Driving tips / Trailer towing 8-23 equipment .
. Do not use axle-mounted hitches as they can cause damage to the axle housing , wheel bearings , wheels or tires .
Do not use a trailer hitch other than a genuine SUBARU trailer hitch . A genuine SUBARU trailer hitch is available from your SUBARU dealer .
& When you do not tow a trailer
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CAUTION
. The housing should be kept dirt and corrosion-free at the points of contact . The surfaces only require cleaning with a cloth . Grease or other lubricants should never be used .
. If the ball is not installed , the plastic insert and / or bumper cover should then be installed for protection and to prevent it from getting dirty .
When the ball is not used , place the ball cap and store securely .
& Connecting a trailer
! Trailer brakes WARNING
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. Adequate size trailer brakes are required when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs ( 453 kg ) total weight .
. Do not directly connect your trailer ’ s hydraulic brake system to the hydraulic brake system in your vehicle . Direct connection would cause the vehicle ’ s brake performance to deteriorate and could lead to an accident .
If your trailer ’ s total weight ( trailer weight plus its cargo weight ) exceeds 1,000 lbs ( 453 kg ), the trailer is required to be equipped with its own brake system .
Electric brakes or surge brakes are recommended , and must be installed properly . Check that your trailer ’ s brakes conform with Federal , state / province and / or other applicable regulations . Your SUBARU ’ s brake system is not designed to be tapped into the trailer ’ s hydraulic brake system . Please ask your SUBARU dealer and professional trailer supplier for more information about the trailer ’ s brake
system . ! Trailer safety chains
WARNING
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Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer . Towing trailer without safety chains could create a traffic safety hazard if the trailer separates from the hitch due to coupling damage or hitch ball damage .
In case the trailer hitch connector or hitch ball should break or become disconnected , the trailer could get loose and create a traffic safety hazard .
For safety , always connect the towing vehicle and trailer with trailer safety chains . Two chains should be used in total , one to the right side and the other to the left side trailer tongue . Pass the chains crossing each other under the trailer tongue to prevent the trailer from dropping onto the ground in the event the trailer tongue should disconnect from the hitch ball . Allow sufficient slack in the chains taking tight turn situations into account ; however , be careful not to let them drag on the ground .
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