Trailer hitch on WRX... good or bad?

WRX's are not for towing. I'd say if you used the hitch for a bike rack no problem but I wouldnt tow with a turbo. When something goes it will be easy for dealer to see the hitch and say "engine /turbo/widget burned out from towing-- No warranty!!"

There is a tow rating in the owner's manual - 1000 lbs w/o brakes and

2000 lbs w/ trailer brakes. It's reduced for AT with any uphill grades. However - it does state that "damage or malfunction caused by towing" isn't covered by the warranty.

It's basically - do it if you feel like it, but if you toast your transmission we're not paying for it.

I have a Forester GT Turbo 2 litre with AT (in Australia). I have towed a braked trailer (a caravan) which weighs about 2000 lbs with the Forester for over 1500 miles (Brisbane to Sydney and return). I had an transmission oil cooler fitted, and there were no apparent problems with the engine or transmission at all - in fact it ran cool and went like a rocket. After the trip, the AT fluid was a little bit darkened so I changed it as a precaution, but I think that there is a over-temperature alarm in the AT if it runs too hot anyway. However, I wouldn't do that again, because the car is a bit light for that sort of weight behind it, and it felt just a bit unstable.

Cheers

Dave

Care to explain why Subaru markets a trailer hitch for use on WRX's??

In fact, they even mention that the SPT exhaust won't fit on a WRX if the Subaru trailer hitch is installed.

Bike racks?

Very low profile tires would not also not give me the warm fuzzies when thinking of towing with a WRX.

I have a 2004 Turbo Forester and I see no such entry in my manual. I tow a trailer (up to about 1200#)) often with it and it performs just fine. I suspect that it's more a weight issue (the WRX being lighter).

My only complaint is the Subaru factory tow hitch is a bit whimpy. I'll be looking for a better aftermarket hitch at some point.

Cheers, Michael

A little OT but, what combos of perf mufflers and hitches (Sube or aftermarket) do work together? I may want to do this very thing soon.

tia

Carl

CompUser wrote:

The load ratings are probably low on the hi-po tires-- light car, trailer and blowout no fun

snipped-for-privacy@backpacker.com scribbled:

And why the heck not?

Turbo jerks and will damage components when confronted with an xtra ton.

You won't be getting any kind of logical answer ;-)

I have a hitch since fall 02. People have already talked about weight and loading the engine. Some other issues are AFR and heat. The AFR leans out when driving for a while on flat steady speed. Be a little careful riding on flat ground for a while and hit a steep hill. If you know a hill is coming up, do some small pulls beforehand. If you have the stock uppipe and TBE, it makes the exhaust gas much hotter than a non-catted uppipe and a TBE with a high flow cats. There has been documentation the stock exhaust temps (a few inches from the heads) commonly runs 150 to 300 degrees hotter. Once again loading the engine a few times before hitting a hill will help.