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  1. Trailer Hitch
  2. etrailer
  3. Class III
  4. 2 Inch Hitch
  5. 3500 lbs GTW
  6. Visible Cross Tube
etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2"

etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2"

Item # e78KR
Retail:$296.92
Our Price: $218.07
You Save: $78.85
Trailer Hitch

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Shipping Weight: 27 lbs
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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. Great Prices for the best trailer hitch from etrailer. etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" part number e78KR can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (9)
  • Q & A (0)
  • Photos

etrailer Trailer Hitch - e78KR

  • Class III
  • 2 Inch Hitch
  • 3500 lbs GTW
  • Visible Cross Tube
  • etrailer
  • 350 lbs TW
  • Custom Fit Hitch

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:

  • Custom-fit trailer hitch lets you tow a trailer or carry a bike rack or cargo carrier with your vehicle
  • Precision, robotic welding maximizes strength and improves fit
  • Bolt-on installation - no welding required
    • Complete hardware kit and installation instructions included
  • Lifetime technical support from the experts at etrailer
  • Matte black powder coat finish over protective base coat offers superior rust resistance
  • Sturdy, square-tube design
  • Ball mount, pin and clip sold separately
  • Made in the USA
    • Mounting hardware may be imported


Specs:

  • Receiver opening: 2" x 2"
  • Rating: Class III
    • Maximum gross trailer weight: 3,500 lbs
    • Maximum tongue weight: 350 lbs
    • Not rated for use with weight-distribution systems
  • Limited lifetime warranty


Rugged, Matte Black Finish

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.


Matte Carbide Finish vs Glossy Finish

Matte Carbide Finish vs Glossy Finish

etrailer Technical Support

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.



e78KR etrailer Class 3 Trailer Hitch Receiver - 2" - Matte Black Carbide

Installation Details E78KR Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Customer Satisfaction Score:


Customer Reviews

etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2" - e78KR

Average Customer Rating:  4.4 out of 5 stars   (9 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.

by:

Purchased this hitch for a 7k mile road trip I took this past summer. Having a great instructional video to follow made the installation process that much smoother. Installed it by my self but it can be tedious if you’re not use to DIY. After making sure it held up well we ordered another one for our second Element. The second one that arrived was a little more difficult to install. Had to pry one end with a pry bar to line it up where it’s supposed to be. Other than that no issues. We tow our boat with that one and we have no complaints. If we ever buy another Element this hitch will be ordered again. Loaded my hitch with 5 gallons of gas and 5 gallons of water, plus the cooler full of ice and food. Extra weight definitely had the car a lot lower in the rear end and from time to time on low curbs the hitch would scrape or bump hard. Didn’t affect it one bit.



by:
2009 Honda Element

The hitch is great once installed. The installation was much more difficult than anticipated from the description online and also watching videos. A few points to consider. Enlarging the existing holes in the frame rails is more difficult than I would have hoped. It took many hours including several trips to the hardware store for drill bits and conical grinding stones. I went through 4 stones and also needed two drill bits. Individual mileage may vary. After all that, the hitch didn't fit, and I was informed via very helpful online staff of Etrailer that some hitch modifications may be required. Those modifications were initially performed using a protective covering and a rubber mallet but eventually descended into a therapeutic session with a 7lb sledgehammer. This removed most of the protective paint on the portion of the rack being hammered, and also no doubt compromised the hitch's integrity- that said it does fit now. Happy the hitch is on, the quality is good, but the "30 minutes for a novice" to install direction on the website is nonsense.



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Fast and affordable, they're my go to company for auto hitches and accessories.



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2008 Honda Element



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It looked very nice when installed.

Holes
in the hitch were not exactly lined up. Had to wedge the side out to get it lined up during install.



by:

Pros: Excellent finish. I was a little worried about having to enlarge a few holes in order to get this hitch to fit. It turned out that it was very easy. I used a dremel tool to enlarge the hole, and the fish wire made it easy. (see the attached pics). Dont forget to paint the hole when done.

One other note was that the hitch didn't fit out of the box, I had to 'persuade' the center portion (where the U bolt goes) with a hammer in order to get the mounts to line up. It only took a little hammering and then it fit perfectly.


All in all I am very happy, but I took a star off for the adjustments .



by:

Awesome hitch, perfect fit and works amazing with my 1up USA bike rack



by:

You did very good. The product looks good. The video's on the tracking page are great. I have not installed it yet. The box did end up with a whole in it with the hitch popping out.



by:

Bought this to replace the previous Curt class 1 hitch. It came with some scratches in the paint, admittedly from mishandling by etrailer; they said they store them on a shelf and they get banged around which they should work to avoid. I had to clean quite a few spots, prime and paint, which took an extra couple of days of work because I had to wait for the paint to cure.

