Is this right for you? Product Expert Kathleen M says:
Yes, if you:
Like that the matte finish blends in with your bumper and offers the added bonus of better rust protection than other brands
Have a folding carrier that sits pretty close to the back of your Subaru when it's folded
No, if you:
Are new to DIY projects or have limited tools to cut or drill as needed to install this hitch
Have a steep driveway that you don't want to risk scraping with a heavily loaded down carrier
Might get annoyed by seeing the cross tube every time you look at the back of your Subaru
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look. Great Prices for the best trailer hitch from etrailer. etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" part number e98847 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-636-306-4830 for expert service.
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Why etrailer?
etrailer Trailer Hitch
- e98847
Class III
2 Inch Hitch
4000 lbs GTW
etrailer
Visible Cross Tube
600 lbs TW
Custom Fit Hitch
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.
Features:
Custom-fit trailer hitch lets you tow a trailer or carry a bike rack or cargo carrier with your vehicle
Precision, robotic welding maximizes strength and improves fit
Bolt-on installation - no welding required
Complete hardware kit and installation instructions included
Lifetime technical support from the experts at etrailer
Matte black powder coat finish over protective base coat offers superior rust resistance
Stylish, round-tube design
Ball mount, pin and clip sold separately
Made in the USA
Mounting hardware may be imported
Specs:
Receiver opening: 2" x 2"
Rating: Class III
Maximum gross trailer weight: 4,000 lbs
Maximum tongue weight: 600 lbs
Not rated for use with weight distribution systems
Limited lifetime warranty
Rugged, Matte Black Finish
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.
etrailer Technical Support
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.
e98847 etrailer Class 3 Trailer Hitch Receiver - 2" - Matte Black Carbide
Weight Distribution Capacity Hitch does not allow use of weight distribution
Tech Tip
Best for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers and Highest Capacity
Drilling required for installation
, Access holes may need to be enlarged by drilling, filing, or rotary tool
, Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation
, Heat shield must be modified or trimmed for hitch installation
etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" - e98847
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (590 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.
by: Caleb10/02/2022
Fun to install for the DIY person. Powder coating is nice and the thing is sturdy. I’ve just used it for a bike rack so far but everything is good. It’ll be ready if/when I need to use a trailer for something.1435017
I installed this myself. Excellent packaging on hitch as it arrived undamaged. All hardware and bolt fish wires were firmly attached to the hitch. Instructions and video were very helpful in making this an easy project. I used car ramps and backed m wife’s Outback on them to provide a comfortable work area. Only thing different that I did from the video instructions was to mount the hitch with the 1st two bolts, mark the location, and drop the hitch to drill the forward bolts with a step drill. All newly drilled surfaces were painted for protection. Also found a couple of elongated frame hole plugs from our ’67 Mustang project to seal the hardware installation hole.1296344
Excellent hitch. Installation was straightforward. When enlarging the holes, be sure you’ve made them big enough for the carriage bolt heads to pass through, aka don’t get in a hurry. Also loctite!! I put a little automotive Krylon on the enlarged holes when I was done to hopefully hold off rust.
Hardest part was enlarging the holes, 2nd hardest was the exhaust hangers. Do yourself a favor and get new drill bits made for hard metal.1300765
Install went completely as expected. Very good instructions and product. Happy with the end result.
This was installed on a 2016 Subaru Outback.
Since i installed the hitch without help, i rigged up a strap to hold the hitch in place to align it with the bolts and to secure the nuts to hold it in place.
