Mazda Tribute Trailer Hitch Buyer's Guide (Canada)
A hitch turns your Tribute into the one that takes a bike rack, a cargo carrier, a utility trailer or a small boat. CURT builds five hitches for the Mazda Tribute from 2001 to 2011, Class 2 to Class 3, rated 3,500 lb to 3,500 lb, from $330.33 CAD with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Your year decides the part. Find it in the table, open the year page for the exact hitch, price and wiring, and you're done in a few minutes.
2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011 Tribute$363.86 CADSee the hitch →
Which hitch fits your Tribute, by year
| Years | Hitch | Class, receiver, rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011 Tribute | CURT 13651 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $363.86 CAD |
 |
2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011 Tribute | CURT 13650 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $330.33 CAD |
 |
2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011 Tribute |
CURT 12060 no factory receiver |
Class 2, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $475.10 CAD |
 |
2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011 Tribute | CURT 120603 | Class 2, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $511.47 CAD |
 |
2001 through 2004 Tribute | CURT 13506 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $512.48 CAD |
Pick your Tribute year
Each year page has the hitch, the harness and the ball mount that go together, with the price of each.
Class 2 or Class 3 on a Tribute?
Class 2 is the lighter one, with a 1-1/4 inch receiver and 3,500 lb of trailer. It's plenty for a bike rack, a cargo carrier or a light utility trailer. Class 3 moves you to a 2-inch receiver and 3,500 lb, which is what you want for a bike rack, a cargo carrier, a utility trailer or a small boat, and it takes the common 2-inch racks and carriers without an adapter. Either way the Tribute's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling, and the lower number wins.
CURT parts for the Mazda Tribute
Wiring, ball mount and the rest
A bike rack needs nothing but the hitch. A trailer needs lights, and CURT 55255 ($38.51 CAD) is the four-flat harness that plugs into the Tribute's factory connector for 2001 through 2004. No cutting, no scotch-locks. Other years have their own harness; the year page shows the right one.
Then a ball mount sized to the receiver: CURT 45836 ($41.70 CAD) drops straight into a 2-inch receiver. Pick the drop or rise that keeps the trailer level, and match the ball to the coupler. The ball mount guide covers both in two minutes.
Canadian winters eat hitch hardware. Salt and brine get into the receiver and the trailer plug, so a smear of grease on the pin, a cap on the receiver and a rinse under the bumper in spring keep a CURT hitch looking new for years. The rust and salt care guide has the full routine.
Mazda Tribute hitch questions
Which CURT hitch fits my Mazda Tribute?
It depends on the year. CURT 13651 is the newest, for 2005 through 2006 and 2008 through 2011, and the table above matches every other year to its part. Open your year page and the exact hitch, price and wiring are on it.
Can I put a bike rack on a Tribute with this hitch?
Yes. The 2-inch receiver takes any 2-inch rack, and a loaded rack counts against the hitch's tongue weight (350 lb on CURT 13651), so a four-bike platform rack with bikes on it is well inside the limit.
Can I install the hitch myself?
CURT rates CURT 13651 advanced, about 60 minutes, so expect some trim or drilling work. The install video above is the real job, uncut.
How much can a Tribute tow with a CURT hitch?
The hitch is rated from 3,500 lb to 3,500 lb depending on the part, but the Tribute's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling. The lower of the two numbers is your limit, every time.
