Draw-Tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

I recently ordered this hitch for my 2012 Kia soul. I was blown away by the simplicity of the process from ordering, waiting 4 days for it to arrive on my doorstep to a quick and super easy, no drama install. I had watched the install video. realized I had the basic hand tools and decided to order. after buying, I actually had an e-mail conversation with a real person, explaining it was my birthday present I was "bumped" to the better shipping option for free. Of course I told everyone!! The install time? it took me about 30 minutes with hand-tools and not removing the wheels, in my driveway,at dusk..definately a great birthday bike trip!!!! heres some pictures for you guys .. thanks again for the excellent service.... C.Shortt51682

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Wolfgang

3/19/2014

With your bike rack folded up, do you see anything with the backup camera?

Wolfgang

3/23/2014

Yes, Yes Yes I didnt think I would but I can see pretty well, I use the camera mostly for parallel parking and I can easily see carspeople behind me.

Patrick B.

3/27/2014

Thanks for coming back and following up with us. Glad it worked out with the camera.

by: Soul Driver04/24/2024

Hitch mounted as described and is going strong a year later. The only issue I had was needing to tap a mounting hole due to corrosion - but that's no the hitches fault!1772611

So much positive to say about etrailer.com. I appreciated the picking and shipping information with people's names, the seamless functionality of the website and the tracking function, and the product arrived quickly and in good shape. The receiver fit well, no concerns, seems sturdy, and is performing well. Only slight recommendation for etrailer quality control is to check the interior of the hitch for weld dross, see photo. I filed it out easily. Saved myself about $XX Canadian installing myself over the local shop, and given the quick shipping times, I highly recommend doing this.1316807

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by: TJ04/09/2016

I installed the hitch without much difficulty. I experienced two minor problems. First, the clearance between the crossbar and the tailpipe was pretty small. While stationary, it was not a problem. However, when driving the car, the tailpipe and the crossbar would sometimes touch causing rattling noise. This mostly happened while accelerating and was likely due to the torque of the engine moving the tailpipe slightly. I was able to use a heavy duty rubber bungee to fix the problem. I connected the bungee to the tailpipe hanger and to a chassis component to pull the tailpipe forward slightly - problem solved.

The other issue was a slight difference in the spacing of the brackets and the attachment points on the car. I installed a couple of washers between the hitch brackets and the car frame to make it a secure and tight fit.

Other than the above issues, installation instructions were easy to follow and worked fine.
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The package arrived very quickly. The hitch had broken through the carboard and was sticking half out of the box, but it is a solid metal piece and didn't show any signs of damage. Installation was a pain in the butt, but it's doable. Taking off the splash guards is not as easy as it sounds. The instructions say there are 4 screws, there's actually 9 per side. And they don't just "unscrew", you can turn it counter clockwise until you're blue in the face and they won't loosen. It's a screw inside of a plastic housing that needs the center screw piece to turn while the housing stays still. Once you figure out how a way to keep the outer housing still, it's possible to get the screws out. But "40 minutes" install time was actually a 2 day install for me. Granted, I have no experience installing hitches. Once you have the splash guards off, taking off the tow hook is easy (as long as you have the proper 17mm ratchet). When you lower the exhaust, make sure you undo TWO attachments. I accidentally only did 1 and it didn't drop much at all. Also, I installed this without jacking up the vehicle or driving it onto ramps or anything. It CAN be done, but it would have been way easier to have the car lifted up. Once the splash guards are off, and the exhaust is *properly* lowered, putting the hitch in place is easy. BUT, then I ran into a problem where only 3 of the 4 new screws fit. Problem was with the rusted car, not with the screws. Upstate NY has rough winters and the car is 2 years old... problem was solved with a rust removal spray. After the hitch is in place, it's not too hard to raise up the exhaust and re install the splash guards. Overall, good product but if you have no experience... don't count on a 40 minute install. 134868

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Only 4 bolts! Take out the hassle of the wheels being in the way and it was an easy install. I was skeptical of the reviews on the site, but turns out they're true. The site was easy to navigate and helped with the recommendation, so it was an easy sale.The hitch came ready to go and shipped fast. I would recommend tapping the driver's side holes as mine had rust and paint. There are no bolts to remove on that side, so the provided bolts we're difficult to get in by themselves.649855

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by: Kenneth06/21/2023

So far trailer hitch receiver is continuing to work flawlessly. Very happy!1605444

Hitch arrived exactly when they said, 3 days after ordering.
After my truck died a sad and unexpected death..... I am back on the walleye Installation wasn't bad, I watched the video, only difference is not having a hoist I jacked it up and removed the tires making in much easier, 1 hour total installation. 802310

