Subaru Forester Wilderness 2022 - DIY Trailer Hitch Receiver Install
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- A step by step process video of my DIY Trailer Hitch Receiver Install on my Subaru Forester Wilderness 2022.
Trailer Hitch Receiver Kit - Subaru Part L101SSJ005
Documentation Link - techinfo.subar...
Disclaimer - I am not an expert and this video is for documentation of my experience only. Speak with your Subaru dealer about any impact to your warranty.
Tips - I recommend cutting out your template for the bumper fascia cut before doing the project while your hands are steady. Clip remover tools were very helpful, I would recommend using plastic tools for the small clips on the rear light cover phillips-head clips and the small clips in the wheel well as those areas did scuff easily. I kept the bolts in the wholes they belonged in for each part removed to make the reassembly process go smoothly.
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Your video was very helpful. Did install on my 2024 Forester Limited today. I’m a woman 63 years old. Got everything disassembled at lunchtime, a little over an hour. After work installed the hitch and got the car back together just need to mount the wiring harness parts in the spare wheel well. The pictures with the installation instructions from Subaru were very tough for me to make out. Rewatched video and read comments about the wiring harness install.
Just wanted to let you know your video is still helping.
Note: For the muffler hangers, soapy water on a wet paper towel helped tremendously for removal and reinstall.
Thank you for this! FYI, for anyone planning to attempt this install, Lisle makes a tool for removing those exhaust hanger bolts without hurting your hands, the "Lisle 38350 Exhaust Hanger Removal Pliers". Spraying soapy water into the hangers makes it even easier.
Great tip!
This was immensely helpful, worth the purchase even if it’s the only time you ever use it.
I just did this on my ‘24 Wilderness and there are a few points to add.
16:37 The “foam K” you’re supposed to wrap isn’t the foam tape that’s already wrapped on the new harness, it’s the rectangular foam in the hardware kit. You wrap it around the existing connector plug so it doesn’t rattle against the body (so it matches the tape on the new harness extension).
16:55 Put it through the plug closer to the side the harness comes from. You’re also supposed to use two of the zip ties included to hold the cables (you tie them around the white taped bits of the harness.
18:03 Two of those zip ties were supposed to go on the inside as I mentioned above. The last one goes around the white tape part of the harness and you stick it on the body about 4 inches above the clamshell. This (along with using the first plug hole) eliminates the slack of the harness. The zip ties (as you put them in the video) will probably fall off from too much exposure under the car.
Otherwise this video helped me a ton. I ended up using actual touch up paint, but using spray paint is probably a lot better. Too much area to cover. I’m not really sure why you need it at all though. The primer still covers everything for corrosion protection, and the area it marks for painting is smaller than the actual area missing paint (although most of the frame down there is missing paint, it’s all gray primer).
Edit: As @xeren45 pointed out in another comment, the Lisle 38350 exhaust hanger tool is worth the $23, even if you never use it again. Ace tip!
So you're supposed to undo the foam and then wrap it over the existing plug? Overlapping the new + existing wire?
@@Arsenal-Tengu Not sure what you mean by undo, but whatever foam is already on any cables stays on those cables. You only add the foam that’s loose in the kit. You wrap THAT foam onto the new cable and plug.
@@mrgrimmeh Ah gotcha, thanks for the clarification!
I found a few changes on the 2023 Forester Wilderness, but minor. This was very helpful, Thanks.
this is super helpful! my dealer wants $635 installed at the factory, seems ordering it would be about $460 with shipping so the savings isn't significant. But appreciate you (and your cute kitty) showing the process in case I decide to take it on anyway!!
Good video - thanks. I used it to guide a hitch install on my new 2023 Forester Premium. Basically the same procedure. Took me closer to seven hours including setup, lunch and put away. I agree with IP3TIGO that a better trim piece would make for a nicer look - but still not too bad. We’ll see if the rubber strip stays put.
I've got to give you credit. After looking at tearing all that apart, cutting into the car and putting it all back together again, it's something I wouldn't tackle. I'm waiting for my 2023 Prius to come in within the next week or so and I'm going to find someone to do it for me. I want to use a bike rack and the one I have requires a hitch. Not a problem on my highlander but damn.... taking off all that seems to be a huge pain in the butt.
