Best 2003 Honda Pilot Front Receiver Hitches

I plan on using this to assist me in backing my travel trailer into a small side yard next to my house and my neighbor's fence. Backing it into this small area has been extremely nerve wracking as my home air conditioner unit is close to the house and trailer. Now I will have the luxury of making sure nothing is damaged. and better yet the front hitch will be hidden under the car and out of the way.

This my third front hitch and they work great for my purpose. I am a pilot car for oversized loads this works great for front sign and as a carrier for the high pole each one has fitted properly and work great Thanks Ronnie

I had the same issue most have with this item. The frame mount was too narrow, and mounting holes didn't line up. I had to use the Jack method to spread the mounting rails to fit. After that it's awesome. I love this front hitch receiver on my truck, its very versatile.

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I got this Class II front hitch for my 2016 Nissan Frontier to help me back a small trailer into a tight space. It arrived in good condition with complete instructions and good quality hardware. When I tried to bolt the hitch on, I found the 1/4" plate brackets were 3/8" too narrow to match up with the holes in the Frontier's frame. Michelle at ETrailer gave me some good advice on how to spread the brackets with a hydraulic jack and bingo, the hitch fits and looks great! BTW, the ground clearance is still around 9 1/2".

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I am not sure that installing this hitch could have been easier. I did it on the ground on my driveway, sloped, by removing my tow hooks and supporting the receiver on some blocks and bolting it in place directly into the frame. The hardware fit perfectly in alignment and thread size etc. We've mostly used it to carry bicycles when towing, though once placed a trailer with it also. Strong, fully functional and as noted easy to install.

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Haven’t had a chance to use the front hitch on our Nissan Frontier year but the installation was quick and easy. I was all set to knock the installation out in 20 minutes until one of the split lock washers failed and had to be replaced out of my spare stock. Also an additional note: the hitch showed up heavily scratched despite the packaging having been in good condition. Maybe some more careful handling at the warehouse is in order.

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The hitch arrived within six days of my order despite not requesting quicker shipping - a delightful surprise. Installation was quick and easy; just four 12mm bolts. It helps to either have an assistant or a jack handy to place the hitch while installing the bolts / tow hooks. Overall, though, be ready for a little more work. A hole needs to be cut into the skid plate in order to allow oil filter changes without removing the hitch each time. I've read that the bolts that hold the hitch to the frame shouldn't be removed and re-torqued frequently. You could, I guess leave the skid plate off, but I wouldn't risk it. Be sure you have a means to cut the skid plate. They recommend a round hole and I assume use a 4-inch hole saw. I used a pneumatic reciprocating saw with 3/8-inch driller corner pilot holes to make a 4-1/2 inch by 4-1/2 inch hole directly under the filter. Be sure to file down the sharp edges of the new hole too. The service guys' knuckles will appreciate that. The hitch itself is a quality part, arrived in pristine shape and looks great on the truck. You will need a hitch extension since it is recessed behind the front of the truck a bit.

Shipping was fast and packaged good with no scratches. I modified my 2010 Tundra skid pan for oil filter changes before mounting. Replaced all 4 OEM tow ring bolts using anti-seize with new longer M12-1.25 X 40MM class 10.9 zinc finished hex cap screws along with new M12 X 24MM OD HARD WASHERS and torqued all 4 to 79 ft/lbs. Mounted new Thule EasyFold XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack and it fits in front without using the hitch extension. All went together as planned and can now take E-Bikes with us while pulling our camper. We are happy campers!

