Step-by-Step Guide: Installing a Trailer Hitch on a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

After a year of owning our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 Premium (6-speed), we decided to bolt up a hitch for a multitude of reasons. It turns out installing a trailer hitch on a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is easy and can be a very versatile accessory, and not just for towing.

Why Are We Installing A Trailer Hitch On A 2022 Subaru Crosstrek?

Our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 Premium (6-speed manual) has a 1,500 lb. towing capacity. But that’s enough to pull our little trailer with a rooftop tent. We can turn our Cross Country Crosstrek into a great compact camper. That’s a pretty nice reason to bolt a hitch on. However, a hitch will also give us the ability to run accessories, such as a bike rack or cargo basket. More importantly for us, it’ll let us use the 2″ class III receiver as a recovery point for items like our Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0. This gives us a legitimate, safe place to be recovered should we end up in a ditch, or should we need to tug someone else out.

EcoHitch installed on a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek with a Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 installed as a recovery point.
EcoHitch installed on our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek with a Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 installed as a recovery point.

How We Chose The Hitch For Our Subaru Crosstrek

While we were visiting the 2023 Overland Expo – PNW show, we ran across a booth from EcoHitch. This is a company based in Washington offering hitches for a variety of vehicles. EcoHitch products are made from 100% recycled or recyclable materials. But what really got our attention was the fact you can unbolt the 2″ receiver from the hitch and have a nice, clean look that won’t hamper departure angles off-road or just be a big, ugly thing hanging down from the car when you don’t need it. It was also compatible with our Nameless Executive Axleback exhaust system.

We put together this video about installing a trailer hitch on a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. Keep in mind this will be the same for 2018–2023 models. Hopefully, you find this useful!

(PS: Sorry for the YouTube Face thumbnail.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *