New Subaru Outback!

So we drank the Kool-Aid and came home this weekend with a new Outback. I'm so excited! We've had our Explorer that's long been our TV for the boat and would also tow the CI. I had high hopes for my Focus towing the CI too—only on occasion—when we wanted to take both the boat and CI on trips. But after much more research it's just too small a car to adequately tow and was in too good a shape to risk damaging even if repairable.

So it all started with a, "let's just see what we can get for the Focus" to "we may as well go confirm an Outback model and get measurements for dog kennels so we'll know when it's time, " to ultimately knowing our salesman at Subaru. But we got a great deal and feel much more invested in the miles ahead with two great tow vehicles and a solid roomy car for all our travels and adventures. It was meant to be

We still have to break her in a bit and get the tow package installed before the maiden voyage, but it won't be long!

 

I know! I'm pumped to keep one one my car now. About to post purchase details too

 

Congratulations on your new Subaru!

 

great vehicle, I have a forester and it has been great to me, great all around vehicle

 

Thanks! It's the dark indigo blue, Premium 2.5i 4 cylinder. Here's a pic



Jenn, I recently read your fiasco wtih the hitch but we kinda fell into a conundrm too. So Subaru offers dealer installs on hitches, not factory (meaning after you purchase you can have one installed but odds of buying one new with a tow hitch are not happening).

Robert went back yesterday to speak with our salesman and the service manager specifically about TD needs (with diagram in hand and his 7 pin wiring job on his Explorer as a reference) so hopefully I'll relay our scenario correctly. I'd love to hear feedback.

Option A: Subaru installs their tow package.
Pros are that it's a brand new bumper end that goes onto the car and attaches to our frame. This allows us to keep our lovely ground clearance. About $150 more than our Option B, but it also keeps our 84 mo./100k mi warranty in perfect standing.
Con is that the service mgt outright said he would not install or offer a 7 pin harness. He said we were welcome to do it ourselves or take it elsewhere but that they could not guarantee the battery charging wouldn't drain our alternator. And if it does or if anything goes wrong on the car, it'll be the first thing they point to and we'll be responsible for our repairs vs our free warranty coverage. This is certanily liveable for us in our world. We have two tow vehicles so not dependent on the outback, therefore it's perfectly fine one weekend a month that we take a trip and we're not charging as we drive. We'll be charged before head and plug in upon arrival. But I am still surprised at the outright, "we won't do this" attitude and the potential for the alternator damage their claiming. Thoughts? Experience?

Option B: We go to the local shop. Pros, they do everyone's hitches in our tri-county area and have been for longer than I am old. Highly reputable. Con; it'll just be a standard under the frame hitch and it will deplete our ground clearance by about 4". Does anyone else notice an issue if they went this route?

Current decision: Based on Subaru's threat of battery charging possibly damaging our fully warrantied car, we'll go for just the 4 pin set up and still probably lean on them to do the install for the ground clearance benefit and no possibility of them pointing at anyone else's work for issues. But we also have about 800 more miles of decision making until recommended towing can begin.

Would LOVE any feedback on this from any other owners.

 

I had a similar experience, the dealer installed my tow package with just the 4 pin connector when I purchased it 3 years ago. When I asked for a 7 pin to be installed they balked at how the Jeep was not designed to tow a vehicle that required electric brakes and the like and would not do it. He did recommend a local hitch and trailer shop that installed everything and I am very happy with their work.

 

Thanks Daryl—so do you connect for electric brakes and the battery charge off of your Outback to your CI?

 

Sarah Nell & Robert - My Jeep is connected for electric brakes and battery charge. I had the battery isolator installed on the CI.

 

First a disclaimer. I don't own a Subaru. I do have a Toyota RV4 and wired it all myself. If you want it done right take it to a shop that does trailer hitch installs. Also you might be able to buy the Subaru hitch and have another shop install it when they install your brake controller and charging circuit. If the charging circuit concerns you, just leave it out. You will still need a 7 pin connector you would just not have the hot wire from the battery hooked up.