I also struggled a bit to get this one to line up. The bolts went in rather easily after I made the necessary clearance cuts, but I almost had to pre-bend the frame slightly with a “drift pin” to get the holes to align. My frame is not racked so that didn’t really make much sense. The previous Curt hitch still fit very well.

After a season of use though, it is solid and has not given me any problems. Very reliable and never moves. It feels well made and well attached to the frame.



by:

I've had it a year and used it a lot. Works perfect, rugged, and doesn't move around at all

I have it attached to a Honda Element and use it to haul lightweight dirt bikes.

Highly recommend it



by:

It's a well made hitch receiver and wiring harness. The installation process was well thought out. I followed the hitch instructions, and thought fishing the bolts was going to be harder than it actually was. The instructions were easy enough to follow. The wiring kit under the dashboard was plug-and-play, with no issues. In my installation, I chose to do something not mentioned in the instructions, and I adjusted the rear tow loop on my Honda Element, so that the center of the hitch could attached a little higher, making it more snug up to the bumper. This variance is unrelated to the quality of the products made by eTailer.



by:

there are several choices when it comes to hitches for the honda element. i chose this one because others need the bumper to be trimmed for correct installation. this one from curt though did not require that. the only difficulty installing this one is that holes in the honda frame needed enlarged on the sides to allow for hardware to be put in place. access isnt great but using a rotary file in my drill seemed to work pretty good. make sure you wear your earplugs though. the hitch fits and looks great. wiring is easy, however instructions dont tell you how to get the wiring from the connection inside by the spare tire to outside where the hitch is at. i chose to remove a plastic cap beneath the spare and under the jack. i bought some plastic insulation and wrapped the wire for a little extra protection and it works great.



by:

Shipped to wrong address. My order said to ship ID . However you shipped it to my home address where the car needing the trailer hitch he is not at and the trailer hitch now needs to be shipped to Idaho. However I won’t be back to Idaho until early July



by:

Gave some thought to putting this on myself but I do not have access to lift or jack stands. Good thing that I have a great mechanic because the holes did not line up so the hitch needed some strenuous persuasion to move the holes into alignment with the pre drilled holes in the vehicle frame. The rest of the installation went smoothly and I am very happy with the end result. If you are thinking of doing this yourself, have a back up plan since the MFG does not appear to be checking tolerances on the product. The misalignment was NOT due to shipping as the carton was sturdy and showed NO sign of damage.



by:

The hitch is made well, however the fitment requires bending of the arms to make it fit an '07 Honda Element. Ideally, I would prefer to not have to bend metal to get something to fit, just because if you bend it incorrectly you've just made an expensive item un-returnable. Over all, happy with the hitch.



by:

We had a Pep Boys install our hitch because it wasn’t expensive and we are not very handy with tools. The installation was a breeze and the hitch looks and works great! We use a lot of different bike trailers works great with all of them.



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The Curt hitch was very difficult to in stall.



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Easy installation!



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The bolt holes wouldn't line up. They were off by a few inches. It was impossible for me to mount. Customer service gave me a full refund and return.



by:

Great fit and easy install on my 2008 Honda Element. Their videos and thorough answering of questions are why I keep coming back. Great job!


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Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this etrailer Trailer Hitch