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I bought this after years of struggling to get a race trailer in the backyard. When I decided to move it about 12 feet to the right, I knew there was no way my F350 4X4 crew-cab could make the tight turns that would be required. After being able to position it on the first try, I realized I should have bought it 20 years ago. The installation took two tries. Not sure if it because I’m 66 or trying to do it by myself. The key for me was to hook a couple of straps to it, unbolt it, and then put the bumper on the engine compartment. The first attempt was by trying to do everything from the backside. Once I removed the bumper completely, I was able to do everything from the from, so I was not completely blind in installing the two side bolts. The straps not only made it easier to reinstall it, they were useful in pulling up on side to level it. I will be buying my son one for his 2016 F150 4X4

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Package shipped and arrived quickly. Install was relatively easy, but took longer as the bolts were actually larger (7/8") - and I did not have a shallow socket for it that was also 1/2" drive for my torque wrench. I also needed remove the grill cover to have enough throw to tighten back on the bumper after the hitch was bolted on (which blocked access from the bottom). I would recommend getting some 9/16" shank carriage bolts to help align and secure the front flange while tightening the sides to the frame. I used a floor jack on level pavement to raise the hitch into position. Overall - it looks great and functions well. Very stout and strongly built with superb welds and finish. This will make getting smaller trailers into tight spaces MUCH more easier and less of a headache/embarrassment. Plus it's also another point for recovery as an option for 4x4 or overlanding, and I also added a step to the front of it which makes accessing the back of the engine bay easier.

Just what I was looking for. Thank you.

I ordered these two, front and rear for a 1990 GEO Tracker 4 wheel drive that I am rebuilding. I believed they would fit, I finally got around to mounting them and they don't fit, to large. I think I have had them to long to return them.

The hitch came packaged in a double box. The outer box had some damage but the hitch did not. I read the instructions, making sure i had the correct tools, and jacked my truck up. The install took three hours as i was layiing on my back with simple hand tools. The parts all fit and i am happy with the outcome. Good price, simple instructions, good fit.

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Excellent product. Always pleased with Curt products. Quality built with easy to install video provided by etrailer. Shout out to Alex at etrailer for getting me the exact fit for my 2007 Chevy Silverado. Good job etrailer. Received with 4 days of order placement

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Great products, great prices, fast shipping and a great company to do business with. Easy install, and it took longer to trim the air dam than installing the hitch.

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Terrible, they sent the wrong hitch and now want me to pay shipping for the return

Install went perfectly. It all bolted up just how the instructions said it would. The hardest part was navigating your tools in the tight spaces. Having the deep sockets as suggested is definitely worth it. I was also able to utilize a cordless impact wrench and it helped a ton. This will work great for our bike rack.

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Great front receiver hitch for my Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. Everything fit using OE bolts and nuts. Only the plastic trim had to be cut out to fit receiver. I had dealer do it, but would have done it myself when I was younger. etrailer is easy to order from and has good customer service.

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Love my Ridgeline. But the only hard point in the front is buried deep under the engine. This provides three rescue points and a way to mount a winch or whatever with a 2” hitch mount. Here is the good and bad. Etrailer.com was perfect. Fast shipping, good communication.five stars. The quality and value of the hitch is top notch. Holes lined up perfectly. All hardware was provided and high quality. Now the less than ideal. The hardest part of the installation was getting the rivnuts set. They wanted to spin in the holes. I had to rig a little tool out of a long eyebolt, screw it into the rivnut and run a nut up against the mount with a fair amount of muscle to expand the anchor. The other quip I have is that the hitch is very low. If I I mount a bike rack or something I’ll have to add a riser. The hitch comes out under the bumper and Honda didn’t go for maximum clearance. Ideally a hitch would come out though the bumper at a more appropriate height. But that would require a great deal of modification to the truck. I can’t fault the seller or the hitch manufacturer for these issues. Rivnuts are just work to set without the specialized tool and Honda gave us a pretty low front end. Moreover I am happy with the upgrade and feel better having a way to mount loads up front or attach a rescue strap.

2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E. Installed it myself but a helper would have made it easier. Instruction say to remove and discard the lower engine shroud before mounting. I chose to do surgery on the shroud to fit the attachment points and put it back in. This made the install harder (less finger room) but the result in very nice. I measured clearance before and after at the lowest part of the engine. Putting this on reduced overall clearance 1 inch. It changed angle of attack significantly. Here's what you should think about...Is this a vehicle for serious 4 wheeling in? Then don't do this. And buy a different truck with greater ground clearance. If, like me, you pull a small trailer on paved and gravel roads, and you want to put bikes on the front, this will work great. See pictures attached.

