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

I initially purchased a 'Brand X" Class 1 hitch that, which it lasted, seemed to do okay. I have to use a powered wheelchair which is carried on a self-contained unit with its own suspension system and wheels - placing NO weight on the hitch receiver or rear of my 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The entire weight of the carrier is less than one-third the rated capacity of the hitch. The complete weld on one side of that hitch receiver broke clean with the other side on its way! After some online shopping, etrailer came to the rescue with a Class 1 hitch more solid and robust than my broken one! The welds are superior as is the construction of the entire unit (I purchased the 200/2000 unit). Installation was straight-forward - there are videos on YouTube going step-by-step (I've attached a picture of the broken Brand X receiver + the new etrailer item). I'm giving the etrailer unit my highest compliment and state, "Buy With Confidence." 739119

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STILL GOING STRONG!

John C - 01/19/2021

by: Peter07/22/2022

I bought this hitch a year ago to mount a bike rack on my Chevy Volt and it has been excellent. It's held in place by the rear bumper, which has to be removed for installation. So it's extremely sturdy and secure. One problem is it didn't quite fit. The shop that installed it had to widen the holes, which didn't line up with the pegs. That cost me about an extra $40 in labor. But once they got it on it has been great.1335136

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I bought the Draw-Tite 24947 hitch for my 2017 Chevrolet Volt becausse it has a higher load rating than the Curt hitch. There is also a third hitch available for my car but it requires cutting a hole in the bumper cover and adding a spring loaded license plate frame-neither were features I was interested in. The Draw-Tite hitch mounts exactly as shown in the etrailer video and requires about 90 minutes. I raised the rear of the car on ramps which helped tremendously. The entire job isn't as difficult as one may think by watching the video. In my level garage the bottom of the hitch is exactly 8" above the floor. I suggest also purchasing a hitch cover insert since the hitch is quite noticeable and the cover makes it look much more finished. I use the hitch to mount my 2-bike carrier and it performs flawlessly. I do not plan to tow so I did not buy the wiring harness.1339935

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Totally satisfied! Fast shipping with accurate install info both in the package and online. My install went smoothly following etrailers instructions - thanks!1274179

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Well, this was a piece of cake to install. The hardest part was removing the taillamps. Aside from that it was very straightforward. The video instructions were incredibly helpful. This was my third hitch from etrailer.com so I've done this before. I especially appreciated the hint to use a strap to support the muffler since you have to detach the muffler support from the body while you mount the hitch.

Of course, seeing as there was an inch of mud on the top side of my belly panel and plenty of additional grime on the bumper beam and newly exposed sheet metal once I had everything removed, I did spend some additional time cleaning it all up, but that was just my OCD.

In the end, the hitch is neatly installed and tucked out of the way under the rear facia. My bike rack mounts up to it nice and neat and I am very happy with the way this turned out!1310299

The product is excellent. The instructions that come with it are very poor, lacking important details, ignorance of which can result in damage to the car. The instructional video is different from the printed instructions in multiple important ways, and also is unrealistic because most people who install the hitch receiver will not have the use of a car lift.1290740

by: Chris03/31/2022

Hitch and hardware are excellent. The online instructions are very thorough. Be sure to read through the comments, as there are several very helpful install suggestions from users. You do not need to pull the bottom cover or wheels, and no jack is needed. Solo, including pulling the rear lights and bumper, I installed in 60 minutes.1279818

I received the shipment promptly with no damage. While the install of the hitch is not for the faint of heart there's nothing that the average tinkerer with proper tools can't handle. As others have said the video created by etrailer.com was absolutely indispensable. I really didn't look at the paper instructions except for the cutout dimensions. I just set up my tablet nearby and followed the video and was finished in about two hours. The only minor issue with the install is that the extra thickness of the hitch with the bumper installed over it made it so the exhaust hanger didn't sit in the tabs without some minor modification but this was easily dealt with. I haven't gotten the bike rack I installed this for so I can't make additional comments on usage at this point.578219

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Great product. Solid welds with a durable finish. This hitch design includes extra metal for the exhaust hanger that other designs do not have. It includes easy to follow instructions and a video which make for an easy install. It took me (with no power tools) an hour and a half with the cars back wheels on ramps. It is possible to remove the tail lights, and bumper without disconnecting the connectors. I would recommend laying some towels down to protect the finish on the bumper if this approach is taken.668296

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Well constructed hitch, excellent instructions and video!

