Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

I cannot grade the towing capability yet, but this review is on installation. Less than one hour from start till I was putting tools away on the same day of arrival.
One man job with the assistance of a rolling floor jack.
Put rear up on ramps, hit holes with wd40, used one bolt to test run all threads, did not unhook tailpipe, simply insert the plate in, over, and let it rest on on exhaust (majority of weight still supported by jack). Start with left side, place 1 bolt loosely and then continue to switch sides with two at a time. Used torque wrench at 68 lbs to finish securing. Done. Looks great too! Up next: electrical and trans cooler. Thank you etrailer for the product and videos. Bought the hitch bc of such great reviews.177862

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Jarrett N.

3/9/2016

Wonderful. Great towing hitch. Looks clean, sleek, and strong. No problems at all. Well pleased! Have used numerous times for towing.

I'm not sure how a hitch install could be any easier. It doesn't require two people because you can hang the passenger side of the hitch on the tailpipe while you start one of the bolts on the drivers side. By a mile, the hardest part is chasing the existing threads on the van. My van had traveled many dirt roads and the grime was thick on the underside. Still, this wasn't a hard job at all. I've included pics of the installed hitch and the 6 bolts (yes, only 6) that are required to do this job. We're going to the lake this weekend and we'll be pulling the popup behind us. We also bought a transmission cooler from this site as well and it's going to keep the transmission cool while we're hauling kids, bicycles, pets, and everything else down to the campsite.258178

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Chris H.

6/8/2017

Now that a year has gone by Im happy to report that this hitch has been a great performer. No issues, troubles, hiccups, or regrets about this purchase.

This can be a one man job if you have ramps and a short step stool. The thing that made the install take longer than 30 minutes was that the bolts on the passenger side would not line up if the drivers side bolts were on. I had to remove all the bolts on the driver side and set the hitch on a step stool 12 inches high so that the driver side was about 3 inches away from the mounting location. This was the only way i could get all three passenger side bolts to line up. Torqued to 69 pound-feet and i was done. Three stars for those three bolts.83466

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Randy C.

6/12/2015

I had the same problem and it was a nightmare. Why is everyone giving this 4-5 stars then? Box arrived was a joke. The the holes didnt align. Im curious whether the reviews are real or not.

Rachael H.

6/15/2015

Thanks for your comment and feedback. I see that our customer service team was in contact with you and were able to get this issues resolved.

by: Chris05/07/2024

Love the trailer hitch and bike rack. We put four bikes on it and it holds them solidly. Very satisfied.2001860

by: JB05/15/2024

Good hitch. Installation was easy fit is good. The only concern is that receiver is deep in and under the bumper so some accessory's may not fit.3138590

Excellent product and how-to video. Only drawback is that installation is a 2-person job, for holding the hitch in place while bolts going in, and it's easier if you have a jack handy that can push it up to the frame when inserting the first bolts.1775341

Really great product. Fits my 2005 Odyssey like a glove. This was my very first installation and I can confirm that it can in fact be installed by a single person, without raising the car and without removing the exhaust pipe. It did take a while (probably 1.5 hrs total) to complete as I needed to clean the threads in the weld nuts. Following recommendation from someone on this web-site (i.e. one of the reviewers), I had purchased an M12 x 1.25 tap and it made the work super easy (initially tried just WD40 with steel brush with basically zero effect as there was some serious rust build up in the threads). I've positioned the hitch on two jack stands (which supported it at JUST the right elevation) and started "wiggling" it towards the car frame. The driver's side was a piece of cake. It took a bit of effort to squeeze the passenger side of the hitch in between the car frame and the exhaust pipe. Once that was completed, the rest was relatively easy. I forgot to mention that I did try to remove the exhaust pipe, but didn't manage to do so. It would have made the things easier, but in the end I ended up "deflecting" the pipe suspended on the rubber piece by hand in order to be able to work with the bolts on the passenger side. All in all, very nice fit, super strong and sturdy hitch and overall - a really great experience (and tons of satisfaction =). Thanks etailer.438493

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Hitch receiver was simple to install and did not require more than one person. Packaging of the shipment was the only less-than-ideal factor of the purchase3154144