  • Replacement Hardware for the etrailer Trailer Hitch e78KR on a 2003-2011 Honda Element
    Since some of these items needed for your hitch installation are rather uncommon, I recommend using the Replacement Hardware Kit for Trailer Hitches part # RHK so you can be sure you have exactly what you need. I can also assure you it will not take two months to receive these from us. Once you arrive at the product page you will enter "e78KR" into the hitch item number box and add it to your cart. We will quickly prepare and ship a complete set for you. The installation instructions...
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  • Does Installing etrailer Hitch Part e78KR Affect Ground Clearance on a 2005 Honda Element
    The ground clearance may be reduced some, not much. It depends on whether or not something under the vehicle sits lower. The hitch should not stick down so far as to make going over curbs a problem I have added a link to the instructions below that will give you a good idea of where the hitch mounts.
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  • How to Order Replacement Hardware for etrailer Trailer Hitch e78KR
    To order replacement hardware from us the part number you need is the # RHK. On the product page of this part number you need to enter the part number e78KR. We will prepare and ship a complete set of hardware for you. You will see the price once you add it to the cart to complete the purchase.
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  • Hitch and Wiring Recommendation for a 2003 Honda Element AWD
    The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2 inch, part # e78KR, that you referenced will work for your 2003 Honda Element AWD. I have included instructions in a link below. To complete your towing setup you you might also be interested in: Tow Ready Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring for the 2003 Honda Element, part # 118336 Ball Mount 3/4 inch Rise or 2 inch Drop, 7,500 lbs, part # C45010 Hitch Ball with 2 inch Diameter and Medium Shank, 6,000 lbs GTW - Chrome, part # 19247 Hitch...
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  • Trailer Hitch and Wiring Recommendation for a 2005 Honda Element
    First let's start with a hitch for your 2005 Honda Element. For that I would recommend the Class III hitch part # e78KR that has been confirmed as a fit. This hitch has a 2 inch opening which means it will have higher weight capacities and has more options available for hitch accessories. I attached the installation instructions for you to check out. For trailer wiring you will need to go with a universal fit type harness like part # C59496 that will require you to run a wire up to the...
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  • Parts Needed to Tow a Trailer with a 2005 Honda Element
    Yes, the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C11700 is a fit for your 2005 Honda Element with 4WD. However, this hitch only has a 1-1/4" receiver tube opening and since you plan to be towing a trailer then I highly recommend the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e78KR because it has a 2" receiver tube opening. As you mentioned you will also need a trailer wiring harness and ball mount/hitch ball. For a trailer wiring harness I recommend the Hopkins Tail Light Converter Kit part # HM48925...
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  • Trailer Hitch Receiver to Fit 2007 Honda Element SC
    The etrailer hitch # e78KR is not confirmed to fit the SC model of the 2007 Honda Element. For your SC we carry the Curt # C11699 which is a Class I. You will be limited to carrying only 2 bikes on a class I hitch and will need to choose a class I compatible bike rack. I suggest the Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches # S64650. This is a lightweight 2-bike rack that will work with your 1-1/4 inch receiver. With the Curt hitch you'll need to use a support strap...
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  • The Best Bike Rack for a 2005 Honda Element
    Based on your needs, the best fit for your 2005 Honda Element is going to be the Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes item # S64683. This bike rack fits the 2" receiver of the etrailer item # e78KR you are having installed. The carrier is lightweight at only 47 lbs so it is easily removable. The best feature about this bike is its ability to fold down so you can access your rear cargo area. I have attached a picture below of this function. I have also linked an installation and review...
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    Image 1 for
  • Recommend Trailer Hitch for 2008 Honda Element To Use with Bike Rack
    The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver part # e78KR is what I recommend for a 2008 Honda Element because it offers the 2 inch hitch ball that you need. In regard to compatibility with a bike rack like the RockyMounts BackStage 2 Bike Platform Rack part # RKY10002, there will be no issues as this is a great hitch for bike racks. I have attached a sample install video for you as well.
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  • Recommended Replacement Hardware Kit for a 2008 Honda Element
    We might have the replacement hardware depending on what hitch you have. If you have a Curt, Da'Lan, Draw-Tite, etrailer, Hidden Hitch or a Reese hitch then you could use # RHK and enter your hitches item number in the box on the webpage.
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  • Ball Mount Recommendation for Use with etrailer hitch e78KR for 2007 Honda Element
    The key when picking out a ball mount is to go with one that allows the trailer to be towed level. Without knowing the height of the coupler on your trailers I can't know what would work best, but I do have a solution that will work. The part # BWTS10038B is an adjustable ball mount that has two ball sizes. 2 inch hitch ball and a 1-7/8 inch hitch ball which would be what you'd most likely find on a smaller trailer. If you already have the Curt Ball mount, you will need to determine the...
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  • Recommended Trailer Wiring Harness for 2005 Honda Element
    The correct 4-pole trailer wiring harness for your 2005 Honda Element is part # C59496. This complete kit includes the harness itself, quick-splice connectors, wiring and even a circuit tester to help you identify the correct wires to splice into. A helpful article and video will assist you in your harness installation.
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  • Can Custom Cargo Box be Mounted toYakima Swinging Enclosed Cargo Carrier
