Trailer Hitch Compatibility with a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport

Updated 03/21/2013 | Published 01/21/2013

Question:

Make: Subaru Model: Ipreza - Outback Sport Year: 2011 Hello, I am trying to configure a towing package for our car. I have read a few specs concerning Class I and Class II hitches. Can you please explain why a dealer or Uhaul center does not allow/recommend a Class II hitch on our vehicle and what I am looking at as far as warranty regulations and safety concern with capacitys and such if we were to go with a Class II. Thanks

asked by: Mike M

Expert Reply:

The reason class II trailer hitches are not recommended for your 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport is because your vehicle has a maximum towing capacity of 1,000 lbs and maximum tongue weight capacity of 200 lbs. I confirmed these capacities with my local Subaru dealer. This information can also be found in your owners manual under the towing section.

Trailer hitch manufacturers design trailer hitches for vehicles based on the specs provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Since the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle is 1,000 lbs, there is no advantage to adding a class II trailer hitch. Also, trailer hitch manufacturers typically want to eliminate any possible liability issues resulting from products that are not recommend for vehicles.

After doing some research, I was not able to find a class II hitch that was compatible with your vehicle, but I did attach a link to all of the trailer hitches that we carry that are compatible with your vehicle. Currently, they are all class I hitches.

There could be some warranty issues if you find and install a class II hitch on your vehicle and damage resulted from towing a higher weight than what Subaru states your vehicle can handle. Towing a higher weight than what is recommended could not only result in damage to the trailer hitch or trailer, but also to the vehicle frame, transmission and engine. This damage would likely not be covered if it was indeed a result from towing more than 1,000 lbs.

expert reply by: John H

Mike M.

1/23/2013

Your the man John! Thanks for the report, it is a big help. Take care, Mike.

Patrick B.

2/4/2013

I will pass your feedback along to John.

2/20/2013

Ive an aluminum hitch mount bike rack that is a 2 receiver, this isnt an issue on my truck, Ive a class III hitch there, but Im looking for a hitch to support this on my 09 Impreza. Any suggestions?

Patrick B.

3/21/2013

There are not any 2 inch hitches available at this time for a 2009 Impreza. It would be more hitch than the Impreza could really use. Depending on the bike rack, you may be able to contact the manufacturer and find a 1-1/4 inch shank for the rack that you could swap out for use on the Impreza or that may use an adapter to quickly change between 1-1/4 and 2 inch configurations. The only other option would be to replace the bike rack with one that is design to work with both hitch sizes. Check out the included link.

Helpful Links

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