2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX trailer

Driving tips
8-28
Total trailer weight
The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus its cargo load) must never exceed the maximum weight
shown below.
Model
ConditionsMaximum
total trailer
weight
MT modelsWhen towing a trailer with- out brakes.1,000 lbs(453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,000 lbs
(906 kg)
AT modelsWhen towing a trailer with- out brakes.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,000 lbs
(906 kg)
When towing a trailer on a long uphill grade continu- ously for over 5 miles (8km) with an outside tem-perature of 104 °F (40 °C) or
above.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
OM-H2781
Total trailer weight
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) must never
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the combined total of
the weight of the vehicle, driver, passengers, lug-gage, trailer hitch, trailer tongue load and any other
optional equipment installed on your vehicle. There-
fore, the GVW changes depending on the situation.
Determine the GVW each time before going on a trip by putting your vehicle and trailer on a vehiclescale.
GVWR is shown on the certification label located onthe driver ’s door of your vehicle.

Driving tips
8-30
HGS028CA
Certification label
To check both GVWR and GAWR and to confirm that
the total weight and weight distribution are within safe driving limits, you should have your vehicle and
trailer weighed at a commercial weighing station.
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to prevent a
change in weight distribution while driving. Tongue load
Ensure that the trailer tongue load is from 8 to 11
percent of the total trailer weight and does not exceed the maximum value of 200 lbs (90 kg).
The tongue load can be weighed with a bathroom
scale as shown in the illustration below. When
weighing the tongue load, be sure to position the towing coupler at the height at which it would beduring actual towing, using a jack as shown.OM-H2785
Tongue load

Driving tips
8-31
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HG8009BB
1) Jack
2) Bathroom scale
The tongue load can be adjusted by proper distribu-
tion of the load in the trailer. Never load the trailer
with more weight in the back than in the front;
approximately 60 percent of the trailer load should
be in the front and approximately 40 percent in the
rear. Also, distribute the load as evenly as possible on both the left and right sides.
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to prevent a
change in weight distribution while driving.
OM-H2787
F) Front of vehicle
WARNING
If the trailer is loaded with more weight in the back of trailer ’s axle than in the front, the load
is taken off the rear axle of the towing vehicle.This may cause the rear wheels to skid, espe-
cially during braking or when vehicle speed is reduced during cornering, resulting in over-
steer, spin out and/or jackknifing.

Driving tips
8-32
Trailer hitches
Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and trailer.
WARNING
Never drill the frame or under-body of your
vehicle to install a commercial trailer hitch. If you do, dangerous exhaust gas, water or mud may enter the passenger compartment
through the drilled hole. Exhaust gas containscarbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless
gas which is dangerous, or even lethal, if
inhaled. Also, drilling the frame or under-body of your vehicle could cause deterioration of strength of your vehicle and cause corrosionaround the drilled hole.
CAUTION
Do not modify the vehicle exhaust system,
brake system, or other systems when instal- ling a hitch or other trailer towing equipment. Do not use axle-mounted hitches as they
can cause damage to the axle housing, wheelbearings, wheels or tires.
WAGON including OUTBACK SPORT
The use of a genuine SUBARU trailer hitch is recom-
mended. A genuine SUBARU hitch is available from
your SUBARU dealer.
If use of a non-genuine hitch is unavoidable, be sure
the hitch is suited to your vehicle and trailer. Consult
with a professional hitch supplier to assist you in
choosing an appropriate hitch for your vehicle. Be
sure to follow all of the hitch manufacturer ’s instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to the rear bum-
per. The bumper is not designed to handle that typeof load.
For all types of hitches, regularly check that the
hitch mounting bolts and nuts are tight.
SEDAN
SUBARU does not offer accessory trailer hitches.
Consult with a professional hitch supplier to assist
you in choosing an appropriate hitch for your ve-
hicle. Be sure to follow all of the hitch manufacturer ’s
instructions for installation and use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to the rear bum-
per. The bumper is not designed to handle that typeof load.Regularly check that the hitch mounting bolts and
nuts are tight.

