2021 Touring Hybrid - AWD - USA

We have a rear-mounted bike rack that we use on our Subarus. We wanted a hitch installed by the dealer when we bought our new CR-V but were told that they (the dealership) didn't install them on Hybrids and/or on CR-Vs with a hands-free tailgate. Can't remember which of those two things it was that prevented them from doing so. However, they did say that it could be done, because other buyers of models like ours had gotten them installed.

A local specialty 4x4 store that installs hitches tells me that a rear hitch can NOT be installed on our car. They indicated that the hands-free tailgate may be the issue. They referred me to draw-tite.com.

A local U-Haul dealer tells me that a hitch CAN be installed on our car. They even quoted me the fee (parts and labor) to do so.

So, who here knows the truth? Has anyone here installed a rear hitch on the same car as ours?

FYI...our bike rack is made by 1up-usa.com and uses a 1 1/4" receiver.

Thanks in advance!

 

Honda official policy on CRV hybrids = NO towing, so no trailer hitch at all.

Reality.. you can probably attach a towing hitch for strictly a bike rack use.... but how will you argue that point with Honda if your hybrid has a problem later on and a Honda dealer attributes your issue to the fact that you added a hitch to your vehicle?? I imagine you will have to have an independent 3rd party install your hitch though.. as I doubt any Honda dealer will agree to do so.

Honestly.. you should have investigated this limitation before purchase, but that is a hindsight statement now.

Personally, I think this is one of those instances where you follow Honda policy, or break it at your own peril.

I sometimes carry bikes in my CRV... and have for many years.. but I put them in the cargo hold, NOT outside on a hitch. Main reason: so much dirt and grime gets kicked up in the air vortex that follows behind a boxy SUV.

 

Honda official policy on CRV hybrids = NO towing, so no trailer hitch at all.

My dealer said they can install a third-party hitch, but there is no OEM hitch for the hybrid. They didn't mention what hitch they would use.
If you tell them you want it for a wheelchair carrier and not a bike carrier the situation changes. It becomes an ADA "accommodation" matter, and they could have legal issues if they refuse.
Of course you have more credibility with this approach if you actually are disabled. But it doesn't have to be YOUR wheelchair, if you occasionally carry a passenger who needs one it's enough.

 

Thanks for the reply, williamsji.

Rebuttal (said tongue in cheek):

1) Our dealer was aware we wanted to install a rear bike rack and said nothing about "NO towing".
2) Our salesperson (having worked there 3 years) didn't know if a hitch could be installed. He asked the sales manager and was told that the dealership couldn't do it but that it could be done...that others had done it. Nothing was said about voiding any warranties by doing so.
3) We prefer to carry our bikes in back and not on top. We have an awesome bike rack. Inside the vehicle is not an option...not enough room and that's really tough on the interior.

Guess we shouldn't have trusted a large, long-time dealer to know such basic info on their best-selling vehicle. As a long-time Subaru owner, I also find it strange that Honda struggles with a basic functionality that Subaru makes so easy. Every other vehicle in our area now has a bike rack. Roof rails are another example of where the CR-V falls short by comparison.

Mind you, we love the CR-V, and were happy with our Odyssey and Accord in years gone by, but the CR-V surprisingly has a ways to go to truly compete with the Forester and Outback when it comes to accommodating outdoor recreation.

 

I installed a hitch for my bike rack from etrailer. Very doable job.

 

Thanks for the pic, Mtntrance. Exactly which hitch did you get? Did you install it yourself? Did it require any drilling or cutting of metal and/or plastic? Do you have a rear camera and/or hands-free tailgate? If so, how is that affected?

 

Check out the etrailer website. There is no drilling it is 5 bolts. I have an EX-L so If I had a powerlift gate but it’s not the kick version. If I had to choose between a hitch and the hands free liftgate it would be the hitch no question about it. I went from Subaru Ascent Touring to a hybrid CRV for fuel economy since I have relocated for work and now have a significant commute. I had a factory hitch on my Ascent. The CRV hitch is actually much easier to get my bike rack on and off. In addition the CRV hitch kit set me back $140 versus $600 for the Subaru. With no towing wiring set up it’s easy to prove I am not towing. Any refusal of warranty would be a legal matter.

 

Your hitch cost is about the same as what U-Haul quoted me, plus about $100 for labor. I'm pretty sure you can turn the hands-free feature off...if so, I totally agree...hitch over kick. Will wait for Honda Corporate's reply, but I'm leaning towards buying the hitch and first seeing if the dealer will install it, since it sounds like a walk in the park (why wouldn't they?). If not, maybe just do it myself, though I've never been accused of being the handiest person in the world.

 

I don't think that you'd want the 'hands free tailgate' opening with a bike rack mounted on the trailer hitch.

 

Agreed, dula4, though I think you can program off the hands-free feature.

 

I had a hitch installed by the dealer on my 2019 AWD Touring with no problem. This was done in Ontario, Canada. However, part of the installation requires moving the no touch tailgate lift sensor. I don't know the brand of hitch used by the dealer. I use the hitch for a bicycle rack, and it works perfectly.