HOWEVER..
The six 10mm bolts that hold the impact bar might have some rust. I thought I could run the nuts past it but the welds holding three of the studs broke. It did not take much torque to do that. Ended up having to hacksaw them off and replace with standard bolts. I highly suggest running a die over the studs before taking the nuts off if they aren’t perfectly clean.1269675

by: Sam C.07/23/2019

I've been using this trailer hitch frame on my 2017 Chevy Volt for a year and it has served me very well. It bolts on very securely between the car's frame and the rear bumper bar so I'm confident in its hold. I've hauled an 8'x6' utility trailer fully loaded (probably > 1500 lbs total) multiple times with no issues. There is no flexing of the hitch at all. It's great that there is a customized option available for the newer Volt that is designed to fit it so well, allowing many Volt owners to get a lot more out of their vehicle. 674183

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The Draw Tite hitch is well made and the instructions were clear and understandable. But, and there is always a but, this is not an installation for the faint of heart. A good level of mechanical aptitude is required. Simple things like disconnecting the tail light harness is a bit more than sliding the red clip lock forward. The release clip is not obvious and this step is where your skill sets will be put to the test. The tail lamp harness on the 2019 Volt is attached to the bumper cover and the harness unclips on the left side but the right side section does not have release clip. It requires removal of the christmas tree clips. (single use type clips) or you can set the cover to one side and not try to remove thr right side tail ;lamp harness. Take care when removing the 7mm fastners as there is one fasterner that is slightly different than the rest. It is slightly longer and is designed for one location in order to provide the additional reach needed to make contact with the reatainer clip. Other than that this hitch installation is a piece of cake!

P.S. be careful with the bumper cover side mounting clips as they can be easily be damaged. If any of this makes you uncomfortable have a mechanical shop or dealer do the installation for you. 655788

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After watching video provided from Etrailer, I had my Volt ready for install. Hitch showed up as promised and fit perfectly. We're going to use this to haul our bikes to trail systems. Thanks for the great service and products. 767331

Great, tucked out of the way, finish is holding up well.

Dale - 03/19/2021

by: Stephen11/21/2017

I installed this hitch myself in about 2 hours. Since then it hasn't let me down, and allows me to carry bikes on a bike rack. 453945

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Still holding up great. No problems at all.

Stephen - 11/21/2018

by: William10/01/2021

These types of hidden hitches take some effort to install, but they look and work great when they are on the car. No issues of any kind driving from Mass to NC with 3 bikes on a bike rack in the hitch.1169073

Good product and surprisingly easy installation. Took 2 hours start to finish. As a [online] suggested, there was no need to jack the car up, or to remove the entire underpanel. Just removing the series of screws underneath the bumper and in the wheel wells was sufficient. Very happy with the purchase.1181240

This trailer hitch fits awesome. It is not obtrusive; it looks like it belongs there! The directions are clear and easy to follow. Some tips:

You can use all the existing fasteners (they're all long enough). The bottom bumper bolts can separate from the body while loosening them - I held them from behind with needle-nose locking pliers. I also had to expand their nuts with heat and spray them with penetrating oil, since the pliers can't grip the bolts all that well.792820

A year in and this hitch is still great. Im really happy I got it. It does not flex, doesnt stick out, and it just works. What more could you ask for?

Stephen - 05/06/2021

The Draw-Tite trailer hitch is a great design and the install video was very very helpful!!!
The wiring kit was also well made and very complete. It would be nice to have a video of the wiring kit install also. 815837

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by: Kevin E06/04/2019

Chevrolet Volt

Now that I have had the Draw-Tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class 1 - 1-1/4" on my Chevrolet Volt for over a year, my rating remains 5 stars. Whenever I look at the picture of the rear end of my car lying on the garage floor I smile. I would have never attempted the install without the detailed installation available on etrailer.com. With the video on my tablet (pausing as needed) the install was a piece of cake and everything is working wonderfully more than one year later. This saved me so much money! The folks at etrailer.com rock!653366

Still 5 stars. Love the hitch. Love the fact I installed it with the help of the etrailer.com video!

