Reese Towpower 37042 Class 3 Multi-Fit Trailer Hitch, 2 Inch Square Receiver, Compatible with Selected Models (Please Verify VEHICLE APPLICATON)

I needed a Class 3 (2" hitch) for a Ford Focus in order to put a rear rack on, but you can't buy a Class 3 hitch for Ford Focus, so this was my only option. It took 1 1/2 days to install and it pushed the limits of my skill and my luck but it worked. There are three main challenges. The first is positioning it under your car so that the two longitudinal brackets are positioned directly underneath the two square beams that frame your car. This is not easy because its quite heavy, will take several jacks and hammering to slide it in place correctly, and you have to get it out of the way of any attachments of obstrusions, in my case the tailpipe. The second challenge is drilling holes in the support beams, that wasn't too bad but you will need 1/2 inch bit and maybe smaller ones to get started. The third challenge is threading the bolts and support plates through the end of the beam and into it so they stick out and you can attach the hitch (the bolt locks to the plate with a square hole so it won't rotate when you tighten it). This was much easier than I thought and was very pleasantly surprised because when I got the kit and saw the difficulty I was almost ready to throw in the towel. There is a provided wire that you can thread the bolt in, then you take another wire and push it through the hole in the beam and out the end, attach it to the provided wire and the bolt, and pull it back in through the hole, hoping that it will get through correctly with the bolt seated in the plate (this always works, to my surprise) . You will have to do this at least 4 times, and in my case I also manufactured a piece to attach the rear bar to the car vertically, which is how the commercial Class 1 hitches work for a Ford Focus (do your research on commercial hitches that fit your car so you know how it should work first). The instructions are good if your car is one of the supported ones, but as I say the Ford Focus is not, so I had to figure all this out. Miraculously it worked, and I now have a 500 lb rear cargo rack on my Ford Focus which doubles my cargo space and which all cost me $200 ($150 for the hitch and $50 for the rack). Eureka! Adding the electrical (in case you want to tow as opposed to adding a rack) isn't too hard either, check Uline.

It installed just great on my skoolie. One problem I ran into is the tolerances for the bolts and nuts is off quite a bit, and as a result many of the nuts couldn't go on the bolts, even with an impact driver/drill. I had to take a lot of time trying to match bolts to nuts, and in the end I couldn't use the carriage bolts on one side because the nuts just didn't fit. The kit only comes with 2 different sized nuts, 1/2" and 3/8", so it wouldn't have been hard to fit them on. I'm not sure if it's the nuts themselves that are off, or if the bolts are off, I'll have to test the nuts on other bolts that I get from lowes and see how they fit. Beyond that, it was EXCELLENT. Once you understand that there is a "fishing wire" that helps you to get the bolts into the frame of the hitch, and that on each side they offset the holes so that the bolts don't get in each other's way, it was easy to do alone. I did use a jack to hold the hitch up so I could drill the holes in the frame in the correct spot, but that's more a strategy to know I did it right, which this is a skoolie, so of course I will have to do manual work, and that is not a flaw with the hitch itself. It came with more then enough hardware to mount it to whatever vehicle you had. The instructions weren't the clearest, but it was enough that you could figure it out. If I had something more difficult than a skoolie, I think the instructions would be much harder to understand. I did find it kinda silly how they packaged this from Amazon. They had used a big box, about 1.5 feet longer than the hitch box and about 4 inches too wide, and with no padding, to deliver it. Not really a big problem, but is annoying as I had to carry this in a wagon, and had I known the outer box was that big in comparison I would have opened it and saved myself some trouble.

I like the product, strong sturdy. Easy install instructions expect a few things. First get someone to help you. I did it by myself and took me over 4 hours. The reason it took so long was two reasons: 1. Nuts and bolts weren’t threaded properly. A few of the nuts and bolts were hard if not impossible to tighten and then loosen. 2. When aligned properly I noticed one of the holes not matching up with the truck frame hole. Brackets are flushed but hole doesn’t line up. Maybe about half way align. * til this day I still have to cut off one of the bolts and put another one on. And the other hole that isn’t align I still haven’t put a bolt in because of this. Basically didn’t use it yet to tow

Bought for a friend. Still in use.

