Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2014 Subaru Forester

Question:

Hello - my husband and I are new to towing a car behind our motorhome, we have a 2014 subaru forester and need to get blue ox tow bar but are confused about which model would be best. There is already a base plate on the car Any advice would be great. Thank you

asked by: Maria A

Expert Reply:

You'll want to identify the brand of the baseplate you currently have to ensure that you're purchasing the correct tow bar since they're all brand specific fits. You can mix some brands with an additional adapter but that would cost you extra money that you don't really need to spend if you have the option to match from the start.

Assuming you have a Blue Ox baseplate you could use the Blue Ox Alpha 2 Non-Binding Tow Bar # BX7380. This tow bar comes with safety cables included so you won't have to buy them separately.

From there you'll need the Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267 to display the brake, turn, and running light signals of your motorhome through the tail lights on your Forester.

Next you would need to decided between a portable or permanent braking system. Portable systems are easy to use but require setup every single time and can be used in pretty much any vehicle, whereas permanent systems are a one-and-done setup and are a bit more vehicle specific and fitment can also depend on the braking system of the motorhome (air or hydraulic brakes).

If you want a portable system I tend to prefer the Brake Buddy Select 3 Portable Supplemental Braking System # HM39524. This system comes with a remote that allows you to see when the brakes are being applied in the Forester and change the brake settings without having to get out and walk back to the main unit. It also includes a vehicle side charge line kit to help keep your Forester's battery charged.

If you want a permanent setup then I recommend the Demco Air Force One Supplemental Braking System for Motor Homes with Air Brakes # SM99243 if your motorhome has air brakes or the Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System # SM99251 if it has hydraulic brakes.

From an installer and usage standpoint these two systems are the top rated options. Other permanent systems require you to install the main unit inside of the vehicle cabin area, which can end up being pretty tricky in smaller vehicles.

If you have a diesel pusher motorhome with an engine brake and hydraulic brakes then you would need to switch to the Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System # RM-8700 instead of the # SM99251 as it activates off of the tail lights of your motorhome and the engine brake can activate the brakes when you're not wanting them to.

The last thing you could possibly need is a brake light relay kit # RM-88400. To know for sure you'll need to test if the brake lights do work with vehicle's ignition key turned to the "tow" position. If not then you'll need the relay to send the signal to the braking system. If you do end up installing this relay the brake light switch wire you'll tap into is colored white/red.

This can seem like a lot at first so if you need me to break anything down further or have any other questions please let me know.