There are many benefits of having a trailer hitch installed on your vehicle. From towing trailers, campers, and boats, as well as transporting sporting equipment and much more, having a hitch enables all these capabilities. If you are looking to install a trailer hitch on a Subaru Forester, it is actually not hard and the procedure will depend on the car model you own.
Nevertheless, the Subaru Forester is a good towing car. It has a towing capability of up to 1500 pounds. This kind of towing capability allows you to tow a number of things. This includes things like a pop-up camper, fishing boat, or even a flatbed trailer that you can load up with boxes for your home improvement project supplies or for moving.
The car comes with powerful equipment, like its standard 2.5-L DOHC engine that is paired with a standard fully synchronized 6-speed manual transmission with Incline Start Assist. It stays steady no matter how much you are towing. Also, its enhanced stability control system and all-speed traction control system helps make the Subaru Forester safe and secure whether you are towing or not.
Installing a Trailer Hitch on a 2018 Subaru Forester
If you are looking to install a Subaru Forester hitch, you can get a towing package designed for your specific Subaru forester model off the market. For instance, the Draw-Tite 76186 trailer hitch is a good choice if you want the best trailer hitch for Subaru Forester 2018 model. It is a class 3, bolt-on trailer hitch designed for the 2018 model. It has a 3500-pound max trailer weight and 525 pounds max tongue weight, capable of hauling several hitch-mounted accessories.
For the installation, you’ll need:
- Draw-Tite 76182
- Air saw
- Exhaust pliers
- Torque wrench
- Socket wrench
- Flathead screwdriver
- 10mm long socket
- 11/16-inch socket
- 5-inch extension
- Power drill
- Stability strap
- Tin snips
- Safety glasses
“Armed” with the above items and tools, you are now ready to install the hitch on your 2018 Subaru Forester. Then follow the installation steps below:
- Support the exhaust system by attaching the center exhaust pipe to a cross member, or another sturdy engine component under the body using the stability strap or a jack.
- Using the exhaust pliers, remove the isolator rods from the rubber exhaust hangers to lower the exhaust.
- Remove the heat shield(s), located above the exhaust muffler(s), using a 10mm socket or Philips screwdriver. Once removed, use the flat head screwdriver to remove the three-hole plugs under the frame.
- Use the tin snips to cut away the small squares labeled “M” and “R” on the top of the heat shield(s). This will enable the hardware to come through the frame.
- Then thread the carriage bolts into the frame. Start by feeding a piece of fish wire coil end first through the frame hole at the rearmost and out through the access hole toward the front.
- Attach a bolt and spacer to the fish wire coil, and pull the wire back through the access hole until the bolt drops through the rearmost frame hole.
- Repeat step 5 and 6 for the next frame hole, and again for the other side of the vehicle.
- Using the flathead screwdriver, remove both rubber push tabs located under the bumper fascia. Then, pry up the metal push tabs until they are at approximately a 90-degree angle.
- Use the air saw to cut away a small square from the middle of the rear bumper to the dimensions specified for your hitch. This is where the hitch will be exposed. You may want to mark the dimensions with a marker for a more accurate cut.
- Now you can attach the hitch. Lift the hitch into position and remove the fish wire from all six bolts. This step may require a second person to assist you.
- After you have your Subaru Forester hitch location right and removed the fish wire, attach the nuts and washers with the toothed side facing toward the hitch. Use the 10mm socket to tighten the bolts.
- Return the heat shield(s) and the same bolts back to the frame. You can use the 10 mm socket or Philips screwdriver for this step.
- Tighten the carriage bolts using the 11/16 inch socket with the 5-inch extension. Use the torque wrench to torque the bolts to 50 ft. lb.
- Use the exhaust pliers to return the isolator rods to the rubber exhaust hangers. You can remove the stability strap once you have the exhaust back in position.
- Bend the metal push tabs back into the position below the rear bumper. Replace back the rubber push tabs to secure the bumper.
- You have finished installing the trailer hitch on your 2018 Subaru Forester.
Check this too: How To Install A Trailer Hitch On A 2020 Subaru Outback
Will installing a trailer hitch void my warranty?
Installing an aftermarket trailer hitch for Subaru will not void the warranty since as a consumer you are protected by the Magnuson-Moss warranty act. The act, in part, states that unless the part added actually causes a problem, then installation and use of the part will not void the warranty.