Free shipping delivered within 3 days! The bracket ends were sticking out of the box and had minor cosmetic scratches which did not affect installation or function. Hitch is over 40lbs, oversized & bulky shape so not a surprise to see that. I read installation would take hours and required ramp to raise back end but that was not the case for me. We're in SoCal where there's not much rain so cleaning mounting holes on the frame was really easy. A single spray of WD-40 and I was able to hand screw all 6 bolts. I only had to pop the tail pipe off the last rubber mount to get at the bolts on right side. I used 2 car jacks to lift up & position the hitch to be mounted (see pic). In fact not raising the back end allowed easier installation for me. The longest time was spent nudging hitch to get that last bolt in. Total job time - about 2 hrs from opening box to completion. Excellent hitch, strong solid feel, and much easier installation than expected.341499

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Bought a trailer hitch for our 2009 Honda Odyssey. The only hitch (get it) was that it was delayed in shipping by one day. The delay was by UPS, not etraler's fault. We live in a remote part of California, so that's not very unusual.

The hardest part of the instillation was getting the rubber exhaust hanger free. A squirt of WD40 took care of that. It bolted up perfectly, as if it came from the Honda factory.

I also bought the trailer wire kit. My biggest anxiety was getting the interior panels off without damaging the clips. They came off easily and the wire kit installed as easy as the hitch.

Overall, it took about 2 hours from start to finish. That includes getting out the jack, stands, tools, being interrupted by my two year old a few times and cleanup.

I chose etrailer because of the price for a Draw-Tite hitch. I had found cheaper hitches online, but didn't know the brands. I trust Draw-Tite. We are in the market for a vintage camping trailer and this is what we need to pull it.

I told my wife that this was easiest part I've ever installed. It went as straight forward as the instructions showed.

Thank you etrailer.501948

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Dave C.

4/28/2019

Our hitch is still working great. When the time comes to get a new vehicle, I’ll be looking to etrailer if it doesn’t already have a hitch. I’m very happy with my purchase.

Unsure if the product itself fits or was damaged. The hitch arrived unpadded in a box that was halfway ripped apart.3147650

Installed last weekend. Tourqed it last night all in all pretty smooth. I jumped the gun and purchased a tap to clean the holes up and I'm glad I did. 10 years of brine can really gum things up. The only thing I didn't agree with in the instructions was removing the exhaust support and getting the exhaust pipe to the side. To many chances to damage the rubber pipe hangar. I ended up jacking up the right rear end of the van to get enough ground clearance and did not have to disturb the pipe except a slight push to the side while putting the receiver in position. All in all pretty easy with a little preparation.508787

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Ben

5/20/2019

Great. Still love it.

by: George M06/03/2020

Hitch was very easy to install per included instructions. The hardest part was holding the hitch in place while I installed the bolts. I used blocks of wood to hold the hitch in place. Thanks again for a quality product with easy installation!807600

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George M.

6/7/2021

Its still proving to be a valued product!

can be a one person job when following the video guide and do a little bit research,
this hitch is solid and sturdy, have been loading a 75 pounds ebike for a few weeks without any problem.

i built my own ramp using solid wood as many reviewers did.435930

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Figo

9/24/2018

Still good

by: Jeff10/14/2022

Hitch is still going strong. It holds the Velocirax Bike Rack from April to November with no problems at all. Highly recommend etrailer and their products.1448847

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by: It Was Perfect Fit And Easy To Install06/08/2020

The kit was perfect. I had real trouble finding the proper tap to run into my threaded holes in my Honda Odyssey. Not sure if etrailer sells a kit that has the right tap or not but they should. I had trouble tapping the holes around the muffler. All in all the kit I bought fit perfect and it was just my own short comings the gave me the trouble. Highly recommend etrailer!809686

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Victoria B.

6/16/2020

If you need a tap for your Odyssey to install this Draw-Tite hitch, you would want one that is 12 mm x 1.25 Tap size. If your weld nuts have been exposed to road grime for years and a wire brush just will not cut it, a tap can help clean the threads so you can install your hitch.

Bolts do not work… I’m upset for trailer hitch3153445

Jenny N.

6/6/2024

I was not sure what you meant with the bolts however a complaint that we receive is that the bolts seem to be too big. When this happens it is often because there is road debris and grime that has built up inside the weld nuts that need to be cleaned out. Often it takes using a tube brush like part # 814113 and soaking the weld nuts with a spray lubricant like a WD-40 to clean them out. You may have to do it several times. I have included a video link below.

