Subaru Forester: Driving tips / Trailer hitch (dealer option)
WARNING
- Never exceed the maximum
weight specified for the trailer
hitch. Exceeding the maximum
weight could cause an accident
resulting in serious personal injuries.
Permissible trailer weight
changes depending on the situation.
For possible recommendations
and limitations, refer to
“Trailer towing”.
- Trailer brakes are required when
the towing load exceeds 1,000 lbs
(453 kg). Be sure your trailer has
safety chains and that each chain
will hold the trailer’s maximum
gross weight. Towing trailers
without safety chains could create
a traffic safety hazard if the
trailer separates from the hitch
due to coupling damage or hitch
ball damage.
- Be sure to check the hitch pin and
safety pin for positive locking
placement before towing a trailer.
If the ball mount comes off the
hitch receiver, the trailer could
get loose and create a traffic
safety hazard.
- Although towing regulations for
trailer or caravan vehicles vary
by state/region, all regulations
agree that specifications such
as the maximum gross trailer
weight must not exceed the lesser
of the following:
- Maximum gross trailer weight
- M a x i m u m g r o s s t o n g u e
weight
- GVWR
- GAWR
- Failure to comply with the procedures
set forth will not only
compromise your safety, but will
also negate your insurance coverage
and/or may violate the state
road and traffic acts and regulations.
- Use only the ball mount supplied
with this hitch. Use the hitch only
as a weight carrying hitch. Do not
use with any type of weight distributing
hitch.
- The standard bumper beam must
be installed after you remove the
trailer hitch. Consult a SUBARU
dealer for purchase of a standard bumper beam if you do not have
the original.
- Safety performance is decreased
and there is increased risk of
injury to passengers in the case
of an accident if the trailer hitch
or a standard bumper beam is not
installed. One of them must always
be installed on the vehicle.
- If a trailer hitch is installed, it is
not possible to install the rear
towing hook.
The maximum gross trailer weight and
maximum gross tongue weight are indicated
in the following table.
When towing a trailer with brakes

When towing a trailer, refer to “Trailer towing”.
Ball mount
Hitch pin
Safety pin
Hitch receiver tube
Insert the ball mount into the hitch
receiver tube.
Insert the hitch pin into the hole located
on the hitch receiver tube so that the pin
passes through the ball mount...
Other information:
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1-
1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100...
The disc brakes have audible wear indicators
on the brake pads. If the brake
pads wear close to their service limit, the
wear indicator makes a very audible
scraping noise when the brake pedal is
applied.
If you hear this scraping noise each time
you apply the brake pedal, have the brake
pads serviced by your SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible...