Customer Reviews - Honda Pilot, Acura MDX Trailer Hitch - Class III
[13328]
$388.70 $353.36
by David Shearer | Date Added: Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Product Rating
Bought this hitch for my '05 Honda Pilot. Super fast shipping and quality product. Installation is easy,but if you have an older vehicle like mine,do yourself a huge favor and get 2 taps ( 12mm X 1.25 for the three bolts on either side and 10mm X 1.25 behind the license plate) to clean out the rust where the new bolts will go.(Borrowed mine from my friendly mechanic at my Honda
dealership...make sure you tip him). This added step will make the installation a breeze. Use a little WD40 on the tap as you run it in and out until it clears out the rust and test the new bolt to make sure it threads easily before lifting the hitch over your head and finding out it the bolt won't thread completely through. Lower and remove spare...gives you much more room to work. I did not have to lower muffler on mine,hitch fit right in place with muffler on. Did have to slightly bend heat shield on muffler. Before installing hitch I took a little time to wire brush frame behind license plate and any other areas now exposed that would be covered by new hitch and used rust inhibiting black spray paint to slow down any new rust. Great product..wiring harness hooked right up..no problem.5 stars
by Candice Henry | Date Added: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Product Rating
Easy installation. Took about 25 min on our 2006 Honda Pilot.
by Lary Sack | Date Added: Monday, July 18, 2011
Product Rating
Very happy with the hitch. My hitch arrived the very next day after placing my order. Installation was easy as touted although I would very much recommend a tap to clear the bolt holes, if your vehicle has seen any winter driving, to clear rust and corrosion. I read that in another review here so had it on hand and it saved a lot of time. I did not purchase the wiring harness yet but wondered how easy installation is of the universal wiring harness offered for my Pilot
by Glenn Jimenez | Date Added: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Product Rating
Overall very nice hitch. Installation is not quite as easy as the instructions describe. It takes about 1.5 hours from start to finish. In addition to removing the spare tire, and the rear exhaust supports, you must also remove the metal brackets directly behind and to either side of the spare tire. Support the exhaust system just under the differential, and drop it about 4-6 inches. The hitch will then slide it with a bit of work. The metal brackets you removed will not go back in, but are not needed anymore to support the plastic trim that won't go back either. Finishd job came out real nice. Glenn
by Christopher Langevin | Date Added: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Product Rating
Great product! I installed it on a 2006 Honda Pilot. The hitch got here in (MA) two days and took me about 45 min to install and do the wiring adapter. Make sure to take the spare out and lower the back end of exaust by undoing the rubber holder first.
The only problem I had was with the bolts holes on the Honda that were exposed to the elements for a few years prior to use. Had nothing to do with the product from Hitchsource I used plenty of WD40 and cleaned out the threads before instalation. Spray, thread a little in then out, and then spray, keep doing this until the bolts go in smoothly. I broke one nut off inside the frame and had to buy a nut and snake it in with a coat hanger homemade adapter.
Works great! Easy to do with a socket set, WD40, and tork wrench.
by Robby Brown | Date Added: Friday, August 27, 2010
Product Rating
The product is excellent. Beware when installing the hitch. Make sure you can thread the screws on the non tow hook side before installation. Be sure to loosely tighten down all sides of the hitch for hole lineup.
by Ceasar Francisco | Date Added: Sunday, August 15, 2010
Product Rating
This hitch was as described and of good quality. I got my hitch delivered on time and I installed it myself without any problem. I am very satisfied overall and highly recommend Hitch Source because the prices are excellent the service is good.
Thanks.
