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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.
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hey everybody, Ryan here at etrailer. Today on our 2022 Honda Pilot, we're gonna be showing you how to install the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver. But before we do that, why don't we check it out and make sure this will be the right hitch for you When it comes to the Honda Pilot, these things are really capable SUVs, and people use 'em to do a lot of different things which is definitely understandable. So, having a hitch back here is gotta really open up your opportunities on what you can do with your Honda. So, whether you're looking to use a bike rack whenever you're going riding, maybe throw in a cargo carrier on your vacation, you're going on a road trip, or even pulling a trailer around, if it we're me, I'd want to hitch that could handle all those different types of tasks. And that's exactly what this one's gonna be able to do.
With that said as well, these Pilots, they look good, good-looking SUVs. And so, I'd want a hitch that would kind of match that and look right at home on the back. And with this setup here being, for the most part, completely hidden, I think it does just that. Before we go any further, I do just wanna address a couple of the big questions that we get asked a lot. One of 'em being, "Is the hitch going to affect your hands-free lift gate assist feature" If your vehicle is equipped with that.
And the answer is no. The only thing you're gonna have to do is kick to either side of the hitch, and everything will open up just like it should. The other thing I want to talk about is the spare tire, and if you can put the spare tire back up in place with the hitch on. And chances are really, really good you're not gonna run into any of those issues. And I say that because there is a few oddball Pilots out there that have a full size spare tire.
I've yet to come across one, but there is a few of 'em floating around out there. And if your vehicle has that full size spare, you're not gonna be able to put it up with the hitch. But the good news is, like I said, those are pretty rare. And chances are really good you're not gonna have to worry about that. Still, probably worthwhile though just to take a quick peek under there and make sure you have kind of just your typical donut.
Whether it be a 17 inch wheel diameter or an 18 inch wheel diameter, as long as it's kind of the skinnier donut, not the full size, you're not gonna run into any issues at all. With that out of the way though, this is going to be a class three hitch, and so it's gonna have that two inch by two inch receiver tube opening. Extremely common size, ton of different accessories will work with it. It is going to use that standard 5/8 pin and clip. Keep in mind though, pin and clip doesn't come included with the hitch. If you need one, not really a huge deal. The safety chain openings are gonna be a little bit different. They're gonna hang down below, and allow us to use just about any size hook that our trailer might have. I'm not super crazy about 'em if I was being honest with you. I mean, they're definitely functional and out of the way, but being that they do hang down a little bit, you gotta keep in mind that it's going to take away from some of our ground clearance. But that said though, if you are gonna be pulling a trailer around, obviously you're gonna want the lights to work on it, you know That way people around what's going on, you'll be safe and legal. And to accomplish that, you can always grab some trailer wiring. We actually carry quite a few of them here at etrailer, and we have the four-way flat, smaller type connectors, as well as the seven-way round type connectors for the little bit larger trailers. So whatever you got, or whatever trailer you got, you know you're gonna be covered. And the hitch actually already has a bracket pre-attached to it to give you a good spot to mount up that wiring connector. So, pretty convenient there. Now we can just go ahead, grab a couple of measurements, and these are gonna help us figure out what type of accessories to get. If you go from the ground to the top inside edge of the receiver tube opening, that's gonna be about 15 inches. So, if you're planning on pulling a trailer around, chances are pretty good you can get a ball mount that has a straight shank. If you go from the center of the hitch-pin hole to the edge of our rear bumper, that's gonna be about five inches, and you can use that measurement to help figure out that if any folding accessories you might have, can be stored in that upright position without hitting the back of your Honda. Just to kind of compare this hitch to some of the other ones available. Honestly, they're all gonna share a lot of similarities. The weight ratings are the same, and essentially how they're gonna look is gonna be very similar. And so it's really just gonna boil down to what you like the best. All the big questions that we answered today, those are going to apply to those hitches as well. So, you got a few different choices to pick from, and grab the one that you like the best. As far as the installation goes, very straightforward. With these, essentially you lower the