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This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.
Features:
Specs:
The sturdy steel construction is protected with a matte black finish for added durability. This unique powder coating gives etrailer hitches a carbide-like appearance and a rugged look that sets them apart from traditional glossy hitches. In addition to being rust and corrosion resistant, the tough matte coating hides dirt, scuffs, and dings better than a glossy finish.
At etrailer 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.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (368 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.A year after my installation I am quite happy with my etrailer hitch receiver. I was especially pleased with the installation. It is very well built, so that makes it pretty heavy. I wasn't sure I could get it mounted by myself. But by throwing together some supports with some old 2X4's and the car jack, I managed it quite well without putting my vehicle on a lift. Every hole matched perfectly and I know it will be there forever. My primary use is to support a bicycle rack. But if I should need to use a trailer, though, I am confident it will do just fine.
We mounted this on our Toyota Highlander to put a tray on it for sandy beach equipment. I had to cut minimal amounts of the plastic undercarriage of the car to install it. It would have been easier to install if I had a car lift, but I was able to install it by myself lying on the ground. I used some 4x4s and 2x2s to prop up the hitch so It was close to the car bottom to get the bolts started. The Highlander already had pre threaded holes for the hitch bolts to attach.
Very good quality hitch. Fast shipping. Installed in less than one hour by myself, and was installed with no lift. Great instructions!
I would have given the trailer hitch receiver 5 stars, but for one fact: one of the bolt holes (slots) didn't line up with the threaded holes in my Highlander's body rails (see attached photo). Others have reported this same problem. In my case, it was the forward-most hole on the passenger side. To complete the installation I had to spend more than an hour carefully grinding away with a Dremel, widening the existing hole/slot, so I could attach the final bolt. Aside from that misaligment problem, I'm very happy with the receiver.
I have a Toyota Highlander platinum hybrid 2024, the hitch fitted perfectly, however I do recommend a 3rd helper, this is not a one man job. It’s very easy to install but very heavy. I really like that the hitch hides. Thank you etrailer
Yes it’s fits a Highlander platinum hybrid in case your wondering like me.
This is a high quality trailer hitch that utilizes factoring mounting points and is low profile. It is incredible we’ll made, entirely powder coated to prevent rust/corrosion and in total took me less than an hour to install by myself! Just for curiousity I called the dealership to see what they would quote me to install a factory trailer hitch on our vehicle; it was $1600 plus tax! I saved over $1400 by doing this myself and it was one of the easier car projects I’ve ever done. Watch the video they have on [online] if you have any issues, but anyone with basic mechanical skills can complete this job and save you a ton of money. Very impressed with this hitch and this company/product, thank you!
I found it really easy. Definitely need a second set of hands. The dealership trys to BS you and charge ridiculous amout of money selling you a tow package (V6 XLE highlanders come stock with tow package. All you need is a hitch and cable.
I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars because my first attempt at mounting it was unsuccessful due to one hitch arm being bent ~3/4" sometime between manufacture and delivery. I reached out to customer service and they noted this is a common problem and had some help documents available outlining ways to straighten it out using items you may have around your home.
I was able to straighten it out and. once straight, was able to mount it in about 20 min. I will say that the instructions have the installer cut off a lot more material off the plastic piece on the driver's side than needed. I took a bit off at a time to be able to maintain all the fastener mounting holes on the plastic cover.
Excellent Hitch. Extremely secure. Definitely need torque wrench. One or two holes needed some muscle to match up with screw holes. Good directions. Using for bike rack. Would recommend highly.
Trailer hitch was easy to install when vehicle was raised on a hitch providing access to the underside. We only use this to hold a Kuat bicycle rack, so no heavy towing, but it works well and looks very good underneath our 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV.
Trailer hitch has a quality build to it. It took me a DIY about 1.5 hours to install. I recommend removing the spare tire to give a little extra room if working under the vehicle, like I did.
Works just as described, but 2020 Highlanders look out of luck with the kick sensor. Turns out Toyota widened the sensor in '21 and up, but it'll need to be relocated if you want to use it in 2020. It wasnt a dealbreaker, and I'm happy with the hitch. I think it looks much better than the OEM hitch by not cutting up the bumper, and risers are available if I'm ever in a situation where the lower position of the receiver becomes an issue.
The tow hitch is well made and sturdy. The description provided by etrailer is not completely accurate. That is, the hands free tail gate function no longer works after the installation. A quality tow hitch is more important but I did buy this particular model in hope that the kick functionality would be maintained.
