Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"
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2001 Lexus ES 300
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2001 Lexus ES 300
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Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.
Features:
Specs:
Draw-Tite's Tested Tough program provides testing standards far superior to those outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the go-to source for engineering professionals.
Each Draw-Tite trailer hitch receiver undergoes extensive fatigue testing and static testing with the ball mount that is either supplied or recommended for use with that particular hitch, thus ensuring results that are applicable to real life use. Fatigue testing is also conducted on hitches rated for use with weight-distribution systems.
In addition, Draw-Tite performs static testing on a simulated automobile, as opposed to the rigid fixture used for SAE testing, resulting in a more true-to-life scenario.
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.
Tech Tip
Drilling through vehicle frame required for installation , Underbody panel(s) and/or fascia must be temporarily loosened or removed. Trimming may be needed to reattach panel or fascia. , Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation , Heat shield must be modified or trimmed for hitch installation
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Complete Towing Package for 2022 Lexus ES 300
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This really is as easy to install as they say it is. I just backed my Forester up onto a set of ramps and there was plenty of room work. I watched etrailer.com’s installation video multiple times and it helped tremendously. For what it’s worth, I found that you don’t have to completely remove the plastic underbody tray on the driver’s side (at least not on my 2024), just the two small bolts where it attaches to the subframe (10mm). So you can save a little time there and not have to fiddle with reattaching all the panel fasteners. Even dropping the exhaust wasn’t that bad. Just strap it (or use a piece of rope) like they show in their video, a medium prybar is perfectly adequate, and silicone spray is your friend.
I chose this receiver instead of the Curt or etrailer brand because it allows for weight distribution for future towing options. DIY installed this in my driveway solo. Took approx 2.5 hours. The printed instructions were not excellent -- recommend watching etrailer's video. Specifically the paper DrawTite instructions appeared to be wrong about where to make a cutout in the heat shield. Instead recommend you trace outline of hitch receiver onto the heat shield and cut away as little as possible. If you have a torque wrench you can absolutely do this install yourself and it would be faster with a buddy who can help hold receiver into place while you tighten it.
It fit perfectly, and the fish-wire made it easy to place the bolts. I really appreciated the *very clear* step by step installation video, too
Great fit, followed the video with no surprises. The hitch arrived sticking out of the box partially so I had to get some matching paint to touch up the exposed bare metal from it being dragged on the ground during shipment. So much easier to prep the area and install using ramps or jacks for the rear.
This is my second DrawTite trailer hitch I've purchased from eTrailer. Good selection and good prices. Having said that, I'm a little disappointed that the construction of this 2025 version might not be as strong as my 2014 version (although I'm sure the 2025 version is more than strong enough). The 2014 version was made out of square tubing which was inserted through a square cutout on the 2 side mounting struts, and was then welded together. The 2025 version has a round tube which is not inserted through a cutout on the 2 side mounting struts, but instead is just butted up against the flat surface of the 2 mounting struts and welded around its circular perimeter. So, the 2025 version is presumably less strong because it's inserted through a cutout opening and supported directly by the side strut and also because it's only welded on one side. And, as other reviewers noted, the official installation instructions from Horizon say that the six main carriage bolts are 7/16", but they are actually 11/16". It's just a simple clerical mistake, but it hasn't been corrected yet for many many years. If the manufacturer can't fix something this simple, are they also sloppy with other design aspects? Also, the provided flange hex bolt (which is to replace the original OEM bolt which is too short to reuse after installation of the trailer hitch) is a poor substitute. The original OEM bolt had a spacer"collar" on the uppper shank so that the bolt could be tightened down until the collar was secure against the car's frame rail, yet not squeeze down on the car's plastic underbody panel. The provided bolt is just a simple bolt with no collar, and hence it directly squeezes down on the plastic underbody panel and will probably end up cracking it over time. The diameter of the head of the provided bolt is also too small, so a washer needs to be added first. Having said all of this, this is still a solid trailer hitch and installation is not too difficult (even if doing it without a second set of helping hands).
I bought this hitch a year ago, and its performed greatly on my 2019 Subaru Forester Sport. I only had to slightly bend a exhaust heat shield to install it, but over all was easy to attach to my vehicle. I use my hitch for Bike Racks and a Rear Cargo Basket.
I haven't towed with it yet however as my tow rating is very low for an SUV, but standing on it, plus with the cargo basket having my huge Ice Chest on it feels very stable and secured, even when Off Road.
Marcial B.
5/16/2021
Still working Perfect after a year. it outlasted the pandemic.
Hitch arrived on time in great shape only a couple very minor scratches on the paint. Installation was straightforward on 2020 Forester, especially after watching the videos provided by E trailer. I like the fact that this hitch allowed installation without permanently removing any part of splash shield and the heat shield for the muffler.
I like the personal touch in their tracking email. The email is under an employees personal name. The delivery was late by a day. Not a problem for me. The ends of the hitch did break through and protrude from the box and therefore some of gthe paint was chipped off the hitch.
Hitch arrived quickly with minimal damage to the box. Installation was simple and a bit time consuming. Feeding the little guide wires with the bolts into the frame was tricky but eventually worked out. Hitch is well made and sturdy. It hugs the contours of the car really well. Draw tube does not project past the edge of the bumper face which is why I choose the Draw-tite over the other available brands.
Brooke M.
3/19/2025
I love that tidbit about how far out the receiver tube reaches - its good to keep that in mind depending on what you want to do with it. :) Glad the install went pretty well - do you do a lot of your own car work?
