How is etrailer Hitch Difficulty Scale Calculated

Updated 05/05/2025 | Published 05/13/2023

Question:

How is Installation Difficulty scored? Is 9 out of 10 easy or difficult? There is a claim here that 9 out of 10 is really difficult and that they should look for a hitch rated 2 out of 10 to be easier to install. What say you? Thanks!

asked by: Bob P

Expert Reply:

Our hitch install difficulty scale numbers are based on the length of time it takes to install the hitch actually. So a 9 out of ten would take most people around 90 minutes.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Brice

5/5/2025

Hey Jameson, this hitch is extremely hard to install. Installed a 1.25 hitch in 45 minutes and there were helpful videos to support the install with tips. For the 2” there are no videos, the instructions are pretty terrible, there are no tips to speak of, and they leave out entirely that you should remove your bumper cover (not hard, but not noted) to make the install process possible. I would love etrailer to try to install this and make a video. Also one of the rectangle washers hole was too small (found this out too late), so after getting the hardware in the frame and trying to jostle the bolt through, it got lodged in the rectangle washer, this meant it wouldn’t pull through or push back out to restart the process. This took me an hour to solve, it was like trying to build a boat in a bottle.

Jameson C.

5/5/2025

@Brice Oh man I am really sorry to hear that. I am glad you got it figured out though and that you passed on some important tips that should help future customers.