spare tire, hold the hitch up, and bolt it in. So, really shouldn't give you too many issues or take up a whole lot of your time. But speaking of that, if you'd like to see how that's done, feel free to follow along. We'll go ahead, pull into the garage and put the hitch on together now. To begin our installation, we're gonna be here at back of our Honda. And the first thing we need to do is lower our spare tire that way it'll give us a lot of extra room to work when we go to put our hitch up. So, if you open this up, we're gonna have a spare tire access right there. And I'm actually using our factory tools. These are located right in there, so. Got them out and ready. But with this, you can take screwdriver, something, pop that up. Rubber cap, pop that up, and then we're able to get our tool on there, and temporarily lower and remove our tire. So now underneath the vehicle, we can go over our attachment points. And anything we do from this point on, we're also gonna do to the other side 'cause it'll be set up the exact same way. But if we look at the bottom of our frame rail, we're gonna have three factory weld nuts, and those are what we're gonna use to bolt the hitch up. With that said though, I do suggest cleaning the threads out. So I sprayed some penetrating oil up there, and I'm just gonna use a tube brush to kind of clean out any junk or dirt that may be inside. As far as the hardware goes that we're gonna use to secure the hitch, it's gonna be the same for all of our attachment points. You're gonna have a bolt and a conical tooth washer. Make sure the teeth on the washer are gonna face up towards the hitch. So the way this is gonna work, we're gonna hold our hitch up, line it up with our attachment points, and then simply just thread these right into the bottom of the frame. Now with an extra set of hands, you can get our hitch into position. We're just going to raise it up, and get everything lined up like we talked about. Once we have it like that, we'll go ahead and get at least one bolt started on each side, hand-tight, that way the hitch will support itself while we work on the rest of the hardware now. We'll go ahead and get the rest of our bolts started. And then what you can do, ours looks like it's about spot on, you can center the hitch so you can push it one way or the other, make sure it's in the middle. But ours looks pretty good. And once we have all the hardware in place and hand-tight, we'll come back with a 22 millimeter socket and snug everything down. Now we need to make sure and come back with a torque wrench and tighten down all the hardware to the amount specified in the instructions. If you don't have a torque wrench, you can always grab one here at etrailer, or a lot of times go to your local auto parts store, and they'll have one there available that you can rent. So once the hitch is torqued down, you go ahead and get your spare tire back into position the opposite way that you removed it. And as you can see, our 17 inch spare fits back up into place with no issues. And that'll finish up our look at and our installation of the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver on our 2022 Honda Pilot..
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (496 Customer Reviews)
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.
Overall, the hitch is excellent. Only drawbacks are documented in the photos. Installation was not too complicated for a do it yourself install. Instructions/pictures were clear and understandable. We are very happy with the result and performance of the hitch and trailer wiring harness ordered from E-trailer.
*Recommendations:
1. Paint the heads of the Grade 8 mounting bolts as they will rust over time.
2. Check the amount of ground clearance before ordering the type of receiver as different manufactures have alternate hook points = better ground clearance (dips, speed humps, curbs etc.)
3. Before torquing the mounting bolts, reattach the spare tire in its full up position. some wiggling or slight adjustment of hitch may be needed to fit spare tire into well with binding. The fit on our 2021 Honda pilot was Tight.
4. You may need to purchase an aftermarket "hands-Free tailgate sensor" if your SUV has one of these located under the rear bumper. The new hitch crosses the original factor sensor and doesn't register foot movement when trying use the "hands-free feature" attached is a screenshot of the cost and part number from the Honda dealership for the shortened "hands-Free" sensor.
Overall great product and service. We would buy again.
Not used yet but ordering was awesome and install was a breeze. Called and spoke w Debora H Monday evening. Told her I needed it by Wednesday, she promised that it would be hear by then. Promise kept!! Hitch arrived around midday - already installed. See pics.
Will defenetleyy be ordering another one from Debora H soon for my other SUV.
Pedro T.
3/10/2016
Still in great shape, working very well as promised.
We have only used the hitch to carry luggage in long trips and help a friend doing a move. During the instalation the hitch broke off a plastic tab on the bumper on a 2021 Pilot. It is not visible from the outside, but made me sad. Overall it does the job. I bought one for my CRV, but haven't installed it yet. Fingers crossed.
Jose D.
