Subaru 2003 Forester Hitch Installation and Platform Style 4-Bike Rack Recommendation

Question:

Hello, I have been trying to get up to speed on hitches, class types, and hitch-mounted platform bike racks for my 2003 Subaru Forester X. First questions around installation - I dont have any kind of lift or platform to elevate my car off the ground for easier access underneath the car for installing the hitch. Am I going to run into much difficulty trying to install the hitch at ground level? If so, do you recommend any cost-effective solutions to raising the car off the ground? Im thinking that using the car jack supplied with the car is NOT safe to use while crawling under the car. Next, the only tools I have are socket ratchet wrenches and cordless drill and impact driver. I am considering getting a torque wrench. Are there any other tools that are needed here? Second questions around hitch-mounted bike racks - I have a 2003 Subaru Forester and I am leaning towards the DrawTite 36311 hitch over the Curt due to the issue of needing to use a stabilizing strap with the Curt hitch to not void the warranty. However, I want to purchase a 2inch platform bike rack Kuat NV 2.0 or Thule T2 Pro XT 2 because I want to be able to expand the 2-bike carrier to a 4-bike carrier and only the 2inch versions are capable of expanding that way. Obviously I will need a 2inch expansion adapter hitch to make that work with my Forester realizing that the tongue weight s in half from 300lbs to 150lbs. Eventually, though, this rack will get used with my wifes 2008 Subaru Outback. She doesnt have a hitch yet, but I understand a Class III is compatible with her vehicle which is what we will eventually buy and install for her. I have read some of the questions posted about using a 2inch bike rack on a Class II hitch so I guess what Im looking for here is some confirmation validation? that what I am thinking is ok for my intended use. Thank you for your help!

asked by: Cris C

Expert Reply:

It's not necessary to use a lift to install a hitch on your Forester, but if you have or can borrow ramps or jack stands from somebody, it will make the installation much easier. If that's not an option, we offer some fairly inexpensive ramps as part # FT11909MI or jack stands as part # PTW41021.

Either the Curt # C12038 or the Draw-Tite # 36311 would work fine for you. They install in the same manner, and have identical capacities. Both install with standard metric wrenches or sockets although you will need a torque wrench to properly tighten the bolts (you could probably borrow one pretty easily). Curt no longer has the warranty requirement for the stabilizing strap, so you can feel free to choose the less expensive of the two and not feel as if you've sacrificed anything.

All the bike racks you've mentioned are high quality, but but most bike rack manufacturers such as Thule, Yakima, Hollywood Racks and Kuat do not recommend using a hitch adapter because of the extra leverage and bounce that using one would apply to the hitch and its mounting points to the vehicle. I really don't have any good long-term options to offer you that will let you carry 4 bikes on a platform rack on that vehicle, but I do have a solution.

So because there aren't any expandable platform style 4-bike racks available that would be compatible with a Class II hitch, at this point I believe you'd be much better off getting a Class III hitch like the Draw-Tite # 36334 and installing it on your wife's '08 Outback (as long as it's not a Sport model), at which point you could use either the Thule T2 Pro XTR # TH83JV with the # TH9036XT two bike add-on, or the Kuat NV 2.0 like part # BA22B and the 2 bike add-on # BA02B. If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the Kuat. Their customer service and willingness to stand behind their product is second-to-none.

I've linked you to some install and product videos that you might find helpful.