Will Thule Hitching Post Pro 4 Bike Carrier # TH934XTR Fit 2-Inch Hitch on a 2014 Subaru Forester

Question:

2014 Forester 2.5i. Ordered Curt Trailer hitch receiver Code 13144 from you this afternoon and like this 4 bike carrier. Looks like a good fit for the car and receiver, do you agree? Thank you!

asked by: Lawrence K

Expert Reply:

The hitch you have selected for your 2014 Subaru Forester, Curt # C13144, is an excellent choice for use with a high-capacity bike carrier such as the Thule Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR. I have linked a brief video showing this carrier in use on a Subaru Outback.

This Curt hitch is a Class III-rated 2-inch design with a substantial tongue weight capacity of 525-lbs. Tongue weight is the downward force applied to a hitch from whatever is connected to it, whether a trailer or as in this case a bike carrier. Your hitch has to handle the weight of your four bikes plus the weight of the carrier itself (about 43-lbs). The Curt hitch will be more than capable of handing this maximum potential load of 208-lbs (the maximum 165-lbs of loaded bikes plus the carrier weight of 43-lbs). Curt does recommend use of a stabilizing strap such as their # 18050 to help keep your rack and bikes steady and I see that you have already ordered this part.

If you wish to lock the carrier to your hitch you can use Thule part # THSTL2 which is a combination anti-rattle device and hitch lock. You can see this in use in the linked video.

You can check the fit of this or any other hitch-mount bike carrier before ordering by taking one simple measurement of the hitch once its installed on your Forester. Measure from the center of the hitch pin hole back to the rear-most part of the vehicle. As long as this distance is less than 11-7/8-inches then the Thule Hitching Post Pro 4 will clear the back of your Forester.

We provide this same measurement for all hitch-mount bike carriers. The linked article will show you how to take this measurement. Once you know your vehicle clearance requirement you can confidently select from among all carriers that provide that necessary room. The article includes a table of all 2-inch hitch-mount carriers and the clearance each one provides from the hitch pin hole.