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This completely hidden hitch keeps your vehicle looking like it just came off the assembly line. Remove the receiver for a fully concealed look when you're not carrying your bikes to the trail. Only for use with hitch-mounted racks and carriers.
Features:
Specs:
Note: This rack receiver is for hitch-mounted accessories only. The receiver tube included with this hitch cannot be used for towing.
If you would like to upgrade this rack receiver for towing, you will need to purchase the Stealth Hitches towing kit (391CONVA7 - sold separately). The ball mount included in this kit inserts into the center block of the hitch in place of the receiver attachment. A 2" hitch ball is included with the ball mount, making it ready to tow with out of the box.
If you want to take your bikes to the trail with your family this summer, you have plenty of options. You can carry your bikes on top of your car with a roof rack, but that bulky rack can increase drag on your ride. You can use a trunk rack, but that's a pain to mount and it can scratch your car's paint. Or you can install a hitch on your ride and use a hitch-mounted bike rack to carry your bikes.
This rack receiver is designed to act as a mounting point for your hitch bike rack or cargo carrier. Just slide the shank of your carrier into the receiver for use, and when you're done you can not only remove the carrier, but the receiver as well, leaving your vehicle looking clean and unmodified.
Nothing can ruin the clean, stylish look of your vehicle like a giant piece of metal bolted beneath its bumper. Luckily, with the Stealth Hitches rack receiver, you never have to worry about messing up your vehicle's lines.
This hitch installs behind your bumper, keeping the cross tube concealed and leaving only the hitch receiver visible. Even better, the receiver can be easily removed from the cross tube when it's not in use so that you won't see any trace of the hitch. This means that you can retain that clean, from-the-factory look for your ride, while still being able to carry your bikes and gear on the next family road trip.
The receiver can be attached or detached in seconds with no tools required. To insert the receiver, simply pop the base up into the stainless steel block at the center of the hitch until it automatically latches in place.
Be sure to then press the lock on the side of the block to fully secure the receiver. When you're finished carrying your bikes or cargo, use the included key to unlock the latch. Then turn the handle on the block clockwise and remove the receiver. You can stow the receiver in a safe place, like your vehicle's rear cargo area, or you can use a convenient carrying case (391CASER - sold separately).
And when you're not using the receiver attachment, the included hitch plug covers the center block's opening to protect the hitch's body from dirt and debris.
At etrailer.com 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.
Alternate Instructions
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (20 Customer Reviews)
This completely hidden hitch keeps your vehicle looking like it just came off the assembly line. Remove the receiver for a fully concealed look when you're not carrying your bikes to the trail. Only for use with hitch-mounted racks and carriers.This hitch is AWESOME. It's super heavy duty, and very well made. I purchased this for my wife's 2015 BMW 4 series convertible, so we can roll with the top down when we take the bikes out for a ride... absurd, I know - but it's so much fun. Install was pretty straightforward - followed the instructions, watched the youtube install video, and set aside 4 hours on a nice Saturday morning for the job. It took maybe 3 hours in total, start to finish. I put the car up on ramps (which made access much easier), but in retrospect I should've put the rear end on jackstands and pulled the rear wheels off - would've save probably 15 or 20 minutes fiddling with the wheelwell splashguard bolts. Top tip - if you don't have a really small ratchet for these bolts, and leave the wheels on, you'll wish you did. The hitch mounting process is really straightforward, but be aware you do need to have a handful of tools and sockets that the avg. homeowner probably wouldn't have... 18mm deep socket, 15/16" deep socket, 15/16" wrench, and tin snips. Helps quite a bit to have an impact driver, but if you don't, make sure to have some 1/4 to 1/2 adapters and a bar for leverage on your ratchet. In general, this is a very do-able, reasonably easy job if you're handy, and just take your time. Follow the instructions on trimming the heat shield, and you'll end up with only a single bolt that won't get reinstalled. I had to reshape my heat shield in a few places - see pics - (another top tip - don't take it off the car... you can cut and reshape while it's in place, and use the hitch bracket to mark where the heat shield needs to be "massaged" in order to make it fit). Definitely follow the instructions for where to cut for access to the receiver - perfect amount of room to install and remove it without worrying about accidentally touching a hot exhaust. Once installed, you really can't tell the hitch is there, it's awesome!
We paired this with the Yakima 4 bike tilting mount (takes a 1-1/4" and 2" receiver), and I'm so glad we went with the 2" hideaway hitch. I can see how the 1-1/4" hitch could wiggle a bit, but the 2" has an adjustable shim that keeps things nice and tight. We loaded up three bikes on it this am, and took it out for a mix of highway and backroads driving and it handled it all very well. On the twisty backroads, I really gave it the beans and it still felt really solid with very little sway. Bikes stayed put the entire time.