Reese Towpower 37042 Class III Multi-fit Receiver Hitch Buying a REESE Hitch thru Amazon.com, from REESE was extremely frustrating as it had multi problems. Missing bolts an nuts, that cost me an extra $20 an gas, plus lost time, very confusing directions that indicated that it fit an extended van, rather than a stardard van as per the Amazon information. PLUS even worse,, the bracket furnished with the hitch, did not fit my van, until I ground off more than 1/2 inch of a corner, to make it fit, so it was designed wrong from the get go. A phone Call too REESE Customer Service, was also a waste of time, she told me to read the directions, which did not say anything about having to modify the hitch, drill four holes, or have to buy expensive extra bolts, to make it work properly. Only thing can assume, as I have used REESE product for more than 30 years, is that they have gone to CHINA like so many other good companies. WILL NOT BUY REESE PRODUCTS ANYMORE, plus there was a wrong number for a wiring kit, from REESE, according to a printed catalog at a local dealer, NO such part number exists, an when I tried to order it, the REESE web site, told me the same thing. NO WIRING KITS for the ASTRO Vans, even tho they sell the hitch.. Customer Service at Amazon was not helpful either, so I am looking elsewhere for many products, rather than Amazon. They told me, not much Amazon can do too correct the problems with REESE Products. So three hours for a 30 minute job, extra $20, an NO HELP from either customer service, REESE or AMAZON,,,that is pretty bad, an they want us too buy American products.

A great Towbar. It took me about an hour and a half to install but I was very surprised that it was so easy. All the parts, plus many extra were included to provide for easy installation on many types of vehicles. I had to drill two holes into the frame of my truck but it installed extremely tight to the frame and it towed my first 4,000 pound load without any problems. I don't think that a factory installed towbar would be any stronger. I looked for several days to find the right bar at the right price and this surely fit the bill. I highly recommend the Reese Towpower to anyone looking for a replacement towbar or for a first time install. All the strength needed to pull up to 5,000 pounds. Great Tow Bar.

I put this on a 2000 Mazda B2500 Pick Up, the directions ARE NOT for a 2000 Mazda B2500 Pick Up ! This is a Heavy Duty & Sturdy Trailer Hitch, that being said the instructions are way off ! Seriously, if You are not mechanically inclined & don't have an array of Tools & know how to use them You need to stay away from this one. I tried to follow their directions, but they have a lot to be desired. I am mechanically inclined, have Tools, & most of the Time can figure things out pretty well when I see how they work. It took Me 11 + Hour's to install this but I couldn't do it by their instructions-We had to improvise & got it done once I figured out how it should attach to the Vehicle. Again if You're not that familiar with solving problems that arise while doing something of this nature You'd be better off buying one that is made for Your Vehicle even if it costs a little more than buying a multi Vehicle type. I had thought about sharing what I learned, but without a video & Time & space to list every thing I had to do it would take w-a-y too long, it was that involved. Best, PawPaw C Update : We did get it installed, & aside from My original review after all was said & done it is a nice heavy duty tow hitch & will get the job done, just difficult to install with directions supplied & also having to do a good bit of tinkering with it to get it to work. You may just want to buy 1 of Their Hitches that are a direct fit for Your Vehicle instead of Their "Universal Fit" Type as They do make a good product. The LORD Love's You !!! Best, PawPaw C

If this is the hitch designed to fit your vehicle it is worth buying. The holes to drill is the hardest part. Frames are really tough to drill. You need to really have to want that hole in in order to drill it and I recommend drilling fluid. My installation was on a Dodge Grand Caravan but this hitch fits many, many makes. I have fit things like this before as was very disappointed. This hitch is a masterpiece for the price. Make sure to follow the instructions for your make and get all the tools ready. If you are doing it for the 1st time and get part way in you will think, this will never work... But it does! If someone who does it all the time is installing they will have NO problem. This is only my 4th reveiw out of a thousand products. An expert designed this hitch and instructions. As long as you don't mind having 10 Lbs of left over parts this hitch is for you. Very well built