Recommended Ball Mount and Hitch Ball for a 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon with 1-1/4 inch Receiver

Question:

I have a 2012 Subaru Outback with a class II 1.25inch hitch receiver. I want to tow a trailer that requires a 1-7/8inch hitch ball - and the bottom of the hitch needs to be about 19inch off the ground to haul the trailer. The bottom of my receiver is 14inch off the ground. Can you advise on best options? Thank you!

asked by: Marty

Expert Reply:

When measuring to see if you need a ball mount with a Rise or Drop you will want to make sure that your 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon is level and you will want to measure from the ground to the top of the trailer hitch receiver. For your trailer you will want to park it on level ground and measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. The difference between these 2 numbers will determine if you need a ball mount with a Rise or Drop. I have attached a helpful article and a picture to demonstrate.

If the bottom of your hitch receiver is 14 inches from level ground then if we add another 1-1/4 inches (the size of the inside of the opening of your receiver) then that will give us an approximate height of 15-1/4 inches. If the bottom of your coupler is 19 inches off of the ground then you will be looking for a ball mount with a Rise of 4 inches (1/4 inch difference is nothing to be concerned about).

I recommend going with the Curt Class II Drawbar # C45522 for the ball mount and the Convert-A-Ball Interchangeable Ball Set # 800B to get the maximum weight capacity out of your towing setup.

If you are in need of trailer wiring I recommend going with the Tekonsha T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector # 118467 which is confirmed to fit the 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon (except for the Sport).

expert reply by: Jon G