Driving tips
8-33
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Connecting a trailer
Trailer brakes
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 sys-
tem. Electric brakes or surge brakes are recom-
mended, and must be installed properly. Check thatyour 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 trail-er’ s brake system.
WARNING
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 connectionwould cause the vehicle ’s brake performance
to deteriorate and could lead to an accident.
Trailer safety chains
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. Pass the chains
crossing each other under the trailer tongue to pre-
vent the trailer from dropping onto the ground in
case the trailer tongue should disconnect from the
hitch ball. Allow sufficient slack in the chains taking
tight-turn situations into account; however, be care-
ful not to let them drag on the ground.
For more information about the safety chain connec-
tion, refer to the instructions for your hitch and trailer.
WARNING
Always use safety chains between your ve-
hicle and the trailer. Towing trailer without safety chains could create a traffic safety haz-ard if the trailer separates from the hitch dueto coupling damage or hitch ball damage.

Driving tips
8-34
Side mirrors
HB0085
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle, check that the
standard side mirrors provide a good rearward field of view without significant blind spots. If significant blind spots occur with the vehicle ’s standard side
mirrors, use towing mirrors that conform with Fed-
eral, state/province and/or other applicable regula-tions.
Trailer lights
Connection of trailer lights to your vehicle ’s electrical
system requires modifications to the vehicle ’s light-
ing circuit to increase its capacity and accommo-
date wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights are
connected properly, please consult your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper operation of the turn sig-nals, the brake lights and parking lights each timeyou hitch up.
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper connection
of trailer lights may damage your vehicle
’s
electrical system and cause a malfunction of your vehicle ’s lighting system.
Tires
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle are prop-
erly inflated to the pressure specified on the tire
placard located on the left center pillar of your ve-hicle.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and proper
inflation pressure should be in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer ’s specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire when towing
a trailer, ask a commercial road service to repair the
flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your vehicle
or trailer as a precaution against getting a flat tire,
be sure that the spare tire is firmly secured.

Driving tips
8-35
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WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is used. The temporary spare tire is not
designed to sustain the towing load. Use ofthe temporary spare tire when towing can result in failure of the spare tire and/or less
stability of the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
CAUTION
Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) when tow-
ing a trailer in hilly country on hot days. When towing a trailer, steering, stability,
stopping distance and braking performancewill be different from normal operation. For
safety’ s sake, you should employ extra cau-
tion when towing a trailer and you should
never speed. You should also keep the follow-ing tips in mind:
Before starting out on a trip
Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-hitch mount-
ing are in good condition. If any problems are apparent, do not tow the trailer.
Check that the vehicle sits horizontally with the
trailer attached. If the vehicle is tipped sharply up at
the front and down at the rear, check the total trailer
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution are accept- able. Check that the tire pressures are correct.
Check that the vehicle and trailer are connected
properly. Confirm that. –the trailer tongue is connected properly to the
hitch ball. – the trailer lights connector is connected prop-
erly and trailer ’s brake lights illuminate when the
vehicle’ s brake pedal is pressed, and that the trail-
er’ s turn signal lights flash when the vehicle ’s turn
signal lever is operated. – the safety chains are connected properly.
– all cargo in the trailer is secured safety in posi-
tion.– the side mirrors provide a good rearward field of
view without a significant blind spot.
Sufficient time should be taken to learn the “feel”
of the vehicle/trailer combination before starting out
on a trip. In an area free of traffic, practice turning, stopping and backing up.

Driving tips
8-36
Driving with a trailer
You should allow for considerably more stopping
distance when towing a trailer. Avoid sudden brak-
ing because it may result in skidding or jackknifing
and loss of control. Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accelerations. If
your vehicle has a manual transmission, always start
out in first gear and release the clutch at moderate
engine revolution. Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and rapid lane
changes. Slow down before turning. Make a longer than
normal turning radius because the trailer wheels will
be closer than the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. In a tight turn, the trailer could hit your vehicle. Crosswinds will adversely affect the handling of
your vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Crosswindscan be due to weather conditions or the passing of
large trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and slow down immediately but
gradually. When passing other vehicles, considerable dis-
tance is required because of the added weight and
length caused by attaching the trailer to yourvehicle. Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes
practice. When backing up with a trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly. When turning back, grip the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand and
turn it to the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right
for a right turn.
OM-H2791
1) Left turn 2) Right turn
If the ABS warning light illuminates while the
vehicle is in motion, stop towing the trailer and have
repairs performed immediately by the nearest
SUBARU dealer.
Driving on grades
Before going down a steep hill, slow down and
shift into lower gear (if necessary, use 1st gear) in
order to utilize the engine braking effect and prevent
overheating of your vehicle ’s brakes. Do not make