Differences Between a Class I and Class III Hitch for Carrying Bikes on a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Question

Question:

We have a hitch mounted Thule Doubletrack 990 XT bike rack and plan to get a hitch mounted Curt 18145 cargo rack. The bike rack manual specifies a Class Two 1 1/4“receiver. Your site shows Class One and Class Three receivers for a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, but not Class Two. Are Class Two receivers not available for that vehicle, or are you just out of stock? If not available, why? We see no need to go with Class Three as the vehicle is too small for meaningful towing. Which receiver would you recommend for our 2014 Subaru Crosstrek for bike rack and cargo rack use only? I will note that we have a Class Two receiver on our other Subaru, a 2012 Impreza, so wonder why it is not available if that is so on our similar Crosstrek.

asked by: Julia L

0

Expert Reply:

You're right, there are no Class II trailer hitches available for the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. This is because of the vehicle's ability to tow larger trailers when equipped with the larger Class III hitches.

There are very few reasons to use a Class III trailer hitch for your proposed applications. I've included a link to a few of our help articles that dive further into this below, but in summary, you'd want the Class III if you're a fan of having more options and flexibility or think it may be useful to tow a larger trailer in the future.

According to my research, the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek is only rated for 200lbs tongue weight, which matters the most for the cargo and bike applications. You should always verify your tongue weight rating with your owner's manual.

A Class I hitch has a tongue weight maximum of 200lbs, so you're able to avoid loading past your tongue weight fairly easily. For a Class I hitch, I recommend going with the Curt Class I, part # C11286 . This is a cost effective hitch that installs without having to lower the exhaust or any cutting of underbody panels. You may have to drill to enlarge access holes when mounting though. To give you an idea of what installation looks like, I've included a video of it being installed onto a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

However, there are two things you have to watch out for when using a Class I hitch. The first is a 1-1/4 inch hitch is the fitting of other parts. You'll want to ensure that the hitch accessories are able to fit 1-1/4 inch hitches, as sometimes the hitches will not fit the receiver design, as its much shorter than a Class II 1-1/4 inch hitch. This limits your accessory options but saves a few dollars in terms of initial costs. Our product lines have a "Fits 1-1/4 inch hitch" option on the filters to assist you in finding an appropriate accessory.

The other concern with a Class I hitch is that it is always limited to carrying 2 bikes thanks to this design choice. If you're wanting to carry more than two bikes with a hitch mounted carrier, a Class III hitch will be a far more appropriate choice as it can carry more bikes.

If you want to go this route, I recommend the Draw Tite Class III, part # 76084 for ease of installation. It installs with no drilling or trimming required. As it doesn't require any drilling or cutting to install, I've included a video of its installation so you can see whats required to put it onto a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek.

In the case of the Thule DoubleTrack Pro, part # TH9054, it is a confirmed fit for a Class I and a Class III hitch. I've included video of it being installed on a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek with a 2-inch Class III hitch so you can get an idea of how it fits and rides on the vehicle. This is a great rack that integrates frame and hitch locks, making it extremely secure and easy to use. I'm personally a fan of the platform style bike racks because of the support and safety they give in comparison to hanging racks, and the fact that they are widely compatible with many different styles of bikes.

If you decide to go with the Class III hitch and need to carry more than 2 bikes, I recommend the Thule T2 Pro XTR 2 Bike rack, part # TH83JV plus 2-bike add on # TH9036XT . This has a detachable rear 2-bike section allowing you to swap between 2 and 4 bikes carried behind the vehicle, plus all the features of the Doubletrack.

For a cargo carrier, you have to be careful to ensure the 1-1/4 fit if you go that route. The Curt 17x46 cargo carrier, part # C18145 is a great fit whether you go with a Class I or a Class III hitch, and I've included a video of it on the same 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek from the Class I installation so you can see what it looks like on the vehicle. Additionally, it includes an anti-rattle bolt that will improve the stability of the rack overall.

Again, I've included videos of all of these parts so you can get an idea of how they work in practice, as well as a few articles to help you decide if you should get the Class III hitch for possible future applications.