Carrying 4 Bikes on a 2017 Subaru Outback Touring Wagon with a Factory Hitch

Question

Question:

Class I hitches are always limited to only two bikes, as the weight of any bikes past the second can cause the forces applied to the hitch to be magnified, risking damage to the bike rack, vehicle or hitch. If you provide me with a little more information about your vehicle, I can make a better recommendation to fit more than two bikes onto your vehicle.

asked by: Rich G

0

Expert Reply:

Class I hitches are always limited to only two bikes, as the weight of any bikes past the second can cause the forces applied to the hitch to be magnified, risking damage to the bike rack, vehicle or hitch.

If you provide me with a little more information about your vehicle, I can make a better recommendation to fit more than two bikes onto your vehicle.

expert reply by: Jacob W

0

Rich G.

9/26/2017

Class I hitches are always limited to only two bikes, as the weight of any bikes past the second can cause the forces applied to the hitch to be magnified, risking damage to the bike rack, vehicle or hitch. If you provide me with a little more information about your vehicle, I can make a better recommendation to fit more than two bikes onto your vehicle.

Jacob W.

9/26/2017

Given that information, you have two options: outright replace the hitch with a new hitch, or use some alternative systems to carry the additional two bikes. 2017 Subaru Outback Touring Wagons have Class III hitches available that are 2 inch receivers. You will, of course, be limited by the towing capacity of the vehicle, but there's nothing wrong with installing a higher class hitch if you're aware of the limits of your vehicle. Additionally, since you're not intending to tow any trailers or use it for any reason but the bike rack, you'll be okay to install the higher class. I recommend using the Draw-Tite Class III, part # 75673 as your hitch. This does require drilling to install and I've included a video of that process so you can decide if you'd like to do this yourself or get professional help to install. You'll need a 1-1/8 inch hole saw and tin snips, part # PT79ZR in order to install this at home. For a rack, you'll want to pick a four bike platform rack that is lighter than you'd normally go so you can stay within your vehicle's ratings. The specific number I turned up in my research is 200 pounds of tongue weight, but you'll want to verify this inside your owner's manual and with your dealer to be safe. If you've reinstalled to the 2 inch hitch and you're looking for a higher-feature rack, the Kuat NV 2.0, part # NV22G-NA22G which includes integrated locks, anti rattle and even a repair rack for quick fixes to your bikes is an extremely popular option. If instead you'd rather not reinstall the hitch, you'll need a hitch rack and then a way of carrying two other bikes. For the rack, I strongly recommend the Thule Doubletrack, part # TH92BJ. This is a two bike rack that is very easy to load and is compatible with a 1-1/4 inch receiver. This is a frame mount carrier providing a stable ride. For the other two bikes, you'll be limited to using your roof. If you have the factory roof racks installed, or have purchased an aftermarket rack, I recommend the Yakima Front-Loader, part # Y02103 . This is a great, easy to mount rack that is quick to remove when you want to return your vehicle to its original aerodynamic state. It includes an integrated cable lock for the bike, and a rack lock is available as part # Y07204 for a four pack. This gives you a kit with four locks that use the same key, letting you not have to fumble for multiple keys to remove the rack. If you have fork mount bikes and no roof rack installed, I recommend the SeaSucker Mini-Bomber, part # 298-BM2006 . This is a unique rack that fits to the naked roof without crossbars, and holds two bikes via fork mount and a rear vacuum cup. This is a product that's in the "See to believe" category, so I've included video of the rack itself and a video of the smaller Talon version being used to lift a Volkswagen Bus so you can see the strength that these racks have. These racks do not include any locks, so again, I recommend using a cable lock, part # e98891 to lock them to your vehicle if you plan on leaving the vehicle with the bikes attached. This is easiest if you have any clearance on your factory side rails, or you can use a window anchor, part # 298-BA0010 in order to provide an anchor point for the bikes. I've included videos of all of these racks so you can get an idea of how they work and what they look like in action. I know that this is a lot of information, so don't be afraid to ask more questions about the specific racks or if you have other preferences for your vehicle.

Answer 1

One of the biggest differences between the Kuat NV 2.0 4-Bike Platform Rack #NV22G-NA22G and the RockyMounts SplitRail part #RKY11404-4 is going to be the price. The SplitRail is less expensive. It weighs a few lbs less than the NV as well at 76 lbs…

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Answer 2

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 3

Hey Jonathon thank you so much for all of that additional information! To haul your bikes behind your class C Sprinter motorhome, while flat towing your Mini, I recommend the Hollywood Racks RV Rider Bike Rack item #HLY64FR and the Roadmaster Dual…

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Answer 4

Congrats on the new motorhome Edward! SnapPad doesn't have the 2026 Allego Red 38 KA in their system so I don't know what size your jack feet are. However, we have a few options that will work with the HWH leveling systems. What you'll…

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Answer 5

Hey Morgan, the best hitch for what you are looking for would be the Draw Tite part #DT73RR which has the easiest install and the highest tongue weight rating. The hitch does fit right up under the rear bumper which will slightly reduce ground…

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Answer 6

Hey Nick congrats on the new car! The bottom portion of the receiver for the Curt item #C69VV sits 11-3/4" above the ground when installed on your 2025 Subaru Outback Premium. If you're worried about ground clearance, I recommend installing…

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Answer 7

Hi Jessey! We have everything you need for your 2024 Subaru Outback. To start, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" #C67JR. This is a little bit of work to get installed, but it is going to be the best…

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Answer 8

Hey Lawrence thanks for the information! I wasn't able to find any good pictures of the inside of your Axle Tecknology BD2-655 drums. What you'll need to do is pull one of the hubs off and look at the inside. If they're smooth like the…

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Answer 9

Hey Poches, happy to help! The torque spec for the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Hitch #DT73RR is 50 lb-ft for all the bolts that the hitch comes with. You can also find this listed in step 8 of the installation instructions if you want to double-check while…

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Answer 10

Hey Andy, the bolts that come with the Demco Spare Tire Mount for up to 4" Trailer Tongue #DM15851-52 that you referenced are right at 4 inches long 3/8 inch diameter and are a fine thread. Did you lose yours?

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Answer 11

The Curt Class III hitch part #C67JR and EcoHitch - 2020 Subaru Outback Wagon part #EH34FR are both very similar as far as looks go on the 2020 Subaru Outback Wagon. They are both hidden cross tube designs so the only part of the hitch that is…

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Answer 12

Hello Ian, thanks for reaching out. Yes, the Draw-Tite #DT73RR is the correct fit for the 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness. The picture below shows an example of what this hitch will look like installed on the Wilderness model. Feel free to reach out…

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Carrying 4 Bikes on a 2017 Subaru Outback Touring Wagon with a Factory Hitch

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