EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2"
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2017 Chevrolet Colorado
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2017 Chevrolet Colorado
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Want your Prius to maintain its sleek factory appearance while upping its versatility? The EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver is designed with an inconspicuous hidden cross tube that sits behind your rear bumper. This smart integration leaves only the receiver visible, ensuring your vehicle retains its stylish look without compromising on the utility.
If you're environmentally conscious, this hitch has you covered. It's crafted from a strong lightweight alloy made of aerospace-grade aluminum, steel, and stainless steel, all of which are recycled materials. This innovative construction method reduces the carbon footprint of traditional hitch manufacturing, allowing you to tow responsibly and maintain durability on the road.
Say goodbye to rust worries. The EcoHitch comes with a resilient black powder coat finish, providing superior rust protection for long-lasting use. Whether you’re cruising through rainy weather or parked in salty winter conditions, this durable finish means your hitch stays in top condition.
Rely on a hitch that's designed and tested for strength and safety. The EcoHitch adheres to the rigid SAE J684 towing safety standards, using Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA) to identify stress points and optimize the hitch’s performance. Despite the lightweight design, it's engineered to withstand a 2,000 lbs gross trailer weight and a 300 lbs tongue weight, ensuring a secure journey every time.
Worried about complicated installations? This custom-fit trailer hitch boasts a straightforward, bolt-on design, so you won't need any welding skills. You will need to drill one 1/2" hole into the heat shield, but beyond that, it’s fastened using pre-drilled holes in your vehicle’s frame, promising an install that's as simple as it gets for keen DIYers.
Looking for a hitch that can handle your e-bikes or larger cargo needs? The EcoHitch’s 2-inch receiver is rare for a Prius and offers substantial versatility. With a weight capacity that suits heavier bike racks, like the Hollywood racks e-bike carrier, you'll enjoy confidence in towing additional gear, whether it’s hitting the bike trails or loading up for a weekend adventure.
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I installed this on 2011 Prius to hold a storage carrier. I have moderate mechanical skills but this was way beyond me. I enlisted a very mechanically experienced friend who also had some specialized tools that made it much easier, like a little rotary blade saw to cut precisely through the plastic shielding on the bottom. The instructions were clear. The way this product figured out how to attach a bolt to the threaded holes in the frame with a hollow bolt and steel cable to pull the nut and washer from on top is ingenious but difficult. it took us about 4 hours. I used it for a 2 week vacation, driving about 2000 miles. It was great. I had about 100-120 pounds of gear in the carrier which folds up to be more convenient when empty. I checked all the bolts after the trip and everything was tight. I would say this is a great solution to storage for a small car like the Prius but is quite challenging to install. That is only reason I gave it a 4 not a 5. Photo shows the car with rear carrier filled with gear.
Bombproof hitch.
Installation was quite a challenge even though I've installed a 1.25" receiver on a different Prius before. A few tips, in no particular order:
1. The directions get driver's side and passenger side mixed up at one point. It's pretty easy to decipher though.
2. If you've never used a bolt fisher before, maybe watch a bit of YouTube on it before you start, and maybe practice fisher removal on a thin scrap of plywood before you commit.
3. Get a bunch of plastic clips in advance because you're likely to break some or all of the ones you remove.
4. You'll need to lift the car a bit, e.g. by backing it up on to a double stack of 2x6 scraps or with jack stands.
5. If you don't have a strong assistant, you'll need a jack to lift it. Because the center of gravity is behind the receiver, you'll also need to slide a strong metal or wood bar/pipe/rod through the receiver hole and a few inches back so you have something to balance on your jack.
6. Safety glasses for all the dirt that will rain down.
7. An extra car or way to get to the hardware store for the tool you're missing.
2012 Toyota Prius V
Easy to install, and minimal vehicle modification. Instructions were clear. Have used this site many times and am always happy with the products. Kind of a bum deal that the hitch had a deep scratch, not like it super matters though.
I was confused when I read all the reviews for this hitch and saw so many 5-star reviews that read like 3 stars because of the difficulty of installation. Then I received the hitch and installed it over the course of 5 hours and two trips to the auto parts store (mostly for things like a ratchet extender to loosen/tighten hard to reach bolts).
Those 5-stars are explained by the endorphin rush you get when you finish installation and see how good the hitch looks on your Prius. Plus, you can tell during installation that the installation is secure and the installation will do its job.