I just had mine installed at the dealership. Upon a thorough inspection (with the help of your video) I noticed one difference. Please reference 17:10 & 18:00 in your video. They ran the cable through the rubber grommet nearest the hitch wiring bracket. This method negated the need for those zip ties you used as the cable run to the wiring harness was so short. They were not needed or practical. Great video, thank you for posting. I feel lucky to have the Subaru hitch, as they are still very hard to get.
Gotcha, I wasn't sure from the instructions which one was the best option. I'll have to check if the wider rubber part that plugs the opening on the wiring harness can move to adjust the exterior length. Thanks!
The 2022 Forester Wilderness is rated 3000lbs towing capacity. Is this factory hitch rated for 1500lbs or 3000lbs? Thanks
@@josejarmenteros8296 Most of what I see online is showing the 2 inch receiver is rated for up to 3,500 lbs (What I installed in this video). The 1 - 1/4 inch receiver is only rated for the 1,500 lbs.
Thanks for sharing
Awesome thanks
Thank you for sharing. My dealer wants $750 to install. I may tackle it myself.
The hitch for the Outback Wilderness comes with a plastic trim piece that you install around the part that gets cut out for a really nice, clean look. Too bad the Forester Wilderness doesn't as it doesn't look as good since it only gets that rubber strip to cover the cut edge instead of a molded plastic piece. Anyway, good video to give an overview but would have been much better if you showed all the work instead of mostly having a camera filming you from behind.
Great video, thanks much. Question: How does the hitch hanging down under the car affect your angle of approach and departure?
The oem component is much better in that regard than other options that hang under the car. There is likely some change to the departure angle but I have not had an issue with it yet.
Thanks for sharing. We purchased our 2022 Forester in November and I was looking for information on how to mount the Hitch. It wasn’t clear why you had to remove the bumper. Can you hive me some insight on that?
To access the vehicles frame, the Subaru hitch component replaces the bash bar under the bumper cover and connects directly to the vehicles frame.
@@newbiewithasubie4772 I've ordered the hitch so it won't be long before its mounted. Again, thanks for sharing.
i like your video im thingking to buy my own and install it myself giu should include what you bought and link a website so we can check it out. again thank you
I ended up getting it from my local dealership. I initially ordered from www.subaruonlineparts.com/ but it was going to take too long.
What is the part number for the wire harness only?
Anyone know what the dif. is on a 2023 Wilderness?
What stock part number of the Trailer Hitch you installed?
What are your thoughts on the electrical connector placement? Your install seems to match how the dealer installed mine on my Forester Wilderness and the bumper cutout isn’t wide enough to fit my tester to make any real connection (haven’t actually towed yet though).
Have you actually used yours and feel there’s adequate clearance?
I have towed and used my luggage carrier that connects to the trailer hitch. The electrical plugin location is very tight. I've been able to do it but I do sometimes have to get under the car to make the connection.
Did you have to print instructions separately….looks like it was not in the box when you opened it??
I did print out the instructions. I don't believe the full instructions were in my box but it has been awhile since I did this install.
Do you recommend a 1.25" or 2" hitch? Are there pros or cons to each with the Forester?
I believe the 2" was the only one Subaru made for the '22 forester wilderness. The description on the part is not clear though.
parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2022_Forester-Wilderness-wEyeSight/Trailer-Hitch/120596998/L101SSJ005.html
@@newbiewithasubie4772 @NewbieWithASubie Do you happen to know the 2-inch receiver tongue weight? The docs on the parts website only make reference to the smaller "1/4 inch receiver rated at 1,500 lbs. towing capacity, 176 lbs. tongue weight."
Do you recommend paying the $460 to the dealer to do all this and that includes the hookup and part when ordering the wildo?
If your dealer is offering that kind of pricing that sounds like a good deal. I was quoted closer to $800 so I was saving over $300 buying the parts and doing it myself.
That is a great deal. My dealer had originally priced 500 and then when I was going to order it it was 200 more because it was a class 3 instead of the Class 2 for the other Foresters.