The strap went around the hitch and thru the latch for the rear hatch of the subaru. i also used a 2x2 inserted in the receiver to correctly orient the hitch to the car. Its hard to explain, but i added photos to help explain what i did. This system worked better than i had expected to get those bolt holes lined up and the nuts tightened.1278653
The last time I saw metal as stout as this I was touring an old Navy Battleship! I kid you not, this hitch is SUBSTANTIAL in its build quality. The dull finish (as opposed to a high gloss) is a PERFECT compliment to the overall look of the Subaru. Pretty much everything went as expected with the actual installation. I was most fearful of the hardware installation with the fish wires, but that went as smooth as could be. It turned out to be more challenging to remove the fish wire from the bolt and attach the nut initially. I was afraid I was going to end up pushing the bolt end back up into the hole in the frame never to be seen again! Just need to be careful with this. There is NO WAY I could lift this substantial piece of steel up into place on my own. I don't know how anyone could. As assistant is MANDATORY for the roughly 15 minutes that this step takes. (IMHO) I briefly considered removing both mufflers to make tool access easier but managed to move things around enough to get it all done. (And I really DID NOT want to break open the exhaust system!) The diagram that tells you to mark and cut the muffler heat shields is way overly generous. You do not need to remove anywhere near the amount of material as they show. The ONLY reassembly issue turned out to be the very last rubber exhaust hanger - the rear-most one on the passenger side. I forgot to put it in place before raising the mufflers and so it was a little tight getting my hands in there to secure it onto the support arm. (Soapy water in a spray bottle was a huge help with the rubber parts.) Other than that, everything seemed to go about as expected. With the couple exceptions I noted here, the e-Trailer installation video is SPOT ON. (I'm having problems trying to upload pictures, so will have to figure that out and try again at a later time.)1122058
Comments
One year in and I am still VERY HAPPY with my e-Trailer hitch. I have only used it to carry my bike rack and bicycle, but it has proved flawless in that role. The bike rack stays SOLID behind the car, and the tilt mechanism makes it easy to get into the back area of my Subaru Outback. My ONLY complaint is that during the installation I was - IMHO - told to trim off more of the muffler heat shields than really seemed necessary. But thats about it. Other than that one small point, everything has been working out nicely one year later.
Jim - 08/13/2022
146419
by: Phil05/14/2019
2019 Subaru Outback Wagon
I decided to go with the etrailer branded class 3 hitch for my wife's 2019 Outback after getting etrailer's recommendation on which one would be best paired with my Thule T2 Pro XTB bike rack, which is a great rack, btw. Main reasoning was that the hitch sits back on the vehicle a little more and gives better clearance for the rack when folded up. This would apply to other kinds of hitch mounted accessories too. The hitch is not quite as hidden under the vehicle as some of the others but I was more concerned about using the bike rack as intended.
Installation was not too bad, with the biggest challenge for me being the tight spaces around the muffler to drill the necessary holes even with the exhaust lowered as described in the video. I even considered removing the muffler for better access but was able to get it done without that. Main concern was damaging the exhaust system in the front if it was lowered too much. Using lubricant on the rubber exhaust hangers worked great for removing and putting them back on at the end. The tip for using a step drill bit worked great to enlarge the access holes the appropriate amount, as well. I was able to do the installation by myself with the help of a small rolling dolly on which to sit the hitch on while I bolted up the first set of bolts. It held the hitch up enough to work on one side at a time without having to support the entire weight of the hitch by myself. Having a helper would be better for sure. The 6 out of 10 installation difficulty scale seems about right to me.
The hitch itself seems to be good quality, nice welds, matte finish looks great on the vehicle too. It also fits like a glove around spare tire well. No adjusting really necessary, just install the first set of bolts in the existing frame holes and you are lined up. You do have to drill the 2 more forward set of holes but using the hitch frame as the template (it's already mounted on the vehicle at this point) of where the holes go, it was a snap from there.