Because of that endorphin rush, I waited until I had used the hitch before leaving this review. I took my family and Prius on a 3 week road trip, tent camping in state parks across South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. We were loaded down with both a rooftop box and a full-size hitch cargo carrier. The back of the Prius sat so much lower than the front that I had trouble seeing very far out of the rearview mirror, and honestly that probably wasn't great for the suspension. We tended to bottom out when pulling out of gas stations with steep v-drains and driving over large speed bumps. But the hitch did its job, no problem.
5 stars.
Heed the installation advice in the reviews (especially about getting help). Angled hitch cargo carriers are a good idea, if you go that route. Use an anti-rattle hitch clamp.
A very good hitch overall but the directions for installation could be improved with some more notes on what to look out for. Install went a lot easier removing the rear bumper cover rather than working around.
Overall a great addition to the Prius for towing bikes around.
Install kit did have all needed hardware and the guide wires were very helpful for attaching internal components.
(2013 Prius Three, self-installed)
The HITCH itself is incredible, and great quality. It's a strong performer. If you have a Prius and are doing a self-install, for the love of god just get a Class 1 hitch that's smaller and doesn't have the added bolt holes and wings to attach to the frame. Installation was a bitch, and I found myself regretting my sturdier choice for the Class 2 hitch while I was trying to install.
Now, mind you, I used ramps at home in my garage, and did it mostly on my own, not a lift nor a team of people installing.
It's heavy -- which means strong for the tow -- so trying to finagle it while tearing apart the underbelly of the Prius was just annoying as hell. Having to cut apart the rainshield/splash shield to even access the places that it needed to go in at the weird angles while holding this heavy chunk of metal up is trying on the patience and determination. I even wound up finagling THREE different jack stands to support parts of it while I attempted to maneuver the thing in, while fighting off the car's rain shield and such.
Not to mention, it takes up so much space, being so beefy and strong, that it more or less disfigures the entire bumper and presses the side fender or bumper out in weird ways unless you have 10 times more patience to deal with the added body work to address it being SUCH a *TIGHT* fit, that you have to fight against the whole while.
Again, the product *itself* is phenomenal and deserves great reviews. Just don't try to self-install at home on ramps if you've got a Prius, or you'll wind up wishing you had just bought a simpler, lighter, easier to install Class 1 hitch instead. And hopefully the smaller size of the Class 1 won't disfigure your back end.
Hitch is excellent quality, fit my 2010 Prius almost perfectly and installation was technically very easy. I'd recommend heeding the advice to mark where you're trimming the fairing before removal as it doesn't appear to be dead center once removed. Besides a few of the 10 year old brittle bumper clips breaking, installation was as easy as the two other hitches I've installed. It fits almost snug against the bottom of the bumper, my rack hasn't bottomed out on anything yet amazingly, ends up being fairly close to the rear axle.
David
2/11/2021
Flawlessly. Ive left my rack installed the past year with zero issues. Totally worth the extra cost for the 2 rather than fooling around with adapters, completely solid.
I could not be happier. This hitch is solid and very high quality. Etrailer has been super and a joy to do business with.
Had a bit of a hiccup with the physical box being damaged from shipping, but the guys at etrailer were prompt in getting things right. The communication is beyond impressive. Installed by myself with the help of a jack. Some trimming is involved of the black plastic cover underneath around the receiver itself. Snug as a bug and got me and mine 2,044 miles to our new home without a single problem! Thanks etrailer!!!
Yeah, this hitch didn't even come close to fitting my 2013 Prius. I could get the bolts started on one side, just enough to hold the hitch up and give me a little wiggle room to get the bolts on the other side started. But as you can see in the pics, the holes don't come close to lining up. Wasted an entire day tiring to get this thing to fit.
David B.
9/13/2022
That is a flexed hit my guy. You can torque it back!
This hit hitch turned my Prius into a much more functional vehicle. It was fairly easy to install and very good quality. I love it!
Lisa
5/3/2025
Awesome! I use the receiver hitch for my bkike rack!
The install process is involved but very doable. The hitch fits very neatly up under the bumper -- good clearance.
The hitch works really well but it is much more difficult to install than the instructions make it seem. There is a need for cutting pieces out and for plastic welding and stuff, not just removing parts and attaching new parts.
I was able to get it installed, but it was a much bigger pain than expected.
It works, but it's definitely not easy to install.
