Comparing Trailer Hitches for 2019 Toyota Highlander

Question:

Alright I need help. I have a 2019 Toyota Highlander and I'm in need of a 2" hitch. I went through the fitguide and see the options. Some of them look identical to each other, others are clearly different but I'm not sure what the difference actually means (if anything at all). Can you maybe compare the hitches for my Highlander and make a specific recommendation? Thank you! I am a bit overwhelmed....

asked by: Brad

Expert Reply:

There is indeed quite the selection of 2" trailer hitches available for your 2019 Toyota Highlander, but I can absolutely help to clarify the differences between them and point out what those differences actually mean in terms of appearance and function.

Right off the bat we can split the four available Class III hitches for your Highlander into two groups; hidden and non-hidden designs. The etrailer.com # e98844 and the Curt # C13200 both feature a crosstube that's going to drop below the rear bumper and be completely visible from behind the vehicle. You're going to pretty much see the entire hitch when giving the rear of the vehicle a quick glance. This doesn't look quite as nice as the hidden models but it does allow for an easier installation process.

Within this group the only real difference between the etrailer.com and Curt model is the finish that is used. The etrailer.com hitch uses a rugged matte black finish (which is what I personally prefer) and the Curt model uses a shiny black powder coat.

Then going to the "hidden" category, we have the EcoHitch # 306-X7250, both of which feature a 2" receiver that drops below the crosstube, making it so that only this receiver is visible when looking at the rear bumper. This also helps with providing a better ground clearance measurement. Whenever this type of hitch is an option for a vehicle it is what I recommend, as it just offers a much cleaner, factory-like appearance.

The EcoHitch model # 306-X7250 does a great job of completely hiding the crosstube from view so it is the hitch I recommend for your 2019 Toyota Highlander. It features a 5,000 pound towing weight capacity, which matches the limit on your Highlander.

I have attached an installation video on this model that you can check out, along with a couple images of it mounted so you can see exactly how it looks.