11/8/2023
I installed it just 2 months ago. Life & family got me busy, but finally got the car in for maintenance and got it working. Is a game changer. Too bad I waited to long.
Showed up with paint chipped off at many points due to poor packaging which caused the hitch to tear through the box. Also, ordered the Draw Tight which is suppose to have the second hole for the J-pin, which I ordered. No second hole so the J-pin is useless. Sturdy hitch and easy to mount. However now I have to do touch up paint to prevent rust and buy a new standard pin. Great hitch and worth the money but need to provide what they advertise and do a better job in shipping!
Sierra K.
12/8/2021
I apologize for the damage to your item. Customer Service will reach out to you about it. You have the right idea about covering the metal with anti-corrosive paint. Here are more tips in this help article. Also, Draw-tite is discontinuing all of the J-pin style hitch receivers. etrailer is in the process of update all of our Draw-tite photos, videos, and content.
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I'm glad I found this site!
Just purchased a 2016 Honda Pilot Elite and the dealer wanted $1465.00 to install a trailer hitch. He blamed the high price on the "4" hours of installation and new wiring.
For less than xxx and an easy to follow installation video, I installed it myself in less than 30 minutes. Didn't need to drop the spare either...fit right into place!
Great sales recommendations and follow up from the etrailer staff. This company knows how to run a business and keep a customer satisfied. 5 stars out of 5 stars.
Hitch was well packaged. The box arrived with some tears but no damage, nicks or scrapes to the hitch.
My car is not garaged so there was a good amount of rust buildup in the factory drilled bolt holes. The Magic to get all that gunk out was WD-40 rust release penetrate spray and a 1/2” wire fitting brush hardware stores have them in the plumbing section
Once rust was cleaned out installation took about 25 minutes. I installed the hitch solo. Getting the specified torque on the bolts was a workout !
I used 2 Eddie Bauer hanging dome lights to I’ve me great visibility workkng. They are my go to lights. About 10 bucks a piece on-line.
I spent a long time on etrailer.com looking at trailer hitches for my 2019 Honda Pilot and this was the one recommended by an etrailer installer, even though it wasn't really the one I thought would be best. But, I've had great success with etrailer in the past and decided to trust them.
This is a very high quality hitch, very well constructed and a clean look to it. It is an absolute perfect fit to my Honda Pilot! Other than the receiver, it is well hidden behind the rear bumper. Check out my pictures - it looks very good and complimentary to the vehicle.
I never would have tried to install this myself, but the installation video convinced me to give it a try. I actually installed it alone, using some cement blocks to hold up one end while I held up the other end. It was a pain, but it worked. I've never done this before, but from start to finish it only took me 30 minutes to install this and that includes watching the video one more time.
UPS beat the daylights out of the shipping box, but the hitch was in perfect condition as it was packed well. I have ordered a locking hitch pin and a T-One wiring harness and they were well packed in a box in with the hitch. Shipping was fast!
Another perfect experience wtih etrailer.com!
Installed this hitch on my 2020 Honda Pilot Elite and I like the design where the safety chain holders face down rather than out. This allowed me to not have to relocate the sensor for the foot actuated lift gate. I did most the installation by myself using jack stands to hold the hitch up while I inserted the bolts. The hardest part was torquing the bolts. I needed help holding the torque wrench on the bolt while pulling using a pipe extension on the wrench to get extra leverage. I also installed the wiring harness for towing. The video was a great help guiding me step by step in the removal of the trim to access the plug for the harness. Thanks etrailer for providing such great service!
Joe
1/3/2021
This hitch is working well - the finish looks just like new after one year.
Everything was as expected! I have never wired, and or installed a new hitch. I followed the directions via the videos that etrailer.com provided - it all worked like a dream. I was careful, and took my time - I had to re-clean the receiver threaded area on the frame of the car multiple times before the bolts would work, but the video provided great information on how to do that also. It took about an hour for the entire install! Thanks etrailer.com for the hitch and the great videos!
Steve
6/17/2021
Great!
Classic under promise and over deliver. The videos were extremely helpful and everything went together just as described on my 2020 Honda Pilot. I ordered the Drawtite receiver and the T-One 7 pin harness. Only thing that was a bit frustrating was the location of the onboard pre wired connector on the Pilot. It would have been helpful for a caution about needing to fish up into the body to find that connector, it isn’t readily available to find.