I'll attach a couple of pics with the bike rack installed to show how much clearance there is. I also tested with a bike on the rack and was able to open the rear hatch all the way with the bike rack in the lowered position (a feature of the Thule T2). Hopefully, this will help others that want to use accessories that require clearance for bumper and hatch. Great communication and follow up from the etrailer team too!641794
I like the hitch. Either I miss read the instructions or they weren't clear. I originally tried to dry fit it to far forward. My only real complaint is the instructions say to drill out the hole for the spacer to fit. It should be noted that the head of the bolts are bigger than the spacer. Please update instructions. I would also like to see 6 bolts instead of 4. I feel it would be stronger. Also I'd like a "fishing wire" for each bolt. I can see where someone could mess them up and not be able to reuse for the next bolt. Overall I think it is a good quality hitch and feel it will easily do me good way into the future. Install was fairly easy Only needed 3 sockets, a drill and 2 drill nits. I did cheat and totally removed muffler to have plenty if room. Shipping was quick and ordering was a breeze. I would buy again.1446596
by: Don04/28/2022
Such an easy install and Alex offered the best customer service I’ve had in a long time. Easy to follow instructions and the installation videos made this a great purchase.1291752
So I recently purchased mountain bikes and knew I needed a bike rack and hitch. When making more expensive purchases, I research the product, competitors, pricing, customer services and reviews. I finally decided on the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver. I had it professionally installed and it looks great! I appreciate the help and assistance Teresa J. provided in helping me make my decision. Thank you eTrailer! 820261
After one year, my hitch still looks and functions great! I love it so much, I ordered another etrailer Hitch for my other vehicle, a 2012 GMC Terrain and it works great on this and by 2015 Subaru Outback!
Dennis W - 06/24/2021
116090
by: Charles 09/19/2022
Subaru Outback Wagon
Superior product, excellent service, perfect fit to my Subaru Outback. Attached the hitch to my Subaru (great instructions, too) pulled a trailer 1600 miles (NC to NE) without a hitch (yup, I said it....). This is the second hitch I've purchased here, and if I needed a third, I'd be right back. Thanks for two great experiences, with only a couple of scraped nuckels. Charles Cooke.1414861
by: Mark 08/21/2022
I am very happy with this hitch reciever. I installed it myself and was really pleased with the instructions and quality of the product. Instalation was fairly easy and straight forward if you have a bit of mechanical ability. I have only used it for a bike carrier so far, but i purchased a wiring harness, wich i will install soon. And hope to use it for pulling a trailer soon. I have complete confidence that it will work well.1367973
by: Michael 08/05/2022
Good price and fast shipping on a quality product. Installation wasn’t too bad. Had to lower the exhaust then drill into the frame to fish the mounting bolts through. But the installation kit comes with instructions and tools to help with that. There are also plenty of good YouTube videos to check out. My wife and I have towed our motorcycle trailer to NC and back from FL without any complaints. An additional advantage to this hitch is you don’t have to mess with any of the sensors in the bumper during installation.1347431
by: Brian D.04/23/2022
2016 Subaru Outback Wagon
Wasn’t bad too install, just wish I had good drill bits.1289328
Curt harness sticky foam pad wasn’t sticky at all and seamed old. The hitch was high quality with a great video. The fish wire technique to install the bolts is friggin brilliant. Did whole job solo ( except for getting hitch on first 2 bolts) in about 3 hours.1210491
This hitch has worked great for our e-bike rack. Easy to install with minimal tools.1445043
by: Sean08/06/2022
A sturdy yet low profile hitch, fits exceptionally well with my Subaru. When I say sturdy: we were rear ended about 6 months ago, and the other car more or less impaled itself on our hitch, meaning we had some fender damage while the other car was a complete loss. It's also aesthetically pleasing, doesn't really stand out when not in use and it just... looks like it's supposed to be there. The installation is fairly straightforward with all the instructional videos out there. Happy customer.1348506
by: Emily 10/21/2022
Super easy installation with all of the necessary pieces and instructions! Took less than an hour to install at home. Has been very durable and sturdy.1453092
by: William07/22/2022
2018 Subaru Outback Wagon
There was no Hardware or installation instructions to install the Hitch Receiver. After several emails back and forth I got nowhere with cierra s. She obviously thinks im stupid as she asked me twice to check the Receiver tube as sometimes they put the hardware inside the tube. How stupid would someone have to be to miss that great hiding spot. So i just used my own hardware. Thanks etrailer for not believing me when i said i didn't get $x.xx worth of Hardware. You will never get another sale from me as your company sucks. Thanks for not trusting me.1335519
by: Ivan07/09/2021
The etrailer tow hitch is a great and slightly cheaper alternative. The directions were easy to follow. Just need the proper tools and a plus of you have a helper. That wire bolt feeder is genius!1088034
I'm a big fan of these hitches. This is the third one I have installed. All on Subaru Outback Limited models. The instructions were spot on and they are very easy to install. The picture does not come close to illustrating how stout they really are. You will not be disappointed...1405624
by: Donald 08/15/2022
2017 Subaru Outback Wagon
It is sturdy, solid and has done it's job well. It was very straight forward to install with no issues on my 2017 Subaru Outback.1358443
The tool list for the etrailer hitch part # e98847 includes a 17/32 inch drill bit, a rotary tool/carbide bit, and tin snips related to the hole enlargement and fascia trimming required. view full answer...
