Trailer Hitch Receiver For 2015 Subaru Forester For Bike Rack

Question:

I had a dealer install an OEM hitch which i have found to be inadequate and incompatible with most bike racks because the pin hole depth opening on hitch to pin hole is 1.5. I have seen articles/responses from your experts speaking to this. An adapter will not work as it cuts the tongue weight by 50 and the OEM rating is already only 150 lbs. I am trying to find a replacement hitch that would install the same was as the OEM hitch. It is my understanding that the OEM hitch replaces the rear cross support bar and aligns with the crumple zones in the frame. I got this from Subaru forums where others have talked about the same issue. Do you have/can you recommend a hitch that has a min 1.5inch pin hole depth and that installs the same way as the Subaru OEM hitch? I have tried to to take some pictures to show how its installed. Admittedly they are not great Thank you so much

asked by: Kartik R

Expert Reply:

We do have a hitch for your 2015 Subaru Forester, and while your photos didn't come through, what I can tell you is that there isn't a hitch that installs the same way as you described the OEM hitch does. What that tells me though is the OEM hitch has a concealed crosstube, and there is one hitch with a concealed crosstube for your '15 Forester that stands above the rest when it comes to use with a bike rack, which is a hitch from Draw-Tite:

- Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver # 76182

The Draw-Tite hitch - which does have the pin hole depth you need - is the best for your '15 Forester because it offers the best bumper clearance and ground clearance among the hitches that fit your Subaru. This will allow you to install and use any bike rack that fits the 2 inch receiver, like the Swagman Dispatch # S44FR.

expert reply by: Kyle S