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This hitch was easy to put on took about an hour. Didnt even have to take the tires off .the only thing is the hitch is welded on crooked 820945

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by: B05/13/2023

fit my 2010 kia soul easily. ground clearance still good. holds my 1up bike rack well1577278

Installation was very straight forward and hitch fit and finish was great. Have had other hitches not fit so well from other companies. Also it's nice getting the emails updating me about the order and shipping. 181221

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Got this for my 2012 Kia Soul so I could pull a trailer full of kayaks. Very easy to install, probably took 30 minutes. 285866

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The hitch is as described and the video made it easy to install. I did it lying on my back in my driveway. The only things I would add is as follows. You need a "stubby" phillips screwdriver to get at two of the "body screw plugs" that hold the fender well in if you don't plan to remove the tires. Also, the two flanges that slip up next to the frame are a perfect fit so you need a person on each side to slide it into position. If you don't have a buddy, try what I did. I lifted the passenger side flange into place an loosely put the bolts in. Then, I put a scissors jack under the 1-1/4 receiver box and moved the hitch up so the driver side was just under the frame member. I used a flat steel bar as a shim and tapped the driver flange into place. The whole job was 1/2 hour plus set up and put away time. Only other note: Kia does not recommend that you tow with a Soul. I got the hitch for a bike rack and/or a rear tray.35919

Valerie G.

5/14/2013

They also dont want you to have a roof rack either as they said it would scratch it. They informed me they had trailer hitches for the Soul but they would charge about $400 and told me Id be better off going elsewhere. Also theyre afraid someone would try to tow like a camper trailer with it. Theyre just covering their butts.

This item was a perfect fit for our 2013 Kia Soul. The dealership stated that there was no hitch available for our Soul and we wanted one just for our luggage carrier. This was a wonderful find and I recommend it to everyone for their Soul. It took me about 20 minutes to install it in my own garage with just my floor jack to help hold it in-place while I put the bolts in. One-man job. It was fast shipping and with one exception of being a day later than expected due to UPS problem and it was still excellent packaging so no damage of the item. I did add an adapter for the 1 & 1/4" to 2" receiver so my carrier would fit. Thank you etrailer!!120672

Bruce K.

3/23/2015

It is amazing that you should ask, we just arrived on vacation and are using it for the first time for a long trip. It was flawless and so glad we had it!! We really should have put it on something besides the wifes Kia Soul as it may be too wimpy of a vehicle. We made it okay and like I said, it did perform its function perfectly. Thanks again and keep up the great product quality. I highly recommend it and have to my friends and workmates already.

Easy to install!! Videos were great and looks good!!!1057184

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by: Jim J07/18/2017

This hitch is easy enough to install, can be done by yourself, and works well enough for a lot of add-ons. That said, the specs are pretty snug with it. I mean, when using with a bike carrier, it takes a lot of pushing and whacking with a mallet to get the carrier in place, and then I need to use a ratchet strap to remove it. When using with a draw bar, good luck to you! I can't get a draw bar in far enough to get the lynch pin through. There is a stop welded in to the receiver tube, which does not allow the draw bar back far enough. So, be aware this may be the case for you.407595

Heather A.

9/29/2017

This draw-tite part 24839 is a class 1 hitch. This hitch has a welded tab in the inside of the receiver that does not allow the user to use Class 1 accessories. This is a safety precaution because class 1 hitches cannot handle as much weight. It is not recommended to use class 2 accessories in this hitch. If you are using this hitch with a bike rack I recommend Thule roadway 2 bike carrier part # TH9058. This bike rack carries 2 bikes and is compatible with a class 1 hitch. The bike rack features levers that let you fold down the arms for storage and tilt the rack away from your vehicle for cargo area access. It also includes an anti-rattle hitch pin. Curt makes a class 1 ball mount part # C45018 with a 5/8 Rise and a 1-1/4 Drop. The ball mount can handle up to 200 lbs of tongue weight.

Helpful Links

Ball-Mounts/Curt/C45018.html

Hitch-Bike-Racks/Thule/TH9058.html

by: Drake07/25/2018

2013 Kia Soul

I am not happy with the product or your company. I put it on my car for about a day or two and it sat up too close to the exhaust and it rattled against it. I tried to return the product and the lady I spoke to said that I can only return it if I pay a restocking fee and I will only get a portion back of what I paid. And then she said that I could bend one of the brackets of my car to help space the tow hitch and my exhaust apart. I understand that the brackets are a small part of my car, but I was not happy that she suggested I damage my vehicle instead of helping me return the product. And then she said that the reason I could not return the hitch is because it was already on my car and customers won’t want a product that has been used. Okay, I get that, but customers also don't want a product that doesn't meet their needs. So it has been sitting in my garage for a year while I try to sell it. I am not happy with the product nor with your company. 545776

Mike L.