Regarding the battery Isolator you can do without even with having the charging circuit. Just don't leave the trailer plugged in all the time. Dave

 

We have a 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 premium and faced with the same decision as you now face, decided to go with a local trailer shop recommended by the Subaru dealer. When we arrived at Camp Inn to pick up the trailer in May 2013, Cary did not think the ground wire was thick enough so he thankfully rewired the ground for us. We took the Camp Inn owners guide to the trailer shop but there's no mention in the owner's guide about the gauge of the wire so make sure you ask Camp Inn for the correct gauge. Also, we did not specifically ask the trailer shop to wire for back up lights and it was not done. We had them install the brake controller which we purchased from the trailer shop. We've towed over 3300 miles and are happy with the hitch. It seemed confusing to us as we knew nothing about towing and wiring (and still don't). When you figure out what you're doing, I would email Cary the details to make sure you've covered the bases.
Good luck!

Maureen
560 Ultra #581

 

Cool—thanks everyone. It definitely helps to weigh a few other scenarios and hear feedback.

 

The Subaru dealer in Eau Claire, Wi installed a Curt class 2 hitch with 7 pin wiring with no problems. (Hitch is manufactured in Eau Claire). (In 2011, I purchased a used 2010 with high mileage at 45,000 miles) No conversations about warrenty, battery or alternator issues. Did not know the bumber could be replaced as Saran and Robert mentioned.

The salesmen knew exactly what I was going to be towing.

So far the hitch has been scrapped once in a driveway somewhere in America. Granted lowest point in the car clearance, but has not prevented me from not traveling anywhere yet. No problems during snowfalls either.

The salesmen knew exactly what I was going to be towing.

Jean

 

Thanks Jean for addressing the clearance concern. I mean if I thought my previous Focus would have towed occasionally, clearance really couldn't have been a high factor on my list right?

 

So at 1:30 today, she gets hitched We're proceeding with Subaru and the 4 pin for brake lights/blinkers only. Considering this is our second tow vehicle and our Explorer is 7 pin equipped we're ok with this option. Hopefully it's smooeth sailing this afternoon—we'll report back later.

 

I just had a similar experience with our new 2013 Outback Limited. Had the dealer install the authorized hitch and 4-pin connector and then took it to U-Haul to the same guy who has done the wiring on our last two Foresters. Hitch looks good and the 7-pin connector was installed in the bumper to the left of the hitch. Nice, neat and functional.
I don't have a picture of the hitch/connector but as soon as I take one and figure out how to post them here, I will!

 

Oh that'd be great! I def. want to see. Ours is functional but not ideal. Mind you—we're did this the night before leaving on a trip and my loving husband trying to appease me so we could take the new car

We bought the 7 pin harness that you would install but only so that we could get the lights to work. My husband neatly mounted the harness to the tongue between the propane tank and the TD and it stays plugged in. So instead of plugging in the trailer whenever you'd travel and unplugging when you stop, we would just ground our wire six dozen half the other.

The next issue came in finding a place for the ground wire. Camp Inn lovingly provides a thoroughly painted trailer with no oppportunity to ground onto it, not even inside the tongue where it grasps onto the ball. The outback also didn't provide any great grounding opportunties except for further underneath the car where the wire wouldn't reach.

So at the end of the evening, Robert realized he could just loop the o of the ground wire around 1 of the 4 pin prongs off the outback and just cap it with the 4 pin cover. Lol. He'd be emabarassed if he knew I shared this. But it works. We throw a pinch of electric tape around it before we hit the road.

We do not have electric brakes obv. so that's not a concern for either TV. And since we don't have the 7 pin set up on the outback for battery charging, we just travel with the TD's battery off. Flip it on to a full charge at the campground and then plug in.

Like I said it isn't pretty, but it bought us more time until we get a more permement 7 pin wiring job completed.

I'd really like to see your pictures. We said when we got more time we'd look into doing exactly what you've done.