Brooke M.
3/28/2025
The installation was good and straightforward. The instructions manual is a little too simple and too low resolution so it is hard to see some of the details unfortunately.
But the rest went smoothly.
It’s been outstanding. Looks great and works great
Brooke M.
6/25/2025
Really happy to hear that, Dan! In the photo, it looks like you're all set to hit some trails. Do you have any go-to favorite spots for a bike ride?
Well I not rating my product, I'm rating your product, as is out of the box.
1.It had a scrunched up load rating label, that I pulled off and relocated.
2.It a small, but deep scar, going through the paint and ecoat, providing a weak spot for rust.
3. Another label your factory attached, was misaligned.
Ok, but room for improvement!!
Arrived in good shape and all parts included. Have same hitch on my Outback, should be great on the Forester. Have not yet installed it.
William
5/18/2025
Hitch has worked great, used it just last week
My thoughts after one year of having this on our 2020 Subaru Forester. I could not be happier with the solid installation and quality of this hitch. I really like the low profile design and the professional look. I was a bit apprehensive about the installation as I had never done that before. But after watching the installation video a few times and reviewing the installation instructions I jumped in and was able to complete it in one afternoon. Super easy and every step was in the video, which helped so much! My next trailer hitch ( if I get a new truck) will certainly be a product from etrailer!
Awesome product! Bolts right on to the existing holes in the frame. You will have to cut a notch out of the passenger side heat shield, but it is not hard. My buddy helped me install this in less than 2 hours and we were in no hurry. We used vehicle ramps to give us some breathing room. The hardware is fed through the frame holes with threaded wires. Holding the hitch while trying to install the nuts can be challenging. The two of us fumbled our way through it with a bit of effort and swearing, but a floor jack holding the weight of the hitch would have been helpful.
I bought this hitch to use a bike rack. I saved myself hundreds compared to buying and installing at the dealership.
Great product! No cutting of the rear bumper required. Only needed trimming of the thin metal heat shield above the muffler. The install was fairly straightforward but could definitely use 2 people. I ended up using my jack to hold one end up while fastening the other. Also, I recommend unbolting and removing the muffler from the exhaust pipe completely, making it a lot easier to install the passenger side. The driver side plastic cover will not fit underneath the hitch bracket like the instructions suggest and to avoid cutting the plastic ribs, I mounted it over. It is pretty flexible and will hold in place with the 2 extended bolts (provided). The main mounting hardware was tricky to snake through the frame, especially the forward-most holes. Picture attached with the 2 rear-most bolts in place. I put a hook in the wire to catch the hole edge which worked out. Took about 1.5hrs to install.
Going to give this a 5-star rating because it is just that. The only issue with this hitch is that the crossbar is about 1/2” below the spare tire tub in the body... this will make for a minor change in the departure angle for a Subaru if you’re off-reading it. Since that is not a concern for me, the product t is great. The installation video helps make the installation go very smoothly and I do suggest having an additional set of hands when it come to actually lifting the hitch into place... it’s heavier than it looks. I did it by myself, but some help to hold it up while bolting it down would have made it a lot easier.
Pleased with the entire etrailer experience.., especially the product videos.
Install was straightforward and the receiver is solid
This Draw-Tite hitch receiver is perfect. Well made, solid, fits on my 2020 Subaru Forester perfectly. I didn’t have the necessary tools but a local hitch store installed it for 125$. I saved $1,000.00 off the dealership price fir installing an inferior hitch. UPS destroyed the box the receiver was shipped in, but the receiver survived in perfect condition. I could not be happier with the hitch.
Video/ printer instructions were pretty accurate.
I just finished installing this. I did it by myself with the back end of my forester up on ramps, I think they’re about 8 inch ramps. I followed along with the video on this site and it was a breeze.
Took me just over an hour, wasn’t rushing. I would have been done faster, but I accidentally bolted up the hitch with my shop light cord between the hitch and the car, had to loosen all the bolts and drop one side enough to get the cord out. Don’t do that. :-)
My replacement bolts for the driver side under body panel didn’t include washers. I had some that would work and used them, but I do think the kit should include them. It looks like the guy in the install video has them.
This will no doubt be strong enough for anything my forester is capable of hauling.
This hitch was packaged nicely for shipping. I worked in a UPS hub while in college and saw lots of great and poorly packed boxes. They definitely put some thought into getting these to the destination intact and not all scratched up. Not a simple task for heavy and awkward shaped things.
The instructions were clear and hitch fit perfectly. Thanks for the fish wires to get the bolts in place. Genius! It looks great.
The shipping box was damaged by the hitch bouncing around inside and the paint was chipped off in two places. Consider a layer of cardboard attached to the ends of the hitch and a form fitting box to eliminate movement.
Install was easier than I thought . And wiring was done in a way I think is better than the video shows that was you don’t have a harness ha going out of your liftgate! There is a rubber grommet towards the rear of the trunk that I cut from the middle outwards, slid the harness in, and reinstalled grommet to prevent any water from entering the cabin . Have used it to tow my jetski and works great .
Great, easy install, no issues after 1 year!
Used Etrailer video to aid with installation. Overall an easy install, hitch fit perfectly with mounting hardware. Use if tin snips would be ideal to trim heat shielding, we used a multi tool with cutoff blade and it worked fine. Hitch arrived with hole in the box but no damage to hitch or paint. Highly recommend a second set of hands when raising up the hitch, would much more difficult without.
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Shane
6/20/2025
Still great and wouldn’t change a thing!