Ceasar Francisco.
by James Baum | Date Added: Saturday, August 14, 2010
Product Rating
Excellent product, timely delivery. INSTALL TIP for Honda Pilot: Bolt holes on right side of vehicle need to be prepped before install. They had been exposed to weather for 5 years and had some rust. Bolt holes on left side of vehicle had bolts in them for tow loop (factory installed) and were fine. If you have a correct sized tap, that is the way to go. If not (like me), I used PB Blaster (a WD-40 like product) and screwed the bolts in a little, then backed them out. Resprayed, screwed in, backed out, etc. This process took almost an hour to get the three bolt holes up to speed. After that, the install was a piece of cake and took 40 minutes (by myself). Removed the spare tire. Hooked the right side of the new hitch receiver over the exhaust pipes to hold up, while I started the left side bolts. Easy. It was a perfect fit on my 2005 Honda Pilot.
by vincent denney | Date Added: Monday, July 12, 2010
Product Rating
The shipment arrived in no time, the installation was very easy and I was able to to install alone. I didn't need to move the muffler and the hitch looks great! Also the price compared to having a hitch installed was great!!! I would definitely recommend this hitch!!!
by Rigoberto Lacaba | Date Added: Friday, June 25, 2010
Product Rating
Perfect fit bolt-on installation. The main body hides nicely under the bumper and all you see is the receiver. Great hitch at a great price.
by Alton Donnell | Date Added: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Product Rating
The hitch was delivered quickly and it fit very well on our 2002 MDX.
Although it's not required, unless you have tiny hands, drop the spare tire - makes it much easier.
by Michelle Hall | Date Added: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Product Rating
This hitch was as described and of good quality. The only issue we had with installation was with the bolts on the passenger side of the vehicle (vehicle is over 2 yrs old). We saw that someone else recommended threading the bolts on the passenger side before installing the trailer hitch. This is a good suggestion that we forgot. Also, this is definitely a 2 person job unless you have a jack or other means to hold up the trailer hitch. We would definitely recommend this product to others.
by Joseph Gottlieb | Date Added: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Product Rating
Perfect fit.....easy to install. Do yourself a big favor and chase threads on your chassis. They get pretty cruddy after a few years.
by Robert Molloy | Date Added: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Product Rating
I had an excellent experience with my order. It came faster than I expected and was very easy to mount.
by Russell Headley | Date Added: Monday, August 10, 2009
Product Rating
The hitch was delivered quickly and it fit very well on our 2004 Honda Pilot.
I would do business with this company again.
The only problem I had was the corrosion of the threads where the hitch bolts to the car frame. This occurred only on the right side because those holes/threads are not protected from the elements (rain, grit, salt), which caused the corrosion. The left side was no problem because the car's tie-down bracket bolts have been in place and filled the bolt holes. (The tie-down bracket must be removed before the hitch can be installed.)
I was able to solve this problem by running a 19 mm tap in the holes to re-establish the threads.
This problem is not a result of the hitch or Hitchsource.com, it's a result of the holes being open to the elements since we bought the car in '04.
Russ
by Dennis Francois | Date Added: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Product Rating
Quick delivery (three days), easy to install (approx. 40 minutes) , and looks great. Installed it on our 2006 Honda Pilot.
by Timothy Shearer | Date Added: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Product Rating
This transaction couldn't have gone any smoother !!!
Delivery was VERY quick, two days to my door. Install was as easy as touted, done in about 45 mins.
Thank you Hitch Source.com
Tim
by SHERMAN HOO | Date Added: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Product Rating
Timely delivery - ordered on Sunday, received on Tuesday and delivery was free!
Good product, received as advertised. Installation was easy.
by Mike Dillon | Date Added: Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Product Rating
The hitch arrived 2 days after ordering. The box was practically destroyed but the hitch was fine, and the hardware was tightly wrapped/attached to it. Installation was a breeze and the holes all lined up with the vehicle mounting points.... Had to bend the muffler heat shield slightly by hand to get alingnment on the right side. Great finish on product also. Thanks.
by Edward Ansaldi | Date Added: Monday, July 27, 2009
Product Rating
Order showed up the next day. 1/2 hour to install. I like the way it looks. Just the hitch itself in view, support beams are not visible.
by Timothy Shearer | Date Added: Friday, July 17, 2009
Product Rating
I have a 2004 Honda Pilot. Ordered this Hitch on Monday, received it on Wednesday, installed in less than 45 mins on Thursday night. Holes all lined up nicely, it couldn't have installed ANY EASIER !!!! I'm a VERY happy customer, thank you HitchSource!
by Brian Beal | Date Added: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Product Rating
It installed rather easily. I had to lower the spare tire, but I did not have to do anything with the exhaust. Two people would make it much easier, and you will want to run the bolts in and out before putting up the hitch.
by Keith Anderson | Date Added: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Product Rating
Great service and great product!!! Not all hitches are created equal. This one tucks up behind the bumper so you don't even notice it. Shipping was super fast.