Very happy with the purchase - they're definitely both VERY well made and high quality items. I expect they'll last the duration of my ownership of the convertible at least, and we're planning to put 2,000 + miles on this setup later in the summer - will report back with a long term review after we do.
... oh, and if you're wondering (like I was), if you can raise and lower the top with a bike rack in the hitch, and bikes on the rack, the answer is yes... you can =)
Installed this Stealth Hitch on our 2017 BMW 330i. Liked the idea of a hidden hitch for that car since when the bike rack is off the car the hitch is not visible.
A little (LOT) disappointed that it requires that you "discard the reinforcement beam" since the BMW reinforcement beam goes nearly the full width of the car and extends out a foot longer on each side than the hitch bar. Now the bumper has NO reinforcement on the sides beyond the Stealth Hitch, so if any low speed impact at the corner there is only the plastic bumper cover there for protection and could allow damage to the lights and rear quarter panel, in addition to the bumper cover. There is no reinforcement at and to the edge of the car beyond where the hitch bolts to the car.
No reflection on etrailer. Delivery was quick and included in the price. The Hitch fit perfectly, and it took me less than 2 hours to install. Would be an Excellent Rating if not for the Poor reinforcement by Steatlh Hitches.
I just bought my 4the hitch from Etrailer.I can’t say enough good things about them. Great products, free shipping, great service and competitive pricing. And Great Service. I said that twice for a reason. I wouldn’t buy a birch from anyone else.
Gary
11/2/2024
I purchased a Stealth hitch for my MSport 4 series last year to carry a 1up bike rack. The hitch was easy to install and is completely hidden from view. The 2” hitch adaptor is effortless to attach and remove and works great with my rack. More that pleased.
The Stealth Hitch appears to be an excellent piece of kit: very well-made and solidly constructed. I expect the installation to go without a hitch (sorry ;-). Comprehensive written instructions, as well as many videos, inspire confidence.
John
5/20/2024
DIY Installation was straightforward, with no issues. Hitch works perfectly every time, and “disappears” when not in use. Highly recommended!
This hitch has transformed how I carry my bike in such a positive way. It is perfectly hidden when not using it which was a priority for me (I may have some vanity issues). It’s very stable and I’m no longer worried about my bike while in transit. I knocked one star off because it DOES NOT fit properly with the M performance rear diffuser. It will go on, but it has to distort the plastic on the diffuser to do so. It is about 1/2 off from fitting properly. It still works and I’m still happy I got it, but it takes a good whack to get in place given that you’re fighting the diffuser (and in turn the whole rear bumper cover). Not the worst thing ever, but be aware. By the way, I asked this question prior to purchasing and was told it would fit with that diffuser…sightly bothersome that it really doesn’t but not the end of the world.
Installed on 2014 BMW 328iX Wagon to use as an eBike carrier. This is the only Class 2 hitch available for this application. Expensive but extremely well-constructed. The receiver goes into the hitch receptacle very firmly with no slop in the fitting at all.
Instructions were very clear, a few slight differences due to being a wagon rather than a sedan, and apparently slight model differences. For example a photo labeled “4 Series Only” actually applied to my 3 Series Wagon. Also BMW apparently changed the head on some fasteners from hex to Torx or vice versa.
I have now had my hitch installed for a year. I couldn't be happier with it. I love that it is hidden and it has worked our very well. I highly recommend.
This is a great looking hitch solution with high quality components. Used on a sports coupe that I wanted to put a hitch mounted bike rack on and not see the hitch while not in use. Stealth Hitches seem to be the perfect solution!
Installed this on my BMW 328xi wagon. Very happy with it. The instructions were easy to follow and matched up very accurately with my actual car. As a first-timer, I was a bit nervous about taking off the bumper cover and getting back on the car with the correct fit - but it turned out very well. Took less than two hours from start to finish, even working as slowly and methodically as I did. Been using it all summer to haul our e-bikes around - easy to use and completely out of sight when the receiver isn't installed.
Very happy with everything , the hitch and bike rack. It took about 3:00 hrs to install both and load the bikes. On our 428i Convertible the sensor wires were different than your detections. I sent pictures.
I’ve had it for a year and it has worked perfect. I pull my Honda 450 dirtbike in the back of my bmw 328i and it pull it and works perfectly.
Product is well made, very straightforward install, well Hidden and an excellent design. Absolutely the best setup for hauling our E-bikes on our BMW 335-I
Both products worked as advertised with no issues.
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Ryan
12/20/2023
One year update - hitch is AWESOME. Took it on a 1500 mile road trip on highways and side roads without issue. Its help up well to driving through all seasons, and still works great!