Before installation begins, we confirm the hitch application is correct for the Crosstrek Wilderness and inspect the enclosed rear frame rails and factory mounting points.

The Wilderness generally accepts a frame-mounted hitch without removing the rear bumper fascia or lowering the exhaust system, but the mounting area is still checked for anything that could affect fitment.

Factory rubber plugs are removed from the rear frame-rail locations needed for installation while the center frame plugs remain in place.

This exposes the required mounting locations while preserving the factory closures that are not needed for the hitch hardware.

The necessary access holes are carefully enlarged just enough for the carriage bolts and reinforcement spacers to enter the enclosed frame rails.

Precise preparation creates the required clearance without unnecessarily altering the vehicle’s frame structure.

Specialized fishwires route the carriage bolts and reinforcement spacers through the enclosed frame and into the correct mounting positions.

The reinforcement spacers help distribute the load across the frame rails and must remain correctly oriented and seated.

The hitch is carefully raised into position while the fishwires are guided through its mounting holes.

The hardware is protected from being pushed back into the frame, and the supplied high-grade fasteners are started by hand before final alignment.

The receiver is centered beneath the Wilderness and the hitch is checked for even contact against both frame rails.

When minor vehicle manufacturing tolerances require it, leveling spacers are added so the hitch sits evenly and maintains proper alignment.

All mounting hardware is tightened and torqued to the hitch manufacturer’s specifications to create the required clamping force.

We then inspect the receiver position, hardware seating, frame contact, and finished appearance. Most Wilderness hitch installations are completed in about one hour.

The Wilderness uses enclosed frame rails, making controlled hardware routing, proper reinforcement-spacer seating, leveling, and calibrated torque especially important. Professional installation helps prevent:

• Lost or misaligned hardware inside the frame
• Incorrectly seated reinforcement spacers
• Unnecessary frame modification
• An uneven or improperly torqued hitch

We use the correct fishwire techniques and alignment process to produce a secure, clean frame-mounted installation at your home.