Very pleased with HitchSource.com
by Mark Sheldone | Date Added: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Product Rating
I've read all the 5-star ratings and they are all spot on. The quality is exceptional as well as the fit and ease of installation. I ordered it Monday night online, and it arrived Wednesday morning. I installed on my wife's 2005 Honda Pilot today by myself in less than 30 minutes! I folded the box it came in, and placed it on the ground so I could use it as a "wheel-less" creeper. I lowered the spare tire and unhooked the outermost rubber muffler hanger.
I removed the factory tow hook and sprayed WD40 in all the bolt holes. While lying on my back, I lifted the hitch into place using my hands on one side, and my right leg to prop up the other. The first bolt threaded in easily. I then slid myself over to the other side and threaded another bolt, and installed the bumper bolts. Everything lined up perfectly!!! Almost like I knew what I was doing. I highly recommend this hitch for your Pilot, and I highly recommend HitchSource.
by Brad Bledsoe | Date Added: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Product Rating
I have to echo the other reviewers and say this is a quality product and installed easily. The only thing I would recommend is to get a helper to hoist up the unit as it is a little heavy and cumbersome. Once up, I was careful to use penetrating oil on the exposed bolt holes and to tighten gingerly. I found that everything lined up well with a small wiggle or pull; the end product looked great. I would recommend anyone who has decent mechanical aptitude and "feel" with a wrench should be able to handle this and save some money.
by Brian Anthony | Date Added: Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Product Rating
I ordered the hitch on Sunday and had it on Wednesday. The install was really easy, probably took about an hour start to finish. Great product and price.
by JOSEPH ZANGARDI | Date Added: Thursday, March 26, 2009
Product Rating
Installing the hitch was pretty easy, took about 45 minutes. The hardest thing was threading the bolts into the existing frame holes after the long winter. I should have cleaned them out. You should have 2 people to install. It looks perfect since you cannot see the bar, only the receiver is below the bumper. 2 thumbs up
by Brad Owens | Date Added: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Product Rating
A++ hitch. Installation was simple and straight forward. Quality product and quality finish. Would definitely recommend this hitch to a friend.
by Andy Elliott | Date Added: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Product Rating
Order showed up in 3 days! Easy install, less than 30 minutes. Great product. The only thing I would recommend to others is to run a tap through the nuts on the passenger side and in the middle of the bumper to clear out the rust. You will need 2 different sized taps. I bought a tap for $7 and ran it through after breaking loose one of the nuts. I used a telescoping magnet with a swivel head to get a new bolt and washer through a hole in the frame and into the mounting hole with the broken nut. I then used an impact to tighten the nut from the bottom. I would use HitchSource.com again and recommend them to others .
by Sheri Wolf | Date Added: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Product Rating
Very well built hitch. Amazing quality! Went on as the directions stated to the 2006 Pilot EX-L we have. The only gotcha was the center portion of the hitch was quite a bit away from the frame (well further then I expected to hear from the husband). With some bending it worked fine. I think this could be a little better engineered, but otherwise the hitch is amazing quality wise and works with our trailers and toys perfectly. It exceeded my expectations.
by Gary Schott | Date Added: Friday, November 21, 2008
Product Rating
I purchased this hitch for my 2006 Pilot. It is plenty sturdy and meets my needs.
by keith zachow | Date Added: Sunday, October 26, 2008
Product Rating
The hitch came quickly and was easy to install. Took me maybe an hour, since I think I was threading the passenger side bolt holes with the new bolts. But the hitch works great and looks great.
by Brett Brown | Date Added: Friday, October 17, 2008
Product Rating
Heavier than I expected. Great hitch. Easy to install. Took me about 40 minutes. Recommend.
