The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hello there,

I'd like to install a towbar on my 1999 Outback wagon.

After calling a few suppliers, one mentioned he would have to cut my rear bumper - Does this sound right to you?

I haven't seen many 1999 Outbacks with towbars, is there a good reason for this?

and last of all, if you do have a towbar on your outback, can you recommend any systems.

I'd like to use it for towing a standard trailer for domestic garden jobs, e.g. picking up soil/bark/sand/rocks for the back yard; and to fit a bike rack.

cheers

J

Shouldn’t have to cut the bumper. The Hayman Reese tow bar will fit neatly under the rear bar.

You need to cut out a small section in the centre for the tow hitch, nothing major.

Jordan.

I've got a Hayman Reece 50x50 square hitch on my 1999 Outback. The towbar sits neatly inside the rear bumper (hidden away) and yes, a small cutout in the plastic bumper is required to allow the receiver to stick out. The cutout is underneath and you only really notice it if you get your head underneath the rear bumper. There's a fair bit of work involved to fit the towbar, and I'd be giving the work to someone who has some experience in fitting a towbar to an Outback. The Hayman hitch is the same as Subaru one (just has a different sticker on it). When I priced around, the Hayman brand was much cheaper (ie: around $150 cheaper) than the Subaru brand towbar. I suggest you pick up the yellow pages and ring around because I found that fitted prices did vary quite a bit.

From memory, the square hitch type comes in either 40x40, or 50x50. Also available is the tongue style, but this has a lower tow rating than the square hitch type. I chose the 50x50 so a snatch strap could slot straight into reciever.

Jack