 

Thanks for the input, Tim1981. I got a reply from Honda Corporate on this...however, it was just to say that there is no Honda hitch for the Hybrid. I'm pressing them harder for a solution now but haven't heard back yet. Based on your experience, the best solution sounds like it would be for me to get the etrailer hitch that is shown to work and have my Honda dealer install it, so it gets done right and the hands-free feature can be dealt with and no warranties would be in jeopardy.

 

i am not 100% sure about this, but i believe there is a part that HONDA sells for the automatic hands free gate that 'relocates' the sensors to the side so a hitch can be installed. i think someone here on this site posted about it and gave the part number awhile ago.

anyways, it can be done. honda is telling you no for liability reasons.

 

i am not 100% sure about this, but i believe there is a part that HONDA sells for the automatic hands free gate that 'relocates' the sensors to the side so a hitch can be installed. i think someone here on this site posted about it and gave the part number awhile ago.

anyways, it can be done. honda is telling you no for liability reasons.

You mean this?

 

For what it’s worth: on my 2020 FWD non-hybrid, I bought and installed a perfect-fit 2” hitch from etrailer.com. Bike rack is Kuat Sherpa 2.0. Beautiful matchup! Looks like factory!

 

Thanks for the reply, Steve2020EX. I'm not finding the "perfect-fit", but there does appear to be 4 choices for the CR-V, though I'm not sure they all work for the Hybrid ... great video of the 4 choices at 2021 Honda CR-V Trailer Hitch | etrailer.com.

 

yep, that's the part i was referring too. thanks for the link!

 

2021 touring my dealer just quoted me 1200 for the parts and 500 in labour WTF!

 

etrailer.com for all of this stuff. Finding the hitch, finding the best price, finding the videos that help you install it yourself if you so desire, and great customer service (although hold times have been 20+ minutes recently if you need to talk to someone, well worth the wait if you need some technical expertise).

The hitch thing and the spare tire thing is why I went with the 1.5T rather than the hybrid if I'm being honest. Sending an SUV out into the world without a spare tire or the ability to tow seems like an error in judgement in my opinion. I wouldn't say it makes the Forrester or Outback better outdoor play machines (I still enjoy accelerating up hills, thank you) but it is a major issue that Toyota seems to have no issue figuring out with RAV4 Hybrid.

My dealer also insisted they wouldn't install them but people could for cargo (tray, bike rack, etc) purposes and he knows of CR-V Hybrid customers who have installed them for bike racks. But definitely no towing because of how the drivetrain is setup (???)

My unqualified advice as someone who has ordered, installed, and used a couple hitch receivers and bike racks:

1. Get this hitch on etrailer.com and install it yourself.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Honda/CR-V/2021/e98848.html

(Lots of CR-V Hybrid questions in the Q&A section)

2. DO NOT purchase and install the wiring kit as it makes your "I swear we never towed" claim nearly impossible to believe if you went ahead and installed wiring. If you have this job done professionally make sure they don't install wiring!

 

Has anyone install a hitch on just a 2021 touring , non-hybrid. No manufactures are indicating one fits.

 

Where did you look?

Touring

 

OEM hitch and handsfree kit installed (parts and labor $920) by dealer on '21 Touring AWD (non hybrid) with Kuat NV 2.0. Love the clean look and handsfree function still works!

 

I thought part of the complication was the location of the hybrid battery pack: in a rear-end collision it could be penetrated by the hitch, which is not only expensive but quite dangerous.

 

It's not a hybrid.

 

Look great.
The car too.

 

2018 EXL AWD

I got this one from Amazon:

Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Class III, 2 in. Receiver, Compatible with Select Honda CR-V,Black,76128 Amazon.com

And followed the instructions here:

Not having a lift I use ramps and it gave me the clearance I needed to drop the exhaust. Total install time was about an hour.

I know this is off topic from the OP but wanted to show how easy it is to install one. I’m using it for a bike rack, hammock stand and to pull a small trailer with 2 kayaks on it. And yes I also installed the trailer wiring kit:

Hope this helped.

 

2018 EXL AWD

I got this one from Amazon:

Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Class III, 2 in. Receiver, Compatible with Select Honda CR-V,Black,76128 Amazon.com

And followed the instructions here:

Not having a lift I use ramps and it gave me the clearance I needed to drop the exhaust. Total install time was about an hour.

I know this is off topic from the OP but wanted to show how easy it is to install one. I’m using it for a bike rack, hammock stand and to pull a small trailer with 2 kayaks on it. And yes I also installed the trailer wiring kit:

Hope this helped.

For y'all comparative shoppers out there, here's a pic of my self-installed e-trailer hitch. Preferred because the only part visible is the 2" receiver "socket" and it sits a tad higher than some other hitches. Nice to know when I'm taking my racked bikes on a rutted trailhead parking lot.

 

@Lee_Bo : Most instructions say you have to cut a bit of the fascia underneath and I see you did. But it looks like there is enough clearance there to avoid that. Is there or is that just the angle of the picture?

 

You noticed that, huh? [emoji3] So as it turned out the previous owner had the towing package installed which included the “hidden” hitch which required part of the fascia to be cut away. I guess in order to make the vehicle certified pre owned, the dealer had to remove the towing package? [emoji1745]

At any rate, no, the hitch I installed did not require any cutting.


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