Does Subaru Outback Have a Hitch? (Explained)

Trailer hitch or tow hitch is an important part of a vehicle. The tow hitch can be used for many things such as towing things from one place to another.

But all the vehicles do not come with a pre installed tow hitch or trailer hitch. Today, we are going to discuss about subaru outback and find out whether it has a tow hitch or not.

Does subaru outback have a hitch?

It is believed by automotive experts that a subaru outback does not come with a factory installed hitch. But it is possible to attach a hitch onto the Subaru outback as it is often used as a towing vehicle. An OEM or an aftermarket tow hitch with a size of 1.25 to 2 inch should be attached.

There is no doubt about the status of Subaru Outback as a towing vehicle. But despite being a towing vehicle, it does not have the luxury of a pre installed tow hitch. So you will need to get through the trouble of installing a tow hitch on your Subaru outback.

But the important thing to remember here is that a tow hitch can be easily attached to your Subaru outback. Most often than not, an OEM or an aftermarket receiver hitch can give service for a long time once attached to the Subaru outback.

The towing capacity of a Subaru outback is close to three thousand lbs. So a class two or class three tow hitch can be chosen for your Subaru outback.

The installation of tow hitch should be done by following the instructions provided by the hitch manufacturers. The help of a professional should be sought if you lack experience in this field.

Let’s take a look at some models of Subaru outback and see if they have a hitch or not.

Subaru Outback Model	Hitch function availability
2018 Subaru Outback	No
2019 Subaru Outback	No
2020 Subaru Outback	No
2021 Subaru Outback	No
2022 Subaru Outback	No

Do all subaru outback have a tow hitch?

The automobile experts have hailed Subaru outback as an incredible towing vehicle for a long time. There are many reasons behind this.

First of all, subaru outback is built in such a way that it is capable to pulling a lot of weight. So you might think that the manufacturers of Subaru outback will pre install a tow hitch on the vehicle.

But unfortunately, that is not the case when it comes to a subaru outback. The subaru outback vehicle does not come up with a pre installed tow hitch.

But the important thing to remember here is that one can install a tow hitch on their subaru outback if they want to.

So subaru outback does not come with a pre installed tow hitch. But it will not cost you that much to install an aftermarket tow hitch. It is worth the money considering the prowess of subaru outback as a towing vehicle.

However, you will need to consider the towing capacity of your Subaru outback while selecting a tow hitch for it.

What size is Subaru Outback hitch?

The Subaru outback models do not come with a pre installed tow hitch. However, OEM tow hitches or aftermarket tow hitches can be attached to a subaru outback vehicle.

Having the correct size tow hitch is a must for any towing vehicle including the Subaru outback.

There are actually three types of tow hitch that get installed on any towing vehicle. These hitches are receiver hitches, front mount hitches, and bumper hitches.

All of these hitches have different end goals. But the size of these hitches needs to be around two inches. The lowest size of the hitch can be 1.25 inches.

Having the tow hitch with accurate measurement will make the installation process easy. Furthermore, the accurate hitch will provide adequate support during the towing procedure.

You can even go through the user manual of your subaru outback to find out the correct hitch size.

How much does it cost to install a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback?

One of the shortcomings of the Subaru outback is that it does not come with a pre installed tow hitch or trailer. So you will have to buy a tow hitch for your subaru outback if you have the intention of using it as a towing vehicle.

While buying a tow hitch for your subaru outback, you will need to keep a couple of things in your mind.

First of all, the tow hitches are divided into different categories based on their towing capacity. Your subaru outback also has a towing capacity and that is 27 hundred lbs.

That is why selecting a tow hitch that falls in the category of class two will be important. Because class two tow hitches can handle weight up to 35 hundred lbs.

But if you want to provide extra protection to your Subaru outback, you can also go for a class three tow hitch that is capable of towing up to eight thousand lbs.

There are also two types of tow hitch available in the market based on tbeir production. These are known as OEM tow hitches and aftermarket tow hitches. The OEM hitches will cost you about five hundred dollars on an average.

However, the aftermarket tow hitches are cheaper than the OEM tow hitches. The average cost of an aftermarket tow hitch is about two hundred dollars.

How to install a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback?

Installing a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback might seem like a difficult task if you have no prior experience regarding the matter. However, there are some specific steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about them.

Select the perfect hitch:

First of all, you will need to select a proper trailer hitch for your Subaru Outback. There are many different types of trailer hitches available in the market based on functions.

You can select any trailer hitch from receiver hitches, front mount hitches, and bumper hitches after evaluating how you want to use your Subaru outback as a towing vehicle.

The receiver hitches are the most popular among all the hitches because of their versatility.

You will also need to decide whether you want to install an OEM trailer hitch or an aftermarket trailer hitch. The OEM hitches are costly but they are known for reliable when it comes to performance and longevity. 

Gather the tools and equipment:

Next, you will have to gather the required tools and equipment for the installation process.

Generally, you will need ratchet, wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, drill, socket set, gloves, and safety glasses. You can begin the installation process after having all these tools and equipment at hand.

Work on the exhaust system:

Then, you will need to work on the exhaust system of your Subaru outback. First of all, the exhaust pipe will have to be tied to the engine.

A rope will come in handy during this process. Additionally, you will be required to get rid of the isolator rods from the exhaust system with the help of a plier. You will also have to get rid of the heat shields using a screwdriver.

Work on the frame:

In the next step, you will need to work on your Subaru outback’s frame. You will be required to drill access holes on the frame and the size of those access holes needs to be about one inch.

The access holes will then have to be equipped with fish wire, spacers, and carriage bolt.

Attach the hitch:

In the final step, you will be required to attach the hitch onto the access holes of your Subaru outback’s access holes. You will need to get rid of the fish wire at this point and equip the trailer hitch with hex nuts and conical washers.

A torque wrench will come in handy when it comes to attaching the hex nuts. You will have to finish the installation process by reattaching the heat shields and the isolator rods.

Final Thoughts

One needs to install a trailer hitch on a Subaru outback after buying it as Subaru outbacks do not come with a pre installed hitch. The OEM trailer hitches are a good choice for subaru outbacks. Generally, the installation cost  of an OEM trailer hitch is close to five hundred dollars.