Carrying Two Bikes and Towing a Trailer with a 2009 Subaru Outback Wagon with Factory Hitch
Question:
I have a 2009 Subaru Outback wagon with a 1 1/4inch receiver hitch - factory installed. I assume it is Class II with a tongue weight capacity of 300 lbs. I want to buy an adapter to carry my two bikes on the Subaru and also tow my tear trailer which has a tongue weight of 100 lbs. I am planning to buy the 1 1/4inch hitch converter to make the bike rack fit the receiver. I realize the tongue weight capacity will be cut in half - which means 300 lbs hitch capacity down to 150 which will be okay if the camper has 100 lbs. tongue weight. Does this sound like it will work? I do have some concern about the converter holes not lining up but am thinking I will give it a try. I have researched options for hours and this seems to be the best one.
asked by: Laura C
Helpful Expert Reply:
I have a solution for you, but unfortunately there are problems with this setup. First, we don't carry any multipurpose adapters that fit a 1-1/4 inch hitch receiver. Second, the factory hitch of a 2009 Subaru Wagon, according to the owner's manual is a Class I hitch rated for 200 pounds of tongue weight. I recommend verifying the specifics of your vehicle with your owners manual, though I did not see any variation in this weight in the manuals Subaru provided online. There is no real functional option for a split hitch setup on this hitch, and with the added oddities of the Subaru factory hitch being shallow, I'd recommend a much different solution.
Instead, I'd recommend making use of your roof if you don't already plan on carrying anything there. The primary advantage to this is opening up access to your rear cargo area and leaving more of the hitch capacity open for the trailer itself.
If you have bicycles with a quick release front wheel and don't have the factory roof rack, the most direct solution for the vehicle is a SeaSucker MiniBomber, part # 298-BM2006. This unique rack uses vacuum cups to mount the bike rack to the roof of your vehicle, skipping the need to install a roof rack just for the bikes. These racks do fall into the "See to believe" category, so I've included a video of a pair of the 1 bike Talon variation of the rack, part # 298-BT1004 being used as a pair to lift a VW Bus, as well as a video review of the MiniBomber.
The SeaSucker racks don't include any integrated security features, so I recommend a 10 foot cable lock like part # e98891 to add security to the bikes and the rack. This can mount to the side rails of your 2009 Subaru Outback Wagon if its equipped with them.
If you don't have quick release front wheels, or would rather have a more traditional rack, you can use almost any roof mounted bike rack if you have a factory or aftermarket roof rack. I recommend wheel mounts primarily because they are easier to mount the bikes to. A favorite of mine is the Yakima FrontLoader bike rack, part # Y02103. One of the primary reasons for this is that the bike rack has an incredibly easy to use mounting system and holds a wide variety of wheel sizes. Its additionally fairly economical price wise and can add a same-key locking system that lets you use the same key. Since you'd likely want two bike racks, you'll want part # Y07204 to add these locks to your racks.
If you don't have a rack, you'll need to add one.
If you do have roof rails, I recommend the Malone AirFlow bars, part # MPG215. This is an all-in-one kit that will clamp to the roof rails and let you mount the FrontLoader racks onto the vehicle.
If you don't have roof rails, you'll need to install a clamp style rack. I recommend Rhino Rack's Vortex kit, consisting of:
Vortex Aero Crossbars, 46 inches, Silver, part # RRVA118S-2 or Black, part # RRVA118B-2
2500 Vortex Legs for Crossbars, part # RRRLKVA
DK Fit Kit for Vortex legs, part # DK292.
This will add an aero kit to your vehicle, letting you use the FrontLoader racks or any other roof bike rack that you'd like on the vehicle.
I've included video of all of these parts so you can compare their features and performance and make the best decision for your adventure.
Products Referenced in This Question
SeaSucker Mini Bomber Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Fork Mount - Vacuum Cup Mount
- Roof Bike Racks
- Fork Mount
- 9mm Fork
- Locks Not Included
- No Crossbars
- Disc Brake Compatible
- Suction Cup Mount
- Black
- SeaSucker
more information >
SeaSucker Talon Bike Rack for 1 Bike - Fork Mount - Vacuum Cup Mounted
- Roof Bike Racks
- Fork Mount
- 9mm Fork
- Locks Not Included
- No Crossbars
- Disc Brake Compatible
- Suction Cup Mount
- Black
- SeaSucker
more information >
Custom DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs - Fixed Mounting Points
- Roof Rack
- Fit Kits
- 4 Pack
- Rhino Rack
more information >
etrailer Cable Lock - 10' Long - 5/16" Diameter - Steel - Keyed Alike
- Cable Locks
- Utility Lock
- Keyed Alike
- Steel
- 10 Feet Long
- etrailer
more information >
Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack - Aero Crossbars - Raised Side Rails - Aluminum - 50" Long - Silver
- Roof Rack
- Complete Roof Systems
- Aero Bars
- 50 Inch Bar Space
- 2 Bars
- Overhang
- Silver
- Malone
more information >
Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Legs for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Naked Roofs or Fixed Mounting Points - Qty 4
- Roof Rack
- Feet
- 4 Pack
- Rhino Rack
more information >
Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - Aluminum - Black - 46" Long - Qty 2
- Roof Rack
- Crossbars
- Aero Bars
- 46 Inch Bar Space
- 2 Bars
- Overhang
- Black
- Rhino Rack
more information >
Yakima FrontLoader Wheel Mount Bike Carrier - Roof Mount
- Roof Bike Racks
- Wheel Mount
- 15mm Fork
- 15mm Thru-Axle
- 20mm Thru-Axle
- 5mm Fork
- 9mm Fork
- 9mm Thru-Axle
- Bike Lock
- Aero Bars
- Factory Bars
- Round Bars
- Square Bars
- Disc Brake Compatible
- Clamp On - Quick
- Black
- Yakima
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Yakima Same Key System (SKS) Lock Cores (QTY 4)
- Accessories and Parts
- Hitch Bike Racks
- Roof Bike Racks
- Roof Box
- Roof Rack
- Ski and Snowboard Racks
- Keys
- Lock Parts
- Lock Cores and Cylinders
- Yakima
more information >
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