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Road tested 4000 miles & off-road, Solid, Great ! I always wanted a front hitch, it is rad ! We had a great experience across the board. Ordered the front hitch mount and had a mechanic (Weld Tech/San Diego) install it, because they already had our van to install their lift kit. They charged me one hour labor. I can see that it fits well and is solid. We went on a 4000 mile adventure with a small motorcycle on the front hitch. etrailer has been a good source for for a few things now.

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I own a 2003 Ford E-450 RV cutaway and wanted a front hitch to carry our bicycles since our rear hitch is used for a trailer. I originally tried to mount the equivalent Curt front hitch, because of its cheaper cost, onto the vehicle. However, the Curt hitch wouldn't work because it can't adequately accommodate the slight downward hump in the truck's frame. This hump can barely be seen between the two hitch mounting bolts. The hump is on both the left and right side frame rails on my vehicle. If your frame is not totally flat (has even a small hump) you cannot use the Curt hitch. The Curt's small indentation on its mounting flange will not adequately accommodate the frame's hump. This Draw-Tite hitch, 65001, mounted perfectly on my vehicle and the installation procedures I used were exactly as depicted in the etrailer video for the E350 van. In the video, the technician uses a rotary file to expand the rearward holes to allow the insertion of the bolts. I had to do the same thing and bought a rotary file for my drill at my local home improvement store for less than $3. I did not have to use the rotary file on the forward holes. In addition, I have the larger Roadmaster front sway bar and steering stabilizer and as you can tell in the photo, there is plenty of room for the hitch.

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I bought this receiver to add front mounted 'accessories' on my 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. I plan on using this to add an extra bicycle rack, a cargo basket, a receiver mounted winch or other 'accessories' needed for my Jeep when I take my family camping. It will also be useful for "front launching" a boat or parking a trailer in tight spots. It took me about an hour to install, although I had already previously removed the lower wind deflector cowling, so did not have to spend time removing it or cutting it for a finished look. Detaching and moving the top trim panel between the grill and the bumper is a must to facilitate the installation. The receiver fits pretty close, although you do have to manipulate it to get the holes to line up with the frame. Follow the instructions and do not tighten any of the bolts until you get it lined up and all the bolts in loosely, then torque it down. As noted in the instruction sheet, the driver's side of the receiver does not sit flush against the frame, there is about a 1/4" to 5/8" gap. The instructions say to use the extra split washers (in the kit) as filler, but they would just rattle around loose in there and provide any benefit, so I omitted them. Once tightened down, the receiver tube was not parallel to the ground, it is slightly higher in the front, sloping towards the rear. It is not off enough to affect my intended use, but may be bothersome to those with type 'A' attention to detail. Overall a good product that will add a lot of flexibility to my Jeep~

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Relatively easy install. Just have to be mechanically inclined. We use the hitch to carry a fish rack/cooler on a 2011 Jeep Wrangler. So far so good.

I chose Draw-tite because they are built very well and this one is no different. The welds are done well and I have no fear that this product will serve me well. The install wasnt to bad for a DIY type like me and the fit was excellent, only took a few hours. Knowing that I can now be pulled out of a bad situation or pull someone else out is comforting with the help of a hitch mounted winch. The Price was right and etrailer shipped it out fast although packing could use a smaller box . Oh yeah, UPS sure tested the toughness of this receiver ! . Great product and great service from etrailer

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im very satisfied with my front receiver. ive used it as a recovery point,to move trailers, and as a mount for bike rack and cargo holder. if i had a winch platethat would be very handy too. etrailerhad a fair price, quick shipping, and overall great customer service. i would use them again andrecommend to a friend as well.