The hitch fit perfect and looks good since you only see a small section below the bumper.
Gary M.
5/17/2023
Still working great. We only use it to hold a bike carrier but still works well and best looking one available. Five stars all the way.
Been an etrailer customer for many years. This hitch unit is well made and heavy duty. It was very easy to install - took less than 1 hour doing it by myself using ramps and a floor jack. The unit fit perfectly to the Toyota body structure. A minor trimming modification was needed to the plastic drivers side underbody panel. Very satisfied with hitch assembly and the easy installation.
Stephen
11/11/2022
High quality heavy duty product still performing without any negative issues.
Fits and looks great. I did have to grind one hole about a paper thickness bigger as the bolts didn’t exactly line up. Maybe just a slight bend on the hitch. I tried for hours different ways and finally just ground one hole on the drivers side ever so slightly… fit great. Should have done that first. But very pleased.
Fits perfectly in threaded holes already in frame provided by Toyota. Snugs exactly under bumper and looks great. Easy install I would recommend putting an extra plastic connector to hold passenger side rear cover underneath since the removal of the metal bracket leaves the cover loose. I did this easily. But your directions should recommend it at least as an option and include one plastic connector - not necessary but makes the cover not wiggle. I've included a photo where I put two plastic connectors in, but need only one. This photo I included is the cover on passenger side underneath showing the two extra connectors (you do need to drill the holes) also that is the Hitch bolt nearest the rear.
Just installed today on a 2024 Highlander. Everything installed smoothly. I am very pleased with the design and overall appearance. I use it primarily to haul my bike to a local bike trail.
Just one item you might consider looking into. The diagram of the plastic box that came with the screws indicating the trimming to fit around the installed hitch looked like a mirror image of the actual box when I held the actual box it in my hand. Where to cut was clear when I looked at the youtube video so no big issues. Anyways and excellent product. I will definitely recommend to others.
Hitch installed easily. Though I do not recommend such, I was able to install by myself, with the help of straps suspending the hitch in place.
Great hitch, BUT, a couple issues. 1) As another reviewer said, the top bolt opening on the passenger side of the hitch had to be bored out with a dremel. The slot was about 4mm too short (meaning the passenger side bolt was in and the hitch was slid all the way towards the passenger side-the bolt opening is a horizontal slot that look plenty wide, but it’s wide in the opposite direction needed). I still had to expand the opening in order to get it to fit.
2) DO NOT follow the cut out guide provided in the instructions. You will cut out way too much material. Instead, look at one of the other reviewers posts who provided a more accurate/smaller cutout template.
Install took longer bc of the modifications. But other than that, it’s straightforward.
Great website for finding exactly what I needed for my vehicle quickly
Excellent support via chat for learning more as this is my first time installing a hitch
Excellent instruction video
Shipping info was accurate
Arrived on time and installed easily
The good: This hitch is solid and fits my 2020 Highlander perfectly. I'm completely pleased with, and recommend, the product.
The delivery and install had some challenges as follows, but nothing that was bad enough to make me regret my purchase.
1) On delivery, the box was shredded. I inspected the product, which is sturdy metal and will be almost completely under the vehicle. It was not damaged in any way so I accepted the delivery. I honestly think the issue was that this heavy and awkward shaped part was simply encased in a large cardboard box that allowed too much movement.
2) The installation video, (which BTW is super helpful) said "torque down bolts as specified". There was no mention of required torque in any of the attached paperwork or website description that I could find. I watched the video for 3 different year models of Highlander and they all were the same on this. 3) the picture included in the instructions for cutting the underbody trim was not accurate for my vehicle at all. Maybe it's a picture for a different year model Highlander? I did a check fit, trimmed a little, fit again, trimmed some more... good in the end.
I loaded up my two heavy ebikes on the rack and drove a few hundred miles this past weekend. Worked great.
The hitch receiver looks great and was relatively easy to install. Glad I went with a custom-fit part rather than the universal.
Excellent hitch, service, and instructional videos. I ordered from Amy who was super helpful on a Thursday and received the hitch on Saturday. Wow. Fairly easy install.
Hitch went right in, You do however have to remove Exhaust Boot to slip in on top of exhaust. Definitely a 2 person job. Installed in about an hour.
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Joe
11/14/2023
The hitch has been used heavily for one year and after going through winters salt and sand it still looks brand new. Quality hitch!