Hitch And Wiring Setup To Tow Popup Camper With 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness Edition

Updated 12/19/2025 | Published 11/20/2025

Question:

I’ve got a 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness and I’m looking to tow a small pop-up camper. Would the TowSmart hitch handle that safely? I'm new to all this, but I'm excited to get setup for some adventures :)

asked by: Lisa

Expert Reply:

Absolutely, Lisa! The TowSmart # TS34ZR is a great match for your 2025 Outback Wilderness. It’s a Class III, 2-inch receiver rated for 4,500 lbs towing and 675 lbs tongue weight, which easily covers your Wilderness’s factory towing limit of 3,500 lbs. Just stay under that number (I'd confirm in your owner’s manual) and you’ll be good to go.

To complete your setup, you’ll need the T-One Wiring Harness # 118467 for trailer lights and the Ball Mount Kit # 989891 for both 2" and 1-7/8" hitch balls - perfect for small campers.

Are you planning to stick to local parks or heading out for bigger overland trips with that setup?

expert reply by: Andrew N

Lisa

11/25/2025

Thanks, Andrew! One more thing. do I need trailer brakes for a little pop-up, or is the Outback fine without them?

Andrew N.

11/25/2025

@Lisa Most small pop-up campers under 1,500–2,000 lbs don’t legally require brakes in many states, but it totally depends on the trailer and your local laws. Your Outback Wilderness can tow up to 3,500 lbs, but it's strongly recommended to use trailer brakes once you get close to the upper end of that range. It really boils down to if your camper does have brakes, in which case you’ll want to add a 7-way connector and a brake controller, but if it’s a lighter trailer with no brakes, your current setup with the T-One Wiring Harness # 118467 is perfect. Do you happen to know the weight of the pop-up you’re looking at and if it has brakes? I can help you pin down exactly what you’ll need.

Sam L.

12/17/2025

I have a 2022 Wilderness Does it sit under the bumper or do you need to cit the bumper? If the exhaust needs to be lowered slightly would you need to lower both sides on the dual exhaust?

Andrew N.

12/19/2025

@SamL Yes, you sure do. But it's actually not hard on these newer cars. I've done a couple installs on similar vehicles, and it's pretty easy to slide them off the hangers using a crowbar or big screwdriver along with some lubricant. We don't have an install video on this particular hitch, but we do for a nearly identical hitch design from Curt. I've attached the video link and you will see the dual exhaust being lowered between the 3:00 - 500 minute marks. Let me know if you need anything else or have any other concerns! Happy Holidays :)

Helpful Links

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