7/25/2018

The exhaust system at the rear of the car is attached to the vehicle using rubber isolators and easily bendable exhaust hangers. Because of this, the actual position of the exhaust system can vary a bit from vehicle to vehicle. When the hitch is installed, its position is fixed, and will not vary from vehicle to vehicle. The large tolerances in the exhaust system is what can allow the rattle to occur. In other words, its not the fault of the hitch or its design. Youll just need to create a bit more space between the hitch and the exhaust. The good news is that this is a common occurrence that is easily remedied by slightly bending the exhaust hanger. Ive linked you to an help article that addresses how to easily fix the rattle.

Helpful Links

faq-fixing-exhaust-rattle.aspx

Excellent product. Fits perfectly. 1682752

I had the hitch installed on my 2012 kia soul yesterday...I WAS DISSAPOIONTED...IT'S SO , SOO LOW TO THE GROUND,,I CAN SEE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE SCRAPING HERE AND THERE... AND POSSIBLY DAMMAGING THE CAR... THE PERSON THAT INSTALLED IT TOLD ME THAT IT COULD ONLY BE USED FOR A BIKE RACK OR SOMETHING LIGHT AND DEFFINTLY DO NOT TOW A TRAILER WITH IT... I BOUTH THE WIRING HARNESS...BUT DID NOT HAVE IT INSTALLED... BECAUSE IT WOULD VOID MY TEN YEAR WARRANTEE..,..I THINK YOU SHOULD WARN PEOPLE BEFORE YOU SELL THEM THESE ITEMS... THAT THEY WILL DAMAGE THE CAR ..,AND TOWING WILL DAMAGE THE TRANSMITION... AND ALSO VOID THE WARANTEE..70822

Patrick B.

3/15/2013

Whether or not a vehicle can be used for towing is always stated in the owners manual and it can vary from model to model, year to year, even trim levels within a particular model. Though we would like to, as of right now we cannot take all that information into account for the thousands of vehicles we offer hitches for. A hitch, if properly installed and used, will not damage a car. They are specifically designed to fit each vehicle will not damage a vehicle just by their presence.

Excellent 734186

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Henry V.

12/26/2020

Still inplace

This was easy to install on my 2013 soul. Didn't need to remove tires and only had to drop the exhaust a little to get it in. The hitch was more heavy duty than I thought. My only issue was the packaging. One end busted through the box. 138936

Andrew K.

7/3/2015

Traded the vehicle for a new model. Hitch not compatible. But worked great when we had it.

Install was easy for this non mechanic... Shipped fast and company even did a follow up once the hitch was delivered.. Will do business again with etrailer. Will be able to toe my flat bottom boat and use my storage basket on my 2013 Kia Soul
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Hunter

6/26/2017

Fantastic! Irreplaceable !!

When I received my new etrailer hitch i was pleased with the quality of your product, The Install took less than 30 minutes and was a perfect fit. I highly recomend this product to anyone,and this company for wonderful and prompt service. Thank You!! 111687

Mike M.

1/1/2015

Ive owned this hitch for over a year and very pleased with this product. I plan to order one for my 2014 kia sonoda in a week or so Thanks E-Trailer

This thing is GREAT!!! With 25 years as a shop foreman of a VW dealer in Connecticut I installed this directly with out taking off the wheels or the inner fender. Fits like a glove and works GREAT!141669

Tng

7/16/2015

GREAT!!! Am ordering another one for a friend with the same car. A Product. First-class sales orgination!

Instructions were very accurate. I installed by myself in less than an hour. There was a tight clearance with the muffler tailpipe on a 2013 Kia Soul. I made some adjustments, but will probably have to purchase longer rubber muffler isolators or have the tailpipe bent down. Still a high quality product that's easy to install.68538

Mike

2/7/2016

I have the same problem now. The hitch installed fine but the tailpipe rattles against the hitch. Not sure how to fix this problem.

Rachael H.

2/9/2016

Thanks for your comment Mike. Here is a link to one of our help articles that might be applicable for your hitch and exhaust issue.

Helpful Links

faq-fixing-exhaust-rattle.aspx