2003 SUBARU BAJA Owners Manual

Driving tips8-19
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Trailer hitch (if equipped)
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum weight specified for the trailer
hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight could cause an accident resulting in serious personal injuries. Permissible trailer weight
changes depending on the situation. Refer to the next section“ Trailer towing ” for possible recommendations and limitations.
Trailer brakes are required when the towing load exceeds
1,000 lbs. (453 kg). Be sure your trailer has safety chains and that
each chain will hold the trailer ’s maximum gross weight. Towing
trailers without safety chains could create a traffic safety hazardif the trailer separates from the hitch due to coupling damage orhitch ball damage. Be sure to check the hitch pin and safety pin for positive lock-
ing placement before towing a trailer. If the ball mount comes off
the hitch receiver, the trailer could get loose and create a trafficsafety hazard. Use only the ball mount supplied with this hitch. Use the hitch
only as a weight carrying hitch. Do not use with any type ofweight distributing hitch.
The trailer hitch is designed to tow a Class 1 rated load. A maximum of
2,400 lbs. (1,087 kg) gross trailer weight and a maximum of 200 lbs. (90
kg) gross tongue weight are permissible for the trailer hitch.
When you tow a trailer, follow the instructions in the next section “Trailer
towing”.

8-20
Connecting a trailer
HB8047BA
CAUTION
The license plate bracket will hit the hitch ball and may be dam- aged if the tailgate is opened and the license plate bracket is atthe lowered/open position. Close the tailgate and return the
license plate bracket to its normal position flush against the tail-gate itself whenever you tow a trailer or whenever a trailer ishitched to the vehicle.
1. Before connecting the ball mount to the hitch receiver, close the
tailgate and return the license plate bracket to its normal retractedposition up against the tailgate. Refer to “License plate bracket ”
under the heading “Tailgate” in Chapter 2 for more information on the
function of the license plate bracket.
2. Remove the receiver cover from the hitch receiver tube. Then in-
sert the ball mount into the hitch receiver tube.
3. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch receiver tube so that
the pin passes through the ball mount.

Driving tips8-21
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HB8018BA
4. Insert the safety pin into the hitch pin securely.
HB8019BA

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5. Pull the ball mount to make sure it does not come off the hitch re-
ceiver.
HB8020AA
6. Use only a hitch ball that is appropriate for the ball mount and your
trailer. The hitch ball must be securely installed on the ball mount.
7. Connect your trailer to the hitch ball.
8. Connect the trailer and the hitch with safety chains that will holdthe trailer’s maximum gross weight. The chains should cross under
the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping onto the
ground in case it should disconnect from the hitch ball. Allow suffi-
cient slack in the chains taking tight –turn situations into account; how-
ever, be careful not to let them drag on the ground.
HB8022BB
HB8020BB

Driving tips8-23
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9. Connect the hitch wire harness ’s black four –pin wire connector to
the towing trailer ’s wire harness.
HB8021BB
10. Confirm proper function of the hitch wire harness by individually
activating the brake, right turn signal, left turn signal, stop, and park-
ing lights on the trailer. NOTE Always disconnect the trailer wire harness before launching or retrieving a watercraft. When you are not towing a trailer CAUTION
Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube when the tail-
gate is open and the bed extender is used. The rear license platewill not be visible because the license plate bracket can not beused at the lowered/open position when the ball mount is con-nected.
Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube and insert the
receiver cover onto the hitch receiver tube. Place the dust cap over the four –pin connector of the hitch wire
harness to protect against possible damage. Occasionally lubricate the terminals of the four –pin connector us-
ing terminal grease, and cover with the attached rubber cap.

8-24
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed and intended to be used primarily to carry pas-
sengers and cargo. Towing a trailer puts additional loads on your
vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an ad-
verse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and satisfaction depend
upon proper use of correct equipment and cautious operation of your ve-
hicle. Seek the advice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in purchas-
ing a hitch and other necessary towing equipment appropriate for your
vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow the instructions on correct installa-
tion and use provided by the trailer and other towing equipment
manufacturers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for injuries or vehicle damage that
result from trailer towing equipment, or from any errors or omissions in
the instructions accompanying such equipment or for your failure to fol-
low the proper instructions.
Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage or malfunction
caused by trailer towing. If you use your vehicle to tow a trailer, more
frequent maintenance will be required due to the additional load.(Refer to “Maintenance schedule under severe driving conditions ” in
the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer be towed with a new vehicle
or a vehicle with any new powertrain component (engine, transmis-
sion, differential, wheel bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles (1,600km) of driving. Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load limits explained below. Exceed- ing the maximum load limits could cause personal injury and/or
vehicle damage.

Driving tips8-25
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CAUTION
Adequate size trailer brakes are required when the trailer and
its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg) total weight. Before towing a trailer, check the trailer total weight, GVW,
GAWs and tongue load. Make sure the load and its distribution inyour vehicle and trailer are acceptable.
n Total trailer weight
The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus its cargo load) must never
exceed the maximum weight shown below.
Model
ConditionsMaximum totaltrailer weight
MT modelsWhen towing a trailer without brakes.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,400 lbs (1,087 kg)
AT modelsWhen towing a trailer without brakes.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,400 lbs (1,087 kg)
When towing a trailer on a long uphill grade continuously for over 5 miles (8 km) with an outside temperature of 104 °F
(40 °C) or above.1,200 lbs (543 kg)
OM-H2781
Total trailer weight

8-26
nGross 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, luggage, trailer hitch, trailer tongue load
and any other optional equipment installed on your vehicle. Therefore,
the GVW changes depending on the situation. Determine the GVW
each time before going on a trip by putting your vehicle and trailer ona vehicle scale.
GVWR is shown on the certification label located on the driver ’s door
of your vehicle.
HB8043BA
HB8038BB

Gross Axle Weight (GAW) and Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR)
The total weight applied to each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The front and rear GAWs can be
adjusted by relocating passengers and luggage inside the vehicle.
The front and rear GAWR are also shown on the certification label.