by Terence Low | Date Added: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Product Rating
Purchased this hitch for my 2005 Honda Pilot. Best purchase I've ever made. Installed myself in about 45 minutes. I would recommend 2 jack stands if you do yourself. Would be faster to install with 2 people. There are 3 bolts that secure each side and 2 small bolts that secure the hitch area to the body frame. Used my Torque wrench to ensure proper tightness of the bolts. Did not have to remove the exhaust to install. Had to drop the spare tire though. Curt hitch is solid. Love that hitch is hidden underneath rear bumper. You look at other Pilot hitches and it makes you laugh. You gotta get this hitch. I also bought the: Towing Kit - Black - 2" Drop + T-Connector Wiring Harness for future towing. Customer service is super. They have great follow-up, great communication, and fast shipping. Highly recommend buying from HitchSource.com. I am recommending all my friends to buy from them! Thank you HitchSource.com!
by thomas Schultz | Date Added: Thursday, September 11, 2008
Product Rating
Overall, the easiest hitch I've ever installed and it looks great on my Honda Pilot! Definitely, worth the price.
by Russell Miller | Date Added: Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Product Rating
Installing this hitch was a piece of cake, everything fit perfectly. My biggest problem was chasing the rusted threaded holes on my MDX ... this took me an hour. The hitch was in within 30 minutes of me fixing the threads.
by Dwight Detterman | Date Added: Friday, August 8, 2008
Product Rating
Curt mfg does a fantastic job of welding and the finish is beautiful, although the only thing you see is the receiver portion on the Pilot. The price is right too! Quick ship, HitchSource is a great company to deal with, Thanks!
by Robert Sarson | Date Added: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Product Rating
Install tip:
If you have an older MDX with a tow hook on one side of the frame. The threads in the bolt holes on the other side will likely be rusted. You will need a 12mmX1.25 and a 10mmX1.25 tread restorer tools (Snap-On) or a tap (not common).
I first tried working the supplied bolt in and out with penetrating oil but easily broke off the welded on nut. There is no access to the nuts. Fix the treads before you start.
by Stephen Miles | Date Added: Friday, July 25, 2008
Product Rating
If you can turn a wrench you can put this hitch on your Honda Pilot. Solid and sturdy, easy to install all at a great price you won't find at your local automotive store or mechanic. Buy it!
by Kurt Reichenbach | Date Added: Friday, July 25, 2008
Product Rating
I purchased this hitch after a lot of online research and seeing an '06 Honda Pilot with one installed. It is one of (if not the only) aftermarket hitch that uses the three stock bolt locations on each side and the two in the center. It fits up very tight behind the bumper so all you see is the receiver in the center. The installation was very easy. The only issue I had was "chasing" the threads on the passenger side bolt holes with one of the old bolts from the tow hook. Great price and it arrived in 3 days, what more could you ask for.
by richard e ellis | Date Added: Saturday, July 12, 2008
Product Rating
Purchased this trailer hitch for a Honda Pilot to install a bicycle rack. The hitch fit perfect and took about 30 minutes to install. The hitch was delivered in as promised, would definitely recommend
hitchsource for anyone needing their products.
by Chris Deluca | Date Added: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Product Rating
The trailer hitch arrived quickly and was super easy to install on the Honda Pilot. There are a couple of rubber grommet covered holes that are available to easily snake the trailer harness from the "trunk area" to the underside of the vehicle. The whole install took about an hour - and that was with my 14 year old son "helping" me. :)
by Devin Scheel | Date Added: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Product Rating
Nice product. Easy to install. The only problem I ran into was the factory nuts which are welded on the unibody frame, broke loose. So I had to weld the drivers side on. But I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to save some $ and do it themselves.
by Kent Faulkner | Date Added: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Product Rating
Installed very easily on my '08 Honda Pilot although you need two people because it is heavy. Use a little dish soap on the rubber muffler hangers to ease their removal. Then drop the muffler a little but use wire to hold it during the installation.
by Dwayne Mitschke | Date Added: Monday, June 23, 2008
Product Rating
This was the easiest hitch I have ever put on. Thanks to the Automaker for thinking about making it easy!
by Paul Bonnici | Date Added: Monday, June 23, 2008
Product Rating
The hitch was delivered quickly and is as shown in their advertisement.