Fits perfect and works just as I needed it to. I use it for my SnowSport plow set-up on a 2022 Gladiator Sport Max Tow. I’ve been using front receivers for this same plow for the last 24 years. It’s been used on 5 different trucks and this front receiver mount plow is the BEST. *** When installing on a Gladiator(possibly the Wrangler as well), the front plastic trim below the bumper needs to be cut for receiver clearance. I wanted a tight and “factory looking” install, so I took my time with a vibrating cutter and very sharp utility knife. After trying to put it back in place, the hole is not just square, it’s shaped more like. “T”. I suggest you make small adjustments/cuts as you go forward. It may take several times fitting and cutting to get it right and tight, but in the end it does look like it came that way from JEEP. On the Max Tow package, there is also a metal skid plate that does not get reinstalled. Unfortunately that piece is where the back of the plastic fascia mounts. I ended up securing it with some long heavy-duty zip-ties and it’s worked well for a year now. Just an FYI for those installing the same receiver on their same vehicle.

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Product shipped and received on time. I'm very happy with the packaging. Hardware was included with instructions to install the hitches I purchased.

Bolted right up to my 2019 F-250. Looks like it's going to work perfect to haul my E-bike rack. I might have to use a dual receiver hitch to drop the rack down for better visibility while driving. That's to be determined. I'd highly recommend the Eco Hitch!!

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I'm 59 years old and a third generation grading contractor. I've worked on trucks and heavy equipment my whole life. I've turned ALOT of wrenches. That being said, the instructions for installation of this hitch are the worst I've ever seen. Lots of steps left out of the bumper removal. The instructions for cutting the plastic where the hitch goes were not even close! Multiple attempts and additional trimming to make it fit. Also the hitch was an extremely tight fit between the rails. Once installed I like it and it seems to be good quality. The one star is for the almost useless instructions.

Easy installation, nice sturdy hitch that fits on the front of our C- Class RV to haul our electric bikes. Highly recommend it.

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I ordered this literally less than 24 hours ago and it arrived to my doorstep!!! I think etrailer needs to call Amazon and tell them how it is done. Like honestly, I am not even prepared to put it on yet as I was expecting a week for delivery! Holy cow, do you all sell groceries as well?

Very easy to install. works great for bike rack and generator box.

After struggling with the answering menu, Steve Z. was instrumental in locating a hitch to fit my van which was not specifically identified in any data search. Weird year, 2005, of popular Chevy Express van, my luck! Using manufacturers dimensions I purchased #31016 on 12/21 and it arrived on 12/24. It's a very well built, USA built, unit. It arrived rapidly, but was missing half of the mounting hardware. The remainder of the hardware was rolling around in the box. Zip lock baggie ripped apart spilling them. I used a hydraulic jack to elevate hitch into place, and an additional jack to push the drill up to drill the 6 mounting holes necessary. No factory hole alignment. All the nuts for the bolts were lost in transit, but by a Christmas day miracle, I found 2 metric nuts to fit supplied bolts that survived the delivery. I will acquire, and install remaining missing 4 tomorrow. The installation went smooth and easy using this technique. It took around 3 hours with much of the time searching for hardware.' Thanks Steve Z. and etrailer. .

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Great customer service and product.

The quality and fit is exceptional. So much so that this is the third hitch assembly I've purchased and installed. This one was for my brother in-laws 1999 F350. I also put a 10k winch on a slider that works perfectly with this assembly. Other vehicles I purchased and installed assemblies on are a 2011 F350 and a 2016 Class C motorhome. Very happy.

This was one of the easiest accessories I’ve installed on my Tundra. It is a front receiver hitch so I don’t use it very often. Mostly just for bike racks when towing a trailer, but when you need it you need it.

Straight forward and perfect fit on my 2008 Toyota Tundra!!

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Fit nice. I haven't used it to move a trailer yet. I didn't have tow hooks and the factory ones are high so I paid the extra to get the hitch instead.

Perfect hitch for those needing a rack for extra space. I used a heavy duty vinyl bag to enclose my tools, cords and generator on my 12k mile trip to alaska. The held that 500lbs extremely well across the permafrost damaged Alaskan highway! No twists, no bends and no worries!

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