Amazing. I use it to put my 450 dirt bike on the back of my Prius. I know what you are thinking but its totally ok...My Prius identifies as a truck so no worries. It is built tough and has held up great for well over 1K miles with the dirt bike on back. I think this is still the only hitch that has a 2" receiver that will fit on a Prius. Its by far the best/strongest one.
Solid unit, no issues with fit-up to existing Prius frame rail holes. Even the location for the added heat shield hole was spot on, only thing I would add is to locate hole in line with existing holes, (for clarity). On a side note the instructions have the muffler and hold down on the opposite sides. (Prius muffler for 2012 is on the right) Had more issues with the plastic splash pans than I care to elaborate on - Toyota junk. Also, the hitch tucks into the bumper, I did not see any indication in the instructions. Replaced my Curt 1 1/4" hitch and it appears this one, even though a 2", sits higher off the ground. A solid purchase!
The hitch was fairly easy to install if you are somewhat capable at working on things. I highly recommend Having the two inch receiver so you can use common accessories on the back of your Prius. I have pulled a a tent trailer for a couple thousand miles with out an issue.
We bought the eco hitch hidden trailer hitch one year ago to use with our bike rack. It is solid and works perfectly.
Very helpful conversation to select the right trailer hitch receiver. Directions and install video were excellent. No issues installing it and we completed install in about 2 hours total. Good solid construction. Happy with the whole experience.
Hitch is well made. Instruction could be better. Black and white photos make it hard to determine areas that need trimming.Hitch is a tight fit, takes two people to install. Other than that it will work perfect for my MTB trips.
Fits well, works fine. Much more convenient that the 1 1/4” receivers available for the Prius. Install was straightforward.
Clever, those long, stiff-wire bolt guides... really helped align the hitch holes with the factory holes. Looks smooth and clean when installed, with no bracing framework showing.
Tip: Buy yourself a fresh box of those pop-in plastic pins at a paint and trim auto store... hard to salvage the originals.
My 2010 Prius is load-rated at 927 lbs. Counting down, that's 200 lbs of me,10 gallons of gas for 60 lbs, hitch and insert at 43, snowmobile trailer & spare at 418 for 721 lbs, leaving me just 206 lbs spare capacity for my 150-lb aluminum brake. With tools and materials adding another 200 lbs, I'm over the manufacturer's recommended limit, yet it seems not to labor. Some have commented of towing 1500+ with this hitch.
Glad I went with the full 2" receiver... nice product.
I do 100-mile runs to MPLS to work on son's house and still get better than 51 mpg.
Ray K.
3/30/2024
Im glad I followed the advice of other purchasers and bought the 2 rather than the 1-14... well worth the extra $$$.
The final installation is incredibly clean and professional. The only real modification to the car is cutting the plastic splash guard after removing it. Like others mentioned, I would recommend installing the hitch and cutting the splash guard to fit after completing the installation.
The only negative I would say was that the photos for where to cut the splash guard in the instructions weren't very clear, so I wound up doing a few test fits to get it to fit with the minimum amount cut. Also, the instructions said "passenger side" when referring to the driver side of the vehicle. I would say to just pay attention to if it's referring to the side with the exhaust or not. Aside from those minor things, the instructions were great, all hardware was provided and there was very little "searching for tools".
I would recommend a second set of hands to actually place the hitch into the vehicle, because it requires both lifting it and pulling the bumper out slightly to get it to fit. Everything else I was able to complete by myself.
Matt
4/23/2023
I have had no issues with this over the last year. Once installed, it looks and acts like a professional install from Toyota. I honestly forget that its an aftermarket option and that not all cars have this option for a receiver. Definitely would buy this again and will definitely buy another receiver with whatever new vehicle I wind up with after this one.
Solid, well-built, no complaints!
Great hitch for my Gen3 Prius! Installation is a little tricky compared to others I've done due to the "fishing line" nuts, but watch the vid and follow directions carefully and you should be fine. The hitch looks great and doesn't lower the car much as only the hitch itself sticks out below the bumper.
Gregory
1/19/2023
1 yr later the hitch is still working great! Use it as a cargo and bike mount regularly.
It was a great kit, easy to install, IT FIT! Seems strong and a good design. We have hauled our e-bikes all over, on rough roads and had no problems at all.
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Brooke M.
3/31/2025
Love this review, Eric! This info here is super valuable for anyone else getting ready to do this install, too.