Accessing the Receiver Tube For 2018 Subaru WRX EcoHitch Invisi-Hitch

Question:

Hi. I have a 2018 WRX STI and bought the Eco Invisi-hitch. Im very happy with it, expect for the fact that I cant get my hands inside enough to lock it. I pulled four locking pins to have more space, and even cut a fair amount of the plastic lining of my bumper, but still impossible to get my hands in enough to fasten and turn the key. Do you have any photos of this being successfully done? I dont want to mess up my bumper further to no avail. Thanks

asked by: Barclay

Expert Reply:

There are pros and cons to a design like this product yearning for pure invisibility. While it's certainly a nice aesthetic, it's understandable that the flushness of it might create some clearance issues that would otherwise be absent with other receivers.

I don't have a photo, but on the install video that I've attached, at the 1:19 mark of the video, the installer shows a flexibility in the bumper/rear fascia material that allows him to manipulate his hands to access the locking pin for the receiver. He places his fingers directly under the center of the receiver, from the lowest back side of the fascia, and pulls it toward himself gently to increase the clearance around the receiver itself. It is then that he's able to remove the locking pin with ease.

You may still need to look into using a locking pin that has a slightly different design. If security is an issue, perhaps a locking cable for your accessories might be a good option than just a hitch pin lock that requires a key turn perpendicular to the receiver. If you're determined to use a hitch pin lock, then consider the Hollywood Racks # HRLHPC2. It has a design where you key into the front of the pin, and not the side, and includes a cable lock. You may find this product pairs better with your Invisi-hitch than a locking pin that turns its key from the side.

expert reply by: Aaron A