Alan B.
9/8/2021
the hitch and wiring connector have performed flawlessly. We have towed a 4000lb camping trailer a few hundred miles and everything as worked as expected.
Perfect fit for my Acura MDX 2014. Seriously good quality. Beast
I like it , as advertised it was simple to install. It took me 35 minutes to complete the task simply followed the instructions and the video. I need to carry a cargo carrier every now and then this is a near perfect very well made product.
My only complaint is the harness bracket it pokes out against the lines of the car. It would be nice if the bracket hid behind the bumper.
Mario G.
6/7/2018
My trailer has been absolutely perfect with no issues. I have recommended etrailer to a few of my friends or whenever I hear someone asking about a hitch.
I am very happy with the results from the trailer hitch and wiring harness I purchased from etrailer.com. Installation was very easy and I saved $800.00 from a dealer install. Thanks.
Steve R.
8/25/2019
I am very happy with the results on my trailer hitch. Everything is working as it should, but I would have preferred a hitch that was more like Hondas and integrated into the bumper for a cleaner look. But no regrets.
It was fairly easy to install.The only thing was for 2022 pilot, one of the clip i had to break it for the bumper so hitch can fit.Other than that everything works great
I received my Draw-Tite hitch within a week from ordering. I knew to expect the box to be damaged when delivered because of it’s size and weight. The contents inside the box was smartly packed. A couple of scuffs along the edge of the hitch during shipping is expected.
After reviewing the installation videos online I felt confident to install my hitch. Note I installed the hitch without help. Just plan it out and set up supports to lift your hitch for an easier installation. I lowered my spare tire to make installation easier and used the spare as part of my support to lift the hitch during installation. I alternated my bolt installation and making sure none of the bolts were more than half way secured. Once all the bolts were one I proceeded to secure them to 80% so that I can adjust and make sure the hitch appeared centered. Once centered I secured the bolts to the recommended torque setting. The hitch feels solid and installation was a breeze. The most difficult part of the installation was lifting and supporting the hitch for mounting.
In all it took all of an hour to install the hitch. That includes time to clear the storage to access the spare and to set up my support to lift the hitch for installation. Sorry but I did not take any pictures of how the hitch was supported during installation because my hands were extremely dirty.
Now I just need to find a hitch mounted bike carrier. Etrailer will be my first stop for a hitch mounted bike carrier. Looking to carry an ebike, mountain bike and a kids bike.
This is my second hitch from etrailer. The first one was for my 2010 Acura MDX and now this one is for my 2018 Acura MDX. My use for this hitch is to attach my bike rack. I am pleased with the quality of the hitch and the amount of money I saved by not getting one from the dealer. I would admit, I like the dealer integrated looks but not for the amount of money they want for it. On both occasions, I had Uhaul installed it for me. Today's installation charge was $35 NYC area. If I had tools and a way to raise my car up a little bit, I could have done this myself. It's very quick and simple installation process watch the video. Here are a few pics of the finish product
What a great experience. looking for a hitch for my 2019 Pilot Elite to add my bike rack.
the website is full of information from fit and finish to installation instructions. Having photos of my specific SUV was a plus. i liked the fact that the drawtite had vertical attachment points instead of horizontal at the bottom and came with a bracket for the wiring harness for later. all of which were discussed in the reviews.
Had no issues as it came shipped, was in a box and completely secured with holes for handles to easily transport the hitch. All parts were included, nothing missing.
I would only have to comment on the adhesive stickers were placed crooked on the hitch, a slight gap on the weld where the mount for the wiring harness would be and too much contact where the bumper meets the top of the receiver causing the bow of bottom of my bumper. Drawtite should make some minor adjustments during manufacturing.
Otherwise very pleased with etrailer, hope to make more purchases soon.
I consider myself relatively handy but have never installed a hitch before. etrailer.com couldn't have made the process any easier. Locating the part, being able to compare it to other hitches right on the website, and videos to guide installation were perfect. I'm thrilled with the hitch I chose and would recommend etrailer to anyone in the market to add a hitch to their vehicle. If anyone is concerned that the part might not be right or they might not be able to do it themselves, rest assured, you definitely can. Other parts, like the wiring harness, were just as easy to locate on the website and install.