Kevin E - 06/09/2020

by: Bjorn02/04/2022

Product has held up and fit my vehicle perfectly. Can't beat the price either.1259012

by: Bryan F.10/02/2017

2016 Ford Escape

Really happy with this hitch. The install was pretty straight forward on my 2016 Chevy Volt (gen 2) thanks to some great instructions included. There really were no surprises at all. I would suggest you wait to cut the underbody until the hitch is in place to avoid excessive cutting, but it's not a huge deal. I maybe have 5-10% more cut away than I needed to have.

This made for a neat father-son project with my 8 year old, who was pretty amazed at what the car looked like with the rear fascia removed, and how easy it was for us to do something that sounded impossible to him. Total time was probably 1.5 hours, with the biggest time suck being getting the screws out of the wheel wells. Jacking the car up would help, as would a right-angle watching screwdriver. I did neither, so it was a bit more tedious, but very doable. I also had a lot of trouble getting the wiring harness for the rear lights to separate, but I just released them from their mounting, which created a lot of slack, so I could just put the lights in the trunk. That worked well.

I've been using the hitch with a Thule 4 bike rack (the Apex), and it's been great. No sway or excessive wobble, which is better than the factory hitch in my 2015 Ford Escape. It is visible, but doesn't protrude behind the car (just underneath), and has had no issues at all.

Very happy, and really appreciate e-Trailers pricing and customer support.438451

by: Gregory08/07/2021

I've been using the trailer hitch for about a year now with no problems. Install took time, but the step by step instructions were straightforward and helpful.1117146

by: Ryan02/28/2019

Chevrolet Volt

Love this hitch. Bought an Allen 1.25" 3-bike carrier for it, and works great. Hitch was a relatively easy install (except all the plastic clips on the bumper cover). Be super careful with it. I broke two clips. Thankfully screws still hold it in place correctly. Modern body panels are just a pain. =/

Highly recommended for Volt owners. It does decrease clearance a tiny amount, but not noticeably. The bike rack does more of that than the hitch ever will.

Thanks etrailer! 609164

Haven't used it yet but it feels solid. I was afraid it was going to be close to the ground but it sits higher than I expected so is OK; not the lowest part of the car but not far off so need to be careful backing up and going over bumps etc (though that's very true of the Volt in general).

Some tips for installation:
* Try to have a 7mm rachet socket as the wheel well screw is real pain otherwise.
* The 5th wheel torx that's furthest in could probably stay there; I took it out but honestly I think you'd be fine not doing so. And it's a pain to get to unless you take the wheels off.
* For the life of me I could not work out how to detach the tail light electrical cable. Some instructions for noobs would be good here! I just left the lights sitting semi-precariously on the lip.
* I had a devil of a time working out how to get the fascia off around the wheel wells, not having done it before. Pull the fascia out and away so you can see the next tab, then poke in and press the tab to release. If you don't have a tool, put electrical tape across where the tab is then push a screw driver through to get to the tab; that protects the fascia just fine.
* Once the sides are loose, pull the bottom out a bit then pull the top straight out. Mine was a tad "sticky" but then came out in a rush - pop! pop! pop!
* The hitch fit perfectly - perfectly flat, no warping, installing it between the beam and the body was a breeze.
* The exhaust hanger hanger sits in some brackets. When I reinstalled it the space was tight and I had to gently hammer it in and down.
* Reinstalling the fascia was muuuuuch easier :-) Top edge first then everything pops into place.
* After reinstalling the fascia check at the bottom that the underbody panels are where the should be - inside the fascia! Or you can do as I did and force them in when you get to them, just pull the fascia out and push the panel around/under.

Took me 3 hours much of which was agonizing over the fascia and the tail lights; almost gave up on the fascia and was going to take it to the dealer, but it is actually straightforward.291006

by: Richard08/27/2017

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This hitch fit like a glove. I have been using it constantly on my Chevy Volt for a bike rack. The only draw back is not the hitches fault is that the backup sensor constantly goes off because the rack is there not the hitch. It was a little bit of a pain to install because it had to be under the bumper.

I highly recommend this hitch.

Rich425700