Only complaint is that it had a few scratches because it had broken through the shipping box on one end.
by Michael Toth | Date Added: Saturday, June 14, 2008
Product Rating
Very impressed with the quality, construction, and what looks to be a very durable finish of this hitch!. It fit exactly as it should.
The only problem i had was with the Honda Pilot - the threads in the bolt holes on the side that didn't have the tow loop were rusted up (the joys of living in the snow/salt belt). I found that using the a bolt from the tow loop, coated with some oil, and using a breaker bar, i could re-cut the threads. Tighten a little and then back it out a little, and keep going until the threads are cut in. Then you can use the bolts supplied by Curt. I couldn't start the bolts supplied from Curt, but the ones from the tow loop work well for this and it kept the bolts from Curt in perfect shape. Be careful -- it is possible to break the weld that holds the nut inside the frame.... so don't be a gorilla if you have to do this.
by Harold Nicholas | Date Added: Friday, June 13, 2008
Product Rating
Very easy to install. Eight bolts and it's in. Fits like a glove and looks great.
by Gordon McCarty | Date Added: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Product Rating
Perfect fit, looks great, well hidden, but you might consider professional installation. It is a little harder than you might think. It is necessary to loosen the exhaust, and temporarily take off the plastic cover that hides the spare tire. Overall, I'm pleased, and I decided to have my mechanic install it for me. It took the shop about 45 minutes to install.
by Stephen Manley | Date Added: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Product Rating
A nice hitch at a great price. It was shipped quickly and was simple to install on my Honda Pilot. Thanks a lot for this transaction.
by Bryan Quiram | Date Added: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Product Rating
The hitch is beautifully painted a shiny black and took about a half hour to install on my 2001 MDX. The bolt holes on both sides lined up perfectly. The center "tab" support with two holes that is bolted to the frame, however, does not match up flush with the frame. There is about a half inch gap. I taped 5 flat washers together and that filled the gap nicely for the top hole, and 4 covered the bottom hole. No big deal, but the middle "tab" support needs to be welded a little closer to the end of the square receiver receptacle. Very pleased with it and it is very unobtrusive. From the rear, you only see the hitch receptacle below the bumper and about a half inch of the black support tube. I prefer this look to the other styles that have more of the support tube visible, like the OEM hitch. Would order again in a heartbeat.
The t-connector, however, has no instructions for either an MDX or a Honda Pilot. I had copied Acura's instructions on how to install the t-connector from some website a couple years ago, so I was able to get it installed without a problem. It should come with two grommets for the wires, as they are fed through two large holes from inside the car into the frame, and then out of the frame. Need the grommets to keep water out of the interior of the car.
by Rick Millard | Date Added: Saturday, May 10, 2008
Product Rating
Ordered the Curt hitch for a 2003 MDX. It came quickly and fit perfectly as promised. Very strong and similar to the OEM product but the price was much more reasonable.
by John Kerns | Date Added: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Product Rating
My hitch was on an 2004 Acura MDX and it fit ok except:
The center support did not line up with the pre-tapped holes and so it had to be bent somewhat to fit.
The mounting brackets which hold the rear facia had to be removed and discarded in order to fit the hitch in place (this was
not indicated on the directions) ...the lower edge of the facia no longer has support, but it seems ok.
Otherwise the hitch seems well made and I like the powdercoating aspect of it.
--HitchSource Response--
It is likely that the hitch was bent during shipment. We have not had this issue with the MDX hitches before and we've sold several hundred of them. If anyone encounters issues like this, please call us at 877-464-4824 for technical support and we'll make sure the issue is resolved.
by Christine Donaldson | Date Added: Monday, April 28, 2008
Product Rating
This hitch was very easy to install, even for someone that has never done this before. I've looked at several different hitches since installing mine and I love the look of this one and it has better ground clearance. The only thing showing is the receiver. HitchSource was a really easy company to do buisness with. They were fast and I received the quality that I expected. Thanks
by Joseph Klein | Date Added: Monday, April 21, 2008
Product Rating
Great hitch. Fits well, looks great. The trailer hitch arrived 2 days after order, and went on my 08 Honda Pilot in about 45 minutes. Some tips:
1) It fits with the spare tire, but it's easier to drop the spare tire during installation to get at the top 2 bolts, then put it back in.
