86subaru Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 i am going to pull a pop up camper , with my 1997 legacy L awd a/t wagon, [ class 2 hitch] every place i go to says something different, that a hitch for a legacy L wagon and a outback are different ? or are they the same ? i was reading here i think that the wiring for the lights is very simple ? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Ursalia Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 i am going to pull a pop up camper , with my 1997 legacy L awd a/t wagon, [ class 2 hitch] every place i go to says something different, that a hitch for a legacy L wagon and a outback are different ? or are they the same ? i was reading here i think that the wiring for the lights is very simple ? thanks The Legacy and the Outback are the same platform- the reason they show differences is some cars have the plug and pray harness for the hitch, some don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted May 20, 2007 Author Share Posted May 20, 2007 ok, the one i found says it will bolt on and install in 20 mins , is this correct ? and it comes with all hardware ? the only thing i will have to buy then is the slider part and ball which i have , what about the lights ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 if the hitch says it will fit an outback then it will fit a legacy of the same year. i don't remember the name brand of mine, but i had to drill a hole on each side, up from the bottom, to bolt it up. my hitch connects to the 2 existing 'tie down loops' in the rear, plus the 2 drilled holes into the frame. i had to remove the carpeted floor panels in the rear of the car to access the top side of the frame member. the floor panels come out if you remove the center plugs in the bottom of the 'socket' on each of the tie downs in the cargo area. the rear ones work slightly differently than the forward ones. i don't rememer the difference , but don't force them, they are plastic. accessing the frame members was a ' remove the plastic plug' deal, slide the bolt and bracket into the frame and fish it into the drilled hole. i used a coat hanger like a long tool to drop the bolt into the hole. the wiring is another story. the outback comes with a plug , behind the drivers side tail light, inside the access cover. i don't know about legacy but it's worth a look. then you buy the 'harness pigtail' from the hitch manufacturer for your car and it plugs right in. feed the wire down to the spare tire area (probably before you plug it in) and you're done. hang it out the hatch when you haul something. the exact harness will cost more, but it is really easy on the outback, the generic harness is cheaper, but you have to buy connectors and spend the time figuring out which wire goes where and then splicing them. all six? of them !! seems like a hundred. good luck john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manarius Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 I think you're going to have one heck of a time trying to pull a popup camper with a 1997 Legacy L. They're heavy things - at least half the weight of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 the pop up is only 1800 lbs, the the hitch part is less than 200 lbs, i can move it around my self and almost pick it up my self, you might be thinking about the old style pop up which were pretty heavy , this is a 95 model, my 88 dl wagon could pull it, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAezb Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Installation will typically take 30-60 minutes, depending on the brand hitch. Installation is farily simple but a second set of hands to help lift and hold the hitch in place would help. See attached .pdf file for reference (from http://www.etrailer.com) I'm pretty certain you will need to hardwire the trailer plug, that seems to be the indication on etrailer.com, unfortunately they don't list instructions on splicing in the wiring. If your owner's manual has no info on this, see if a local subaru dealer would be willing to make a copy of the instructions for you - (ask nicely ) Or maybe someone here on the board will chime in with instructions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 My instuctions would be.. Get test light and find connector in trunk. Make sure light is grounded and put on the left signal with key on. When it flashes you have found left. Repeat as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 i would still look for the pigtail plug at the left rear tail light first. if it's not there then this is one of the few real differences between legacy and outback. the consensus here is that all of the wiring is in place on all cars, but trailer hitch connections may be too optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef_tim Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Hey Jim, remember that you will need a converter because the turn signals are seperate from the other lights. You could have a fire if you don't do it right. I had me hitch installed but I do recall the guy saying it was a pain because there was some drilling required. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 your right tim,the best thing to do is get it installed ,and not do it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 did a search and found nothing, + went onto the outback board , on the outbacks there is a pigtail and you splice in a converter , but on my 97 legacy L wagon there is no pigtail + would the color wires on a outback be the same ?, any help or suggestions ? all i am pulling is a pop up camper 1800lbs total weight , i can pick up the front end ,so it weighs less than 200 lbs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Here is what my info says about it. First off it shows a trailer connection for the years 96-99 so you may look for one in your car. The brake light is WHT/BLK. The tail light is RED. The left turn is light GRN/WHT and the right turn is WHT/RED. Ground is BLK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 i looked where it is located on a outback, drivers side underneith the carpet, but i'll look again, if not where should i splice into at ? maybe at the drivers side tail light plug, ? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Jim, I'm sorry it raining too hard for me to go out and look at my 97 Outback But all my 94/93 Legacy wagons have the connector you need to splice behind the cover directly behind (in front of) the tail light. The same cover one uses for changing the light bulbs when they burn out. Hope this helps, if not I'll check my Outback in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 ok, the pig tail must not be to long or just pushed down in side, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 found it , brake light - white/black, tail light- red, left turn green/white, black ground, the only one i did not find is right turn which should be white/ red , but it is pretty dark in the garage + my light is dim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Good deal. Was it on the left side in the rear taillight area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 no pigtail ,but found all the colored wires, except red/white , right behind the small cover ,that you would remove if you were to replace a bulb [ 4 sets of wires in a bunch ]drivers side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Jim the red/white wire separated from the main harness and goes to the other side with the other colors minus the green/white May have to look under the rear gate sill plate. PLEASE follow what Chef Tim said. The camper will have the stop lamps and the turnsignals combined into one lamp per side. Your Subaru will not have this setup. Trust me on this one you need the "converter" box" Tim speaks of. (Uhall, Napa, Walmart ect will have it) I pull several trailers with several of my Roo's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 yes i have a converter on order,+ the hitch is being made as we speak, i have done nothing, i just wanted to know where the pigtail was or if my 97 legacy had one, + the color of the wires, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted July 5, 2007 Author Share Posted July 5, 2007 got new hitch put on, now for the lights, no pigtail , i have found underneith the small gray cover, , 4 wires, black, white, green/ white, and red, is this where you splice in ? i have a convertor from etrailer,thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 That sounds like a good spot to me. Did you find the wire for the right side light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted July 6, 2007 Author Share Posted July 6, 2007 got it all hooked up , on the converter the green wire is extra long, the reason is because you must run it to the passanger side , blinker, ,for the right turn , biggest thing is to run it though one of the rubber stoppers or hang it out the hatch , but aleast i have it hooked up ,thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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