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Trailer Wiring/Plug '02 OBW


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Somewhere I read that I must use the Suby OEM trailer hitch plug and upgrade the elec system or I'll cause some kind of damage to the car. when hooking up trailer lights. Is this true, If so, where do you get the plug and what is the system upgrade? I can't find any thing like that on most Suby parts places.

thanks,

bill g

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My 02 OBW has the factory trailer hitch and wiring harness. It all came as a kit that I installed. In fact the kit even included the trailer ball as well. I tow an 18 foot boat and haven't overloaded the electrical system in any way. My 97 OBW had the same system and it never failed either. One note! The directions with my kit said that the trailer wiring harness plugged into the tail light wiring harness connector just behind the driver's side rear wheel tub. WRONG! The wiring harness connector was there alright...BUT it was on the passenger side of the car behind the rear wheel tub. Go figure! The installation of the whole affair, trailer hitch, wiring and ball, didn't take more than an hour and a half with regular tools. You don't even have to jack up the car to do it. Pay the dealer for the whole shebang and know that it will fit and work correctly. Give me a shout if you need more info. Good Luck!

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Hey Carl, I put a Hidden Hitch and wire harness on our MY01 OBW. Never a problem with the electrical hookup. Took me less than 1 hour to do the job. The tricky part is fishing the bolts through the frame. Check it out here,

 

http://www.hitchesonline.com/subaru_cl2_outback01.htm

 

I looked at the link again and that isn't the hitch pictured on that page. It's a bracket that gets bolted underneath on the frame.

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I never paid any attention to the part number of the trailer hitch since it was in stock, and that was over a year ago. Sorry. I think I paid about $300 Canadian for the whole setup, ball, receiver, hitch and wiring harness, all as a factory kit. The ball is 2 inches in diameter.

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Bolts, lock washers, et al. were included -the best thing is the OB is high enough that you can get it on without lifting the car.

You need some support while treading the bolt through the hitch underneath, once you get it loose bolted on it stays fine until you tighten it the rest of the way.

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Getting the bolts in is the tough part........:banghead:

 

Haven't done the wiring harness yet.

 

Question,

 

Do they sell the "adapter" for the electrical seperately?

At a reasonable price?

Anyone purchased one seperatly?

 

That would be sweet to plug in the wiring rather than cut and wire.

 

Glenn,

82 Hatch, transforming :temper:

01 Forester, with hitch:burnout:

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Go to the link in my last message, search through the site for the harness, you can buy it separately. It plugs into an adapter plug on the passenger side under the floor insert towards the rear, near the gas filler tube. No splicing required.

As far as the bolts, yeah they are a little tough, they supply a wire that threads onto the bolt, You fish the wire through a hole big enough to fit the whole blot and an oblong washer into and carefully pull it into position in the bolt hole. You'll need to do this for both sides.

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Thanks!

 

That's the way to go for wiring.

 

Is your hitch just a plate bolted to the bumper like the picture on the link?

 

The Forester is a wide (frame rail to frame rail) hitch with the receiver just peaking out in the center?

 

Glenn,

82 Hatch, transforming.......:temper:

01 Forester, jealous...........:madder:

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I am looking at one for my '01 OBW LTD also, and DrawTite and Hidden Hitch are both possible. http://fitguide.towingtown.com/products.asp?category=hitch&year=2001&make=Subaru&model=Legacy&t1=&style=Outback+Wagon&ob= shows both types, with real pictures of the hitches. $114 for the hitch, $24.70 for the T-one wiring connector, plus shipping is a pretty good price on the package (from http://www.drawtite-hitches.com). Just some possible vendors, haven't bought anything yet:)

Speed Safely!,

David

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