2020 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Trailer hitch (dealer option)

Trailer hitch (dealer option)

The maximum gross trailer weight and maximum gross tongue weight are indi- cated in the following table.

When towing a trailer with brakes

When towing a trailer without brakes

When towing a trailer, refer to “Trailer towing”  P408.

Connecting a trailer

Ball mount

Hitch pin

Safety pin

Hitch receiver tube

Insert the ball mount into the hitch

receiver tube.

Insert the hitch pin into the hole located on the hitch receiver tube so that the pin passes through the ball mount.

Insert the safety pin through the pro- vided hole on the hitch pin securely.

Check the ball mount assembly by pulling on it to make sure it does not come off the hitch receiver.

Hitch ball installation point

Hooks for safety chains

Use only a hitch ball that is appropriate for the ball mount and your trailer. The hitch ball must be securely installed on the ball mount.

Connect your trailer to the hitch ball.

Connect the trailer and the hitch with safety chains that will hold the trailer’s

maximum gross weight. The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping onto the ground in case it should disconnect from the hitch ball. Allow sufficient slack in the chains taking tight turn situations into account; however, be careful not to let them drag on the ground.

Hitch harness connector

Connect the hitch electrical wire har- ness’s black four-pin electrical wire con- nector to the towing trailer’s wire harness.

Confirm proper function of the hitch electrical wire harness by individually and combination activating the brake, stop and turn signal lights on the trailer.

If not towing a trailer

Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube.

Place the dust cap over the four-pin connector of the hitch electrical wire harness to protect against possible da- mage.

Occasionally lubricate terminals of the four-pin connector using terminal grease.