2) Unless I misread them, instructions weren't clear about which way to apply the "conical washers." After several internet searches, it looks like you put the wide side towards the car, the pointy side towards the bolt-head.
3) I had trouble getting the two top bolts into place until I tightened the 6 side bolts. (Not all the way, but past the point where I could tighten them by hand.
4) You should use a torque wrench to finish up - the bolts ultimately needed to get tightened pretty far past where I would have guessed without one.
by Mark Hess | Date Added: Monday, December 10, 2007
Product Rating
Great Hitch.... The box was banged up pretty bad in shipping and I was concerned it might have been bent. The holes lined up perfectly and it took me less than 30 minutes to install on my honda Pilot.
by Mack bozeman | Date Added: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Product Rating
The first hitch you sent was lost and was not delivered so you sent the second hitch. I got it and it was very easy to install. I am completely satisfied with it.
by Kevin Peabody | Date Added: Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Product Rating
Great hitch. This mounted easily and quickly and looks much better than the factory hitch I almost spent more than double for. The shipping was extremely fast as well
Thanks!
by Ken Cox | Date Added: Friday, October 19, 2007
Product Rating
Outstanding hitch, very easy to install, and the most well hidden of all hitches I've seen. Definitely the best value for the money. Received it very fast, very satisfied.
by Oliver Hernandez | Date Added: Friday, September 21, 2007
Product Rating
Installation tips:
- Raise hitch up underneath car on some jack stands.
- Remove spare tire underneath car, it will get in the way.
For some reason on my Honda Pilot, the side mounting points on the frame were not flat. There were holes past the threaded bolt holes that were pryed/bent outward, causing extreme difficulty in bolting the hitch flat against the frame under the car. This probably is also the cause for the mounting points behind the bumper not lining up flush either.
by Robert Torella | Date Added: Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Product Rating
Fast delivery (wow-fast), easy installation (wow-easy), and only the hitch reciever shows on the back of the Honda Pilot. I recommend hitchsource and the Curt hitch.
by James Hunt | Date Added: Monday, August 20, 2007
Product Rating
I ordered this hitch after going to U-haul and seeing the junk they were selling there.
I was extremely pleased with both the transaction through Hitchsource and the shipping.
The installation instructions were simple and all the bolt holes lined up perfectly. I had to bend the muffler heat shield slightly to accommodate the fit, but the end result is a clean install that is nearly completely hidden behind the bumper.
by Peter Kane | Date Added: Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Product Rating
The product is excellent. It is well made and was delivered in short order. One suggestion on the install instructions should be to loosely screw in all the bolts before tightening. This greatly aids in aligning all the bolts with their holes.
Pete
by Vikram Lakireddy | Date Added: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Product Rating
Excellent hitch, great installation instructions. Was able to install myself in about a half hour without much difficulty. Shipping was very fast - received the hitch on the second day after ordering!!1
by Shelter Components LLC Bill Burnside | Date Added: Saturday, July 7, 2007
Product Rating
Nicely made. Hitch line connections lined up for bolts in all but at one location. Could have been my error, but all the rest of the alignments were workable. Good directions.
by Linda Tom | Date Added: Saturday, June 30, 2007
Product Rating
HitchSource was wonderful to buy from. The shipping was fast and easy. Packaged perfectly!
by James F Coven | Date Added: Thursday, June 14, 2007
Product Rating
service and shipping were excellent, and was very easy to install.
Thanks,
Jim
![Honda Pilot, Acura MDX Trailer Hitch - Class III<br><span class="smallText">[13328]</span>](http://s6c2e7z4.stackpathcdn.com/images/thumbnails/curt-13328-images-13328_1024x768_a.jpg._.thumb_80x80.jpg "Honda Pilot, Acura MDX Trailer Hitch - Class III<br><span class=\"smallText\">[13328]</span>")