My son referred me to etrailer.com. He's used the site for his last two trailers and raves about it, now I know why.
The installation was as easy as described and the video was perfect for my 2016 Pilot. The Hitch installed in ~30 mins.
I purchased the hitch, wiring harness for 7 pin adapter, 7/4 pin plug and mount, brake controller, and plug for the harness.
In order to raise the tow capacity to 5000lbs from 3500lbs, I had the transmission cooler installed at the dealer. They insisted that only Honda can install without cutting/splicing wires and that my electrical system would be damaged. The harness literally plugged into the existing plug for which it is designed. Clean install without a single wire cut/spliced. The only problem I had was with the little silver tie down as it was put in by a gorilla and wasn't coming out. Fortunately, I was able to get the plug from behind the panel without removing that piece.
When I installed the brake controller, I learned from the comments that the plug is buried so I knew to look harder than expected.
The dealer wanted over $500 to install just the hitch, no wiring. I've installed the hitch, wiring, brake controller and wiring for $427.
Easy bolt on! Let spare down a little to give wiggle room to line up bolts - nuts are pre placed by Honda. The hardest part was torquing the bolts to specs listed. I bought this hitch specifically for the wiring mount pad - great for 7 wire w/brakes. Put it all in, included the brake control in about an hour and a half. Pulls a 3500# trailer like a champ!
Fit nicely. I had to chase the threads on two of the bolt holes to clear out some of the rust. Torquing the six bolts to 148 ft-lbs was a bit of challenge though for a DIY.
Saved $200 by doing this myself. I was a little concerned about the negative feedback about the shipping boxes being destroy upon delivery. But as you can see, it came intact and was delivered promptly to my front door. This installation was very easy. I watched the video for both the trailer hitch and wiring harness and it was exactly like the video indicated. I will tell you on the wiring harness you do not have to pull the panel back. Just get a mirror and locate the connector behind the panel and you can pull it down to the opening.
The trailer hitch you recommended, was everything you said it was going to be. The installation went as smooth and easy as possible. All the information you provided was as you said it was. All the parts and hardware was included. Thank you Diana H. you were very patient with on the phone and answered all my question and suggest all the right part. Thank you again for all your expertise knowledge. The picture attached is of the finished installation. Total time of installation was 1 hour.
Built as solid as I could have hoped for. I like the built in look of the Honda hitch but not the dealer price tag. It came quickly on the day they anticipated and I installed it in about 25 minutes with 1 extra set of hands. I did have to remove the spare, and I’m not sure how some people don’t but that wasn’t a big issue. The only 1 thing I am not 100% satisfied with is that (look at the picture) the molding on the back of the car rests very lightly on the top of the hitch receiver. You can see that it ever so slightly goes up in the middle now. I would have liked it not to actually touch. I’m not sure if it was manufactured a quarter inch too short or if our molding was a qtr in too low but that’s my one gripe. I do still like it and am happy with how solid it feels and how easily it went on.
Very well made! Delivery was fast. I received it within three days of ordering. The box was a bit damaged and a small area of the hitch itself was chipped as you can see from my photo. I planned on installing it myself, but wasn’t able to turn the bolts with my hand socket. At first I thought I was given the wrong size bolts, but double checked the size at my local hardware store. I then cleaned the threads underneath the truck with a wire brush and was able to get the bolts started, but still unable to tighten by hand. Since I didn’t have an impact driver I took it to my local mechanic, John, who graciously installed it for me in no time. But, John had to permanently remove the center trim piece of my bumper for it to fit, which I wasn’t aware of when I purchased. I don’t remember any of the videos I watched from the website mention that. Now that the trim piece is missing the look isn’t as clean as I expected. So far I’m satisfied with the product, but disappointed in the aesthetics. I’ve attached some pics for your convenience.
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Zak
12/22/2022
Hitch, wiring harness, and all mounting hardware are working great ???? no issues with 1 year of use towing a small utility trailer. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to buy a hitch wiring combo for their Honda pilot.