Helpful Links

tv-faq-deep-cleaning-bolts.aspx

by: Renee06/23/2019

This was easy to install if your slightly handy and have some basic tools. The hitch has held a Thule swing arm style 4-bike rack, loaded with all 4 bikes. We have taken this hitch on a road trip from WA, thru ID and MT and to MN, and back. Unloading and loading for bike rides along the way. We have used this for multiple camping trip, again loaded with the Thule rack and all the bikes. Never once have we had any issue with the hitch. When you compare the price of a dealership and ordering off the internet (here) it was enough of a price difference to take the risk and this one paid off huge! So worth it! Do not use a dealer if you are ok installing this yourself. There are install video tutorials to follow. This product had been rock solid for our family. Oh, we have it on a Honda Odyssey, 2014. Sad we have no photos of it all loaded with the bikes. And funny, we just unloaded them all two days ago from a trip... sorry, but I promise it is impressive!662000

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Not installed yet but looks like a quality product. A little disappointed in the quality of the shipping packaging. Hitch arms exposed through the box on delivery. Hitch easily could have been damaged.1727171

Fit my 2014 Honda Odyssey perfectly. Instructions were great, simple quick installation. etrailer personal are very responsive. Installed in 2016 and now in 2023 still going strong. I use it for my bike rack. Website has tons of videos, instructions, informative information, pictures and reviews. I plan on purchasing a Malone SteelTop Roof Rack - Square Crossbars - Raised, Factory Side Rails - Steel - 58" Long
Item # MPG202 today to install on my mini van factory installed roof rack.1624015

by: Brian 01/13/2024

Installed just like the instructions, great service from e-trailer as always!1710053

I was lurking the etrailer site for about 3 months, then after reading all the consistent good reviews and watching the very informative video, I decided to go for it. I ordered the Draw-Tite because it was the same initials as mine, no really I did. Package arrived on time, kept an eye on it with the tracking number anyway. The DT hitch had all the necessary parts come with it. The only main flaw was a blemish on the cross-tube's finish. I dont think it will effect the product in the long-run, but I took a pic of it anyway, so we shall see. Installed it by myself, did not remove the muffler, about 45 minutes total and did not rush myself at all. Looks great, exactly as it appears on the website, so far so good. Put my Thule 2-bike carrier on it, works perfect. Adding a cargo rack this Memorial weekend to drive down to San Diego, this will be a true test. About a month in after install, I am noticing a couple "rust" spots in the receiver hole. That's a little weird for my area of Southern Cal, because it doesnt rain and I DO NOT park near sprinklers or water sources while in my driveway. Going to take a pic and let the etrailer guys know about it and see what they say... 81382

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I received my hitch 2 days after I ordered it, actually it came in a day earlier than I expected. I installed on a 2004 Honda Odyssey, hardest part was lifting my arms up to get the first screw started. Found it easier to start the screws on the side without the tail pipe. I didn't have to lift the van, I was able to install it laying on my back, probably took me 15 minutes AFTER I got the first screw threaded. Everything lined up perfectly.288379

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Chris

11/1/2017

since installing the trailer hitch, i guess not noticing it is a good thing, so must say i like the hitch. The reason i bought it was because of your instructions and videos showing me how easy it was to install on my Honda van. That was the biggest reason. I know some vehicles are more difficult for a dyi to add a hitch, so that is why i picked your trailer hitch.

Easy to install and seems to be well-made. The only hard part is getting the 21-year-old exhaust rubber donut off and back on.1526482

Wiz240

2/27/2024

After a year it still works well. Just one issue has popped up. With the limited space on the passager side for the hitch mount and exhaust, the two will touch each other when makeing tight turns or over bumps that twist the chassis. It makes a little tingy noise but not too bad once you know what it is.

Mike L.

2/28/2024

@Wiz240 That's really easy to fix in most cases. We'll link you to an article that runs through a few ways to fix this. Let us know how it works out!

Helpful Links

faq-fixing-exhaust-rattle.aspx

Good hitch and pretty easy install. Took about 2hrs including wiring. I listened to other reviews and just bought a 12mx1.25 tap at Ace hardware. I used a ratchet and 9mm socket on the back of the tap. Used chain lube in the wholes and blew out with a air line when done. Propped one end on a jack stand and pushed the other end up to start bolt. The exhaust pipe is fairly simple to get out of the hangers if you use a pry bar like the install video show. Wiring was easy to install, only change I made was I drilled a small hole and fished the wires up under the bumper and thru. Eliminating the the need to let the wire hang out under the hatch. I cut the wires and respliced them together. Then siliconed around them to protect against water and rubbing against metal. They now tuck up behind the bumper cover with easy access. I'd say just about anyone can do this install with a couple tools and a little mechanical aptitude.545656

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