We have confirmed that the etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver # E98847 that you referenced does fit your 2014 Subaru Outback wagon. I attached an install video for this on a similar 2015 Outback which is the oldest vehicle model we have a video for this hitch on. view full answer...
The etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" # E98847 requires using a 17/32 inch drill bit to install and then we recommend using a rotary tool with a carbide bit to enlarge the hole for the spacers to 1.125 inches. I've attached a photo as well as the complete instructions to assist. The spacer is 1/4 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches.
I've attached a video of this installation to assist. view full answer...
The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" item # e98847 is a confirmed fit for all models of the 2018 Subaru Outback Wagon. It's not stated in the instructions but if you look at the diagram it has both exhaust hangers identified for the dual exhaust models. You will just have to repeat that step which will add installation time to the estimate on the instructions. view full answer...
I have attached an install video for you below of the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e98847 on a 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon. It can be streamed and viewed online but not downloaded. The install is pretty easy, just common hand tools required and you don't need a lift. view full answer...
Yes, the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e98847 which is a fit for a 2014 Subaru Outback Wagon does indeed fit models with dual exhaust. view full answer...
The best trailer hitch option for the 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon to a bike rack with a 2" shank is etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e98847 which provides better ground clearance than the other hitch options available. The extra ground clearance will come in handy during low ground clearance situations like turning into a steep driveway the bike rack won't drag the ground. It's also a very easy installation that does not require drilling I have attached an installation video for... view full answer...
Both the ettrailer.com # e98847 and Draw-Tite # 75673 Class III Trailer Hitches that you mentioned are great options for your 2016 Subaru Outback Wagon, however I do recommend the etrailer.com model for a couple of reasons.
These are both custom hitches that will mount to the same area on the Outback's frame rails but the etrailer.com # e98847 is going to stick out just a tad further towards the rear of the bumper than the Draw-Tite. This ends up providing a perfect combination of allowing... view full answer...
The etrailer hitch part # e98847 that you referenced is a confirmed fit for your 2016 Subaru Outback Wagon and would work well if the Kuat Transfer bike rack you have now. The other option you might consider is the Draw Tite # 76227 which has a concealed cross tube which allows it to be a little less visible and also better ground clearance.
We don't have installers we specifically recommend for hitch installs but if you go with a local mechanic to you that has a good reputation they... view full answer...
In my opinion a Class III hitch is a better option whenever possible. They have a higher weight capacity and there are far more accessories to fit the 2 inch receiver than the smaller 1-1/4 inch of the Class II. I definitely recommend a Class III hitch for your 2018 Subaru Forester.
Now, the best Class III hitch depends on what you're going to be using it for. Personally, I like the looks of the Draw-Tite # 76227 above the rest. The crosstube is hidden behind the rear bumper so all... view full answer...
As far as the Draw-Tite - 2" # 75673 and the etrailer Hitch - 2" # e98847, these two hitches are almost identical in every way when installed on your 2018 Subaru Outback. They both provide you with 600 pounds of maximum tongue weight capacity and 4,000 pounds of maximum gross towing weight capacity. Also, the installation difficulty and process is virtually the same.
Two things, however, stand out as an advantages for the etrailer hitch. First off, it is made in the U.S.A. while the Draw-Tite... view full answer...
We can certainly provide that for you!
You'll need to order our # RHK replacement hardware kit. Use the provided link to take you to the # RHK product page. In the provided field, type in the hitch part number. Then, use the drop down menu to select the hitch manufacturer. view full answer...
