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This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your Subaru Forester's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.
Features:
Specs:
The sturdy steel construction is protected with a matte black finish for added durability. This unique powder coating gives etrailer hitches a carbide-like appearance and a rugged look that sets them apart from traditional glossy hitches. In addition to being rust and corrosion resistant, the tough matte coating hides dirt, scuffs, and dings better than a glossy finish.
At etrailer 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
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 installed this Hitch on a 2025 Forester Premium, installation went smooth and it took me about 4 hours to complete, the installation videos were a great help. The quality of Hitch Receiver and supplied Hardware are excellent.
Great hitch for the price and yes there are a couple of extra modifications that are needed for a clean installation but to be honest if you are taking on this install yourself you should be able to perform the additional tasks. (I did not have an extra set of hands and I learned from prior installations to utilize an auto jack to hold the hitch while I threaded on the nuts)
Victoria H.
3/12/2025
That's great Gary! Thank you for sharing your insight and including photos too! This is helpful information. What are you planning on mounting on your hitch?
Just installed on our 2024 Subaru Forester. Took several hours but I am 64 and do not have a lift like they do in the video. Also the etrailer instal 2023 Video is much better than the 2024.
Jack
3/4/2025
A year in and going strong. This hitch along with bike rack I got from etrailer makes taking the bikes with us a breeze.
Bryce D.
3/4/2025
Instructions were very helpful and accu rate.
Victoria H.
3/11/2025
I'm glad to hear install went seamlessly for you and thanks for including a photo too, Durwin!
I was sent additional mounting materials that don't correspond with my hitch or my bike rack. See the photo below. Are these materials for my trailer Trailer Hitch Receiver Item #e83ZR?
Katrina D.
8/7/2024
Huh, that is weird. It doesn't look like any hardware you should have received. Is that white piece a plain piece of plastic? Can you take a couple more pictures from some different angles? Was there a number on the packaging for this kit?
Great deal for a quality product! Subaru wants $[XX] plus labor for a hitch and I can't imagine it's that much better than this for under $[XX]. I unbolted the muffler and disconnected the rear hanger rather than dropping the exhaust, plenty of room even without jacking up the vehicle. Step drill made quick work of enlarging the hole, hook tool made fishing the wire a breeze and floor jack with a zip tie made it a one man job. Took me a little over an hour with no unexpected surprises.
Joel
6/3/2024
After one year, the hitch has hit no unexpected surprises, works great though it usually just gets used for a bicycle rack
It's nice when you buy something and get exactly what was advertised. The hitch is very well built and was surprisingly simple to install. The on line videos guided me through the installation. I ended up with a quality hitch and a factory like installation Overall I am very pleased with this product and highly recommend it. Money well spent.
Brooke M.
3/31/2025
Thank you so much for sending in the photos! It's really encouraging to hear you had a good experience. What will you be using the new hitch for?
Seems to be well made. Installation was relatively simple and instructions were clear. This is my second hitch from etrailer.
Brooke M.
4/24/2025
Glad to hear that, Paul! We'd love to see a photo of your new install if you ever feel like sending one in :)
Works as intended. I would have just liked a little more care with packaging. I’m gonna have to paint some areas to keep it from rusting. Otherwise easy install and great videos on the website to help.
I purchased a new vehicle and had this new e-trailer hitch installed so I could continue to use my deer hauler that I’ve been using for a few years.
I was very disappointed when I went to attach the deer hauler.
I started to slide it into position but the hitch is designed that its sits to far under the SUV and the hauler hits the back of the vehicle before the holes line up making it impossible to attach the trailer hitch pin and clip when the hauler is in the upright/travel position.
John
12/31/2024
I dont like it at all it sits to far under my vehicle making it impossible to fold up my hauler unlike any other hitch I had on all of my SUVs.
Please package this better for the next person. The parts where the paint has been removed from the shipping process will now rust. Take a little more pride in your work.
Jenny N.
5/29/2024
I will let our shipping department know how the hitch was delivered. We will be in contact with you as we can send out a can of paint to touch up the hitch to protect against rust.
I’ve lost track at how many tow hitches, etc. I’ve gotten from etrailer.com over the years all of which have been excellent. This was no exception. The video was far better than the written instructions. Even though they included 6 fishwires, I was able to complete the job with just 1. Fairly simple to install and looks great!
this is the 3rd or 4th etrailer hitch I've installed and they fit and install great every time. This is one job that doesn't turn into a nightmare, and many do so it's always nice to start something that goes as planned and no surprises. Fit and finish is always top notch, love etrailer hitches.
