Towing Capacity and Parts Needed to Tow a Trailer with 2016 Subaru Forester

Question:

I have one of the unusual Subaru Foresters with a 2.5 engine. With the best hitch I can buy from you and a trailer with brakes, what is my towing capacity? If I need any other extras let me know.

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

If you have the 2016 Subaru Forester with a 2.5L engine, I recommend the Draw-Tite Class III Max Frame Round Tube Receiver Hitch # 75876. This Class III hitch is confirmed to fit your vehicle and will use existing holes in its frame for a no-drill installation. This will provide you with a 2 inch receiver opening perfect for use with a ball mount to tow a trailer and features a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

I have attached an installation video on your Forester that you can use for reference.

I took a look at the online owner's manual for your Forester and found that when towing a trailer with brakes, it has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds. This is the limit you will need to stay under, even though the hitch is rated for more. I do also recommend verifying this in your copy of the owner's manual, as its possible you have a slightly different model.

In addition to the trailer hitch, you will also need a wiring harness. For this, I recommend the Tekonsha T-One # 118467. This is a custom fit harness that will install by plugging directly into factory ports behind the driver side trim panel. This will give you a 4-Way flat connector to connect with and power a trailer's basic signal lights. I have again attached an installation video to assist.

If you do plan on towing a trailer with electric brakes, you will need to convert this 4-Way to a fully functional 7-Way connector and install a trailer brake controller. To do this, you will need the Universal Wiring Kit # ETBC7, which includes everything needed to convert the 4-Way to a 7-Way, along with the additional wiring and circuit breakers required for installing a brake controller. I have included a great article that details the installation steps for this kit.

For the brake controller itself, I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885. This proportional controller will activate the trailer brakes at the same time and with the same intensity that you apply to them in your Forester. It features a nice digital display and continuous diagnostics that will alert you to any potential issues.

Finally, in order to tow a trailer you will need a ball mount and hitch ball. I have attached an article that explains how to choose the best one for your setup, along with a link that will take you to our available selecion. I have also included a couple articles on trailer towing that you might find helpful.