For replacement hardware for your # e98847 you need the Replacement Hardware Kit # RHK. You will need to enter e98847 in the "Hitch Item Number" field and then choose etrailer in the drop down menu under "Manufacturer." I went ahead and included an installation video on a 2015 Outback for your reference. view full answer...
We do have an etrailer hitch that fits your 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon with the part # e98847 but the part number you mentioned does not fit. view full answer...
Thanks so much for purchasing your hitch from us! I understand the confusion associated with towing weight capacity. There are many factors that contribute to the gross towing weight capacity of a vehicle. In many cases, it is not necessarily the size of a vehicle alone that determines the rating. This can be misleading. Manufacturers produce vehicles with varying structural integrities, and these factors have a large influence on a vehicle's towing capacity.
With that being said, through... view full answer...
The Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13206 and etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e98847 are both excellent options for a 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon. These two options install in the exact same way. The difference between them is in regards to the finish. The Curt hitch has a glossy finish and the etrailer hitch has a matte finish. The matte finish will blend in with the vehicle more and work better to hide scratches so this is what I recommend. view full answer...
To choose the correct rise/drop for a ball mount you'll first want to park both your 2015 Subaru Outback Wagon and your single jetski trailer on level ground and then take some measurements. For your Outback Wagon you want to measure from the ground to the top inside of the hitch receiver, and then for your trailer you want to measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler.
If your hitch is higher then you need a drop but if your trailer is higher you need a rise. Simply subtract... view full answer...
The best trailer hitch for the 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon is etrailer.com hitch part # e98847. The etrailer.com hitch has the highest towing capacity available for the Subaru Outback Wagon at 4,000 lbs gross towing weight. It features about an inch more of ground clearance compared to the other options. The extra inch of ground clearance is helpful when you're carrying a bike rack or cargo carrier in low ground clearance driving situations like backing down a hill. I have attached an installation... view full answer...
I recommend the etrailer.com hitch part # e98847 for the 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon which provides an inch more ground clearance than the other hitch options for the Outback Wagon. The extra clearance is helpful when carrying a bike rack when driving in low ground clearance situations such as backing down a hill. I have attached an installation video for your reference.
For an easy to load bike rack, I recommend a platform rack because you won't need to lift the bikes to put them on the... view full answer...
The recommended hitch really depends on which model T2 you have. For the TH9044 Thule T2 for 2" hitches you will need a 2" hitch receiver. In that case I recommend the etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver # e98847. I like this hitch because the low profile design and matte black finish blends in the receiver tube so that it looks like it was always a part of the Subuaru Outback from the rear of the vehicle. Included is an installed example for reference.
If you have the Thule T2 Classic... view full answer...
A couple things to consider are that you want a hitch with the best ground clearance plus a bike rack with rise in the shank to reduce your odds of making contact with your driveway backing out.
For a hitch, the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver # e98847 is the one I recommend. As far as ground clearance goes we found that to be 16" from the ground to the top inside of the receiver so you're really looking at about 13-3/4" above the ground when we take into account the 2" receiver and... view full answer...
The etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" # E98847 will not increase the towing or tongue weight capacities of your vehicle but it can limit it. Trailer hitches are not rated for weight capacities on each vehicle but rather on the hitch itself as many hitches will fit different models and different years.
For your 2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R the manufacturer lists your towing capacity at 3,000 lbs with a tongue weight capacity of 200 lbs.... view full answer...
I think the Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches # S64670 would be a great option for you. This only weighs 29.7lbs which is very light for a platform rack. It only has a 3" shank rise which means the rack will only sit about 3" above your trailer hitch receiver; some racks have shank rise of 5"-10" so 3" is not a lot of rise.
A really nice feature is that the center arm can fold down to allow for easy loading, whereas some bike racks require you to lift the bike... view full answer...
For your 2019 Subaru Outback I recommend the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" # e98847. It has a 4000lbs GTW and 600lbs TW which will allow you to easily haul your E-Bikes. It is a custom fit which will lessen the time it takes to install.
For the bike rack I recommend the RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount # RKY10004. This platform-style rack has ratcheting hooks and large wheel cradles to carry a variety... view full answer...
Notes: May have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic blemishes.
Our Price: $167.95
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