    Theoretically you could mount your own custom-made cargo box on the arm of the Yakima EXO Swing Away Enclosed Cargo Carrier - 2" Hitches - 10 cu ft - 100 lbs # Y62VR, though I do have to note that any alterations will void the carrier's warranty. I do understand having a concern about the weight, but so long as you have the right hitch and don't overload the carrier, this won't be an issue. Your 2005 Honda Element has a pair of Class III trailer hitches with 2" receivers that fit, the...
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  • Hitch with Best Ground Clearance for a 2008 Honda Element EX
    For your 2008 Honda Element EX I recommend the etrailer trailer hitch # e78KR because it will provide the best ground clearance out of the available hitch options. The top of the receiver will basically be right below the bottom of the rear fascia on the vehicle. With this hitch the distance from the ground to the top of the receiver opening is 13-1/2 inches. That means from the ground to the bottom of the receiver is approximately 11 inches. That is basically about as low as the exhaust...
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  • Trailer Hitch Receiver Mounted 4 Bike Rack for a 2007 Honda Element
    Because the bike racks are effectively universal in terms of hitch shape, we don't custom-fit to each vehicle individually. An exception is of course if the vehicle has a rear mount spare tire. Since you don't have one, you don't need to worry about this. The bumper or body elements of a vehicle can sometimes get in the way, and if you're worried about this, you can simply measure from the center of the hitch pin hole to the edge plane of the bumper. The etrailer part # e78KR that you...
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  • Trailer Wiring Kit Recommendation for 2007 Honda Element
    For your 2007 Honda Element the best trailer wiring kit we offer is the Tekonsha kit part # 118465. Of the three brands of kits we offer for your vehicle the Tekonsha kits can handle the most amperage and tend to be the most reliable.
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  • Compatibility of Kuat NV 2 Bike Add-On With Class III 2 Inch Hitch on 2008 Honda Element
    The Kuat 2 bike Add-On, # NA22G for the Gunmetal Gray or # BA02B for the matte Black finish would work great with the hitch currently installed on your 2008 Honda Element. If you click the provided link, you can see a product demonstration video featuring the NV 2 bike add-on.
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  • Trailer Hitch Receiver and 7-Way Trailer Wiring Harness for 2009 Honda Element
    We do have all the parts you need in order to add a trailer hitch receiver to your 2009 Honda Element as well as add a 7-way trailer wiring harness. Starting with the trailer hitch receiver I recommend the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver # e78KR. Then to add a 7-way to your Element you will need to add the following parts: - T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector # 118465 - Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way # ETBC7 You will need...
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  • Availability Of Replacement Hardware For The Draw Tite 75659 For A 2005 Honda Element
    Unfortunately we cannot provide a sleeve spacer for your draw tite hitch. The Draw tite hitch for a 2005 Honda Element # 75659 is not available, and those spacers are basically specific to this hitch. It may be worth contacting Draw Tite directly to see if they can help. All I can offer would be a whole new hitch for your 2005 Honda Element like the etrailer class 3 hitch # e78KR. This hitch has the same weight capacity as your draw tite hitch and has a 2" receiver.
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  • Does Trailer Hitch Receiver For 2005 Honda Element Require Drilling
    I don't blame you for not being enthused about drilling to mount a hitch on your 2005 Honda Element, though that will be necessary with both of the hitches we offer that fit, the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver # e78KR and Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # 13574. To be honest, the reason why the Draw-Tite isn't offered anymore is because they were recently bought and issues have risen with product availability. Basically, only their most popular products are being made available right now...
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  • Best Single Bike Rack for 2011 Honda Element
    Sounds like you did your research! I'm a big fan of the easy wheel mount design of both the Inno Tire Hold # INH110 and the RockyMounts MonoRail Solo Bike Rack # RKY10007. The main differences between the two are carrier weight and bike capacity. The etrailer Class III # e78KR will work great for your 2011 Honda Element. Congratulations on having such a unique and interesting vehicle by the way. The Draw-Tite is a 2" hitch and is relatively easy to install. As for lowering your tailgate,...
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  • Trailer Hitch Recommendations for Towing 4 x 8 Trailer With 2008 Honda Element
    If there's a possibility you might use the hitch as a mounting point for a hitch accessory like a cargo carrying tray or a bike rack, you might want to consider going with the Class III hitch with the 2 inch receiver opening. The 2 inch receiver size is more common and there are many more accessories available for it. If you decide to go with a 2 inch hitch, I'd recommend the etrailer Class III trailer hitch, part # e78KR. You'll also need a ball mount, part # C45010 and a 1-7/8 inch ball,...
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  • Trailer Hitch and Towing Accessory Recommendation for 2006 Honda Element
    The two Class III hitches you mentioned, the etrailer # e78KR and the Curt # 13574, have the same weight capacity, installation procedure and appearance except for the finish. The Curt has a glossy black finish and the etrailer hitch has a matte black finish. It depends on which you like better. Many people think the matte black blends more and make the hitch not as noticeable. If the finish doesn't help you choose, you can choose the lower priced etrailer model, and not feel like you've...
    view full answer...
  • 2-Inch Trailer Hitch & Wiring Harness for 2005 Honda Element
    For your 2005 Honda Element the 2-inch Class III hitch I recommend is the lower-priced option from etrailer, part # e78KR, since this has the same 350-lb tongue weight and 3500-lb towing capacities as the Curt hitch # 13574. The hitch includes all required mounting hardware and does not require the use of a stabilizer strap like the Curt hitch does. I have linked for you a copy of the installation instructions. There is no plug-and-play wiring harness option for your car but we do have...
    view full answer...


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