I purchases this for my 2023 Subaru Forester. It is a high quality product and installation was exactly as shown on the video instructions I accessed on Youtube. The videos are clear and complete and let you know exactly what to do, step-by-step. And the shipping was super-fast. I think I got it 2 days after I ordered it. All of my purchase experiences from etrailer have been excellent. I highly recommend.
It has meet out expectations. It’s worked great for using our bike rack
Brooke M.
4/1/2025
Glad to hear that, Jim. It would be fun to see a photo of your bike rack set up if you felt like sending one in next time you're geared up for a ride :)
Fit went well. I mistakenly ordered the wrong hitch, they reponded right away with a UPS shipping label, put in the order for the correct hitch and it was sent out. I was then credited when they received the previous hitch, all went smooth.
This is the second etrailer unit (different car) that I got, and both were well designed and straightforward to install. The 22 Forrester had a little more complicated install because the muffler unit had to be moved during install. Honestly, that part wasn’t too bad. Watch the excellent video to see how to support it. It didn’t require moving rusted bolts, but just slipping three rubber grommets an inch off a metal rod, then the entire muffler assembly lowered and shifted a few inches that were needed to access above it. I used a crowbar to provide the little leverage and angle needed to move the soaped grommets. I was able to do the install on my back with my car up metal ramps.it was slow but worked. Don’t mess around with any makeshift attempt to raise your car over you. If you don’t have legitimate ramps, get it to a garage with a lift. Removing the plastic shield behind the wheel was a little more challenging than it looked in the video but it was a missed clip that was holding it, and the contoured catch spot that was hard to separate. Remembering the orientation during removal helped in reinserting it. The only real problem I had was when I removed the heat shield from above the muffler, two of the four bolts had rusted in place and they sheared off. I ended up using two pieces of electric conduit copper wire (without coating) to tie it up to the small brackets so it wouldn’t rattle. The hitch solidly held the shield in place on the other side along with the one bolt that had space. The entire install on my back took an entire afternoon, but it behaved like a champ trailering the trailer that weekend!
Gwendolyn Y.
10/21/2024
Hey Rich! I Love the ramp tip. I don't think I would have thought of using some till I was getting on the ground to shuffle under the vehicle.
Took 1/2 hour to install. Fit like a glove. Packaging sucks though and UPS had to tape up the box during transit. etrailer is a great company. Let's step up the packaging quality.
It was a little more than what was lead on to be done. Just have to make sure you have ALL your correct bits and tools before you start the job. I didn't have the correct step drill bit (Needed a Bigger Bit) and use alternate tools.
It feels really solid and no issues with that.
You have to watch a couple of videos to make sure you have a game plan before you start or have an alternate car to run to the store.
The hitch was shipped in a heavy cardboard box. All hardware was included and complete. Install was a breeze thanks to YouTube videos. It fit perfectly, it looks great and will be very useful for my needs.
Thanks
Hitch is solid, holds a bike rack with 2 50-lb e-bikes with no trouble at all. The install took a few hours, easy to moderate difficulty. The hardest part was expanding the frame holes to fit the bolt heads. Make sure you have a grinder/hole enlarger and something comfortable to lay on while you grind. Dropping the exhaust is a must, be sure to spray some soap on the rubber hangers to get them on/off, and support with muffler with a strap so you can lower it down slowly. I had enough room to work with the car backed onto one layer of 2x10 lumber.
Happy with this hitch for my bike rack. No rust after 1 year of use.
Top quality receiver, installed by a friend who is a car body specialist. This will enable attachment of a bike rack on the back end of my vehicle vs. roof rack; Much easier for me at this stage of my life.
Mgs
10/9/2023
I am sad to say the trailer hitch has not gotten much use. The bike carrier was a hand-me-down and would not seat securely, making transport very unstable. It will take a newer bike carrier and I will then be able to report back. There have been family issues preventing me from prioritizing a new bike carrier this past year.
Mike L.
11/2/2023
Mike L.
11/2/2023
Not too difficult to install and very sturdy. The video on the website walks through installation perfectly.
I'm very pleased with the hitch that I received from eTrailer. Fit perfectly and works as it should. Shipped promptly and arrived in good order. I would certainly endorse eTrailer and recommend their products.
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Brooke M.
3/24/2025
Thanks for sharing a photo of your handiwork, Hank! Looks awesome and now you're ready to go. What will you be hauling?