hold the Hitch in place while you bolt the rack.
The construction, finish and appearance is excellent. The hardware looks high end product and I can’t wait to install it. The videos give me confidence that I will succeed in the installation job.
The hitch went on although taking more than an hour. It look great and is ready for our bike rack. The new style muffler hangers are a real pain.
I use this for my bike rack and have been using it for a year now. No issues at all and the installation instructions were very thorough. Highly recommend this product.
Josh
10/10/2024
Product is still perfect after a couple of years. I bought another trailer hitch from here as well and same results. Easy installation and works perfectly. Can’t give enough praise for these products. Very happy with the purchases.
I would to say I’m very impressed with your company and how easy it was to order and it was at my door in 3 days. You’re doing a great job with all the emails I got keeping me informed about my order. My hitch was not damaged in any way and the box as well. Tell your staff thanks for the work they did to complete my order. I will recommend to anyone to always order from your website.
Todd
8/14/2024
My hitch works great Im very happy with it.
The box was damaged and I won’t know if the hitch was affected until it is installed later this week.
Scott
9/8/2024
So far so good
Completely satisfied! I purchased the hitch myself and had a trailer company install it. By doing so I saved $100. I did the wiring myself since most of the wiring in my car had been preinstalled. This hitch from E-trailer is the 5th one I have ordered.
Just received the hitch and wiring harness for my 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness. Very excited about getting it installed. Ironic thing……… I saved over $700 by going with. ETrailer rather then getting the factory installed when I bought the car. And, the tongue weight was nearly double. Hmmmmm Thanks ETrailer, your a great resource for us “shade tree mechanics”.
Anthony
4/20/2024
Excellent choice. Totally satisfied with the product and the support. I watched the install videos and had no issues at all. The hitch has been on my Subaru Forester for a year and no problems. Thanks E-Trailer.
Bryce D.
5/15/2024
I had a friend help with the install the hitch receiver on my 2023 Subaru Forester and it went great. No issues at all. Took us about an hour and 40 minutes. We had the car on jack stands. The hardest part was getting up and getting under the car. We are old fat guys. LOL. Looks good, and works great. I do recommend etrailer products.
Thomas
5/20/2024
No issues with the Curt trailer hitch. I have been using it for about a year, and it has been wonderful to have on my car. No problems. I recommend this product from etrailer.
Awesome! Easy to install and perfect fit. Video was super helpful!
One of the best hitches I've had, the ease of the installation and the instructions were excellent
Good hitch receiver. Very helpful installation video by trailer.com. I’ve bought a couple of receivers from etrailer, and it’ll be my first stop for the next one, too.
Brooke M.
4/29/2025
Wow, thanks Philip! We are always here for you. Glad you've had a good experience! :)
This was easy to install on our 2023 Forester, thanks to the hardware that comes with the kit. Highly recommended.
The trailer hitch installed perfectly. Just as described in your extremely helpful installation video.
My only negative is with UPS shipping. They took longer than promised to deliver. And the package was extremely damaged. Thankfully the hitch wasn't damaged. Thank you etrailer for an excellent product and installation info. Very happy with my purchase
Well I have not pulled anything yet but it looks awfully sturdy. The mechanic said it was easy to put on
Gwendolyn Y.
2/17/2025
Hey Kitcat. I'd love to know how your first tow goes with the hitch. What are you pulling?
Perfect fit. The installation video was great, much better than the manufacturer’s instructions. I installed the hitch on my 2020 Subaru Forester in my garage by myself. Took 2 1/2 hours. I used two 8” plastic boxes to support the hitch when I was ready to attach it to the frame. That made the last lift up to the bolts much easier because it was only a 3-4” lift. Only discrepancy I found in the 2019 video was that my 2020 Forester has an extra clip in the driver’s side wheel well holding up the plastic panel. It delayed me just a bit until I figured out why the panel was balky. I also installed the https://www.etrailer.com/Custom_Fit_Vehicle_Wiring/Curt/C56040.html wiring harness. It snapped right in and was a 10 minute job. Easy!
Both the website and your customer service staff were very helpful in getting this item ordered and received. It arrived as promised and I just had it installed on the vehicle this week.
One thing that might have been helpful, would be some documentation on those vehicle components that needed to be removed and customized for reinstallation. For example, heat and under-body corrosion shields. That information is mentioned in the website video but the installation garages are unlikely to look at those resources. A printed addendum would be most helpful.
I have not yet installed the hitch, but it appears to be a quality product. I have no doubt that it will work well on my Forester.
Like other reviews, there were issues with the packing. Putting a heavy product in a cardboard box with no packing material is not advised.The box had numerous holes on arrival with parts of the hitch exposed. Luckily no major damage or scratches.
Great product, perfectly design for the 2020 Subaru Forester, I just put mine on and it was so simple it was ridiculous. I used a rotary tool and a cylindrical diamond bit to cut a notch into the largest factory drilled hole in the frame, and the fish wire provided with the kit worked perfectly for getting the flanges and bolts into the appropriate holes present from the factory for bolting the trailer hitch to the frame. The wiring harness that can be added to this purchase also comes with all the parts necessary for an easy install.
The only thing I would recommend adding to this kit would be a small tube of thread lock as an added measure for the bolts.
Got this for my subaru forester wilderness. Installation video made it easy to install, easy to follow steps. I liked the fact that I didn't have to cut my bumper for this hitch compared to others. Looks great. Haven't had a chance to use it yet so will update on that later. This is my third purchase from etrailer and everything has been delivered promptly and well packaged. Would recommend to anyone
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Jm
4/9/2025
Working perfectly a year later, held up well to midwest snow and salted roads