Trailer Hitch Installation - 2011 Subaru Forester

Installation of a Trailer Hitch on a 2011 Subaru Forester

Today were working on 2011 Subaru Forester. Were going to install current Hitch part numbers 13147. Here are couple of measurements that will assist you in selecting accessories for your new hitch. From the center of the hitch pinhole to the outermost point of the bumper is four inches. From the top to the receiver tube to the ground is 15 inches. Now lets go ahead with the installation.

Our first step is to lower or remove the exhaust mufflers. For the easiest installation, Im going to go ahead and remove them. And see theres two flanges, one on each side and each has two fasteners. Lets go ahead and remove those now. Be careful when you separate the flanges not to lose or destroy the exhaust gas kit.

Now before I try and remove the muffler, Im going to go and put a little spray lubricant on each of the exhaust tinkers. Weve got one here on the back side, one here on the front. With the passengers side removed, were going to repeat the same process on the drivers side. Now taking a flat blade screwdriver, Im going to remove the plugs in the frame where our fasteners are going to go. Theres a two plugs for the driver side and repeat the same process for the two on the passenger side.

Using a 17, 30 seconds drill bit, were going to go and drill this whole out so that our hardware will fit through it. Then see our half inch hardware will fit through the hole. All right, now repeat the same process on the passenger side. Now we need to enlarge the rear hole so that the head of our fastener will fit through the hole. To do this, what Im going to do is drill it out and make it large enough for the head of the bolt to fit through.

So Im going to drill a pilot hole with a quarter inch bit and then step up to a 7, 16th bit to make the hole large enough. As you can see, our bolt will now fit up into the frame. So we go ahead and repeat the same process on the passenger side. Were going to take our bolt leader or fish wire that would supply our install kit, feed up into the frame into the rear fastening point, come out our board fastening. Well feed on our block, thread on our bolt, and pull it into position. Go ahead and remove my bolt leader, then for the forward fastener, we set up with our bolt and block already on our bolt leader. Feed my bolt into position, push my block up into the frame, and then pull them both back into place. Since we have two bolt leaders in our install kit, Im going to go ahead and leave this one in position as it will help me to put my hitch into place without pushing my hardware back up into the frame. Now Im going to go ahead and repeat the same process on the passenger side. Now were ready to install our hitch. Its a good idea to get a second set of hands that will put the hitch in place. Remember to feed your fish wire through your forward fastener carefully putting your hitch in place, not to push your fasteners back up into the frame. Once you get your rear fasteners in place then you can remove your bolt leader and install your forward fasteners or flange nuts. Now weve got our two fasteners installed on our driver side, well repeat the same process on the passenger side. All right, with all four of our fasteners in place, were going to go ahead and tie them down. I can place the two on the driver side, Im going to repeat the same process with the two of the passenger side. With all my fasteners tightened down, Ill go ahead and torch the specifications as indicated in the instructions. Now with all four of our fasteners torched with specifications, we can go ahead and reinstall our exhaust. With our exhaust reinstalled, that completes the installation of our current hitch, part number 13147 on the 2011 Subaru Forester.