2005 SUBARU BAJA trailer

2-27
Keys and doors
– CONTINUED –
position, push the two release buttons and pull the li- cense plate bracket up until it clicks. And then open
the tailgate.
If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer hitch, remove
the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube before
opening the tailgate. Failure to follow this procedure
could result in damage to the license plate bracket.
When you drive with the tailgate closed, the license
plate bracket must be restored to its original position.
To restore the license plate bracket to its original posi-
tion, close the tailgate, and then pull the license plate
bracket down until it clicks.
If the license plate bracket is hard to be restored to its
original position, mud may have accumulated on the
back of the license plate bracket. Remove accumulat-
ed mud before pulling the license bracket down.
In order to avoid damaging the license plate
bracket or the bumper, the license plate bracket
must be restored to its original position until it
clicks.
Switchback door
With the switchback door open, you can increase the
usable cargo space and can carry long objects.
Secure long objects properly to prevent them
from sliding forward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop or sharp cornering. Tie
long objects down with a rope or something
equivalent.
UB2052BA

3-11
Instruments and controls
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is running, it may indicate that there is a problem or po-
tential problem somewhere in the emission controlsystem. TIf the light comes on steadily:
If the light comes on steadily while driving or does not
go out after the engine starts, an emission control sys-
tem malfunction has been detected.
You should have your vehicle checked by an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer immediately.
NOTE
This light also comes on when the fuel filler cap is
not tightened until it clicks.
If you have recently refueled your vehicle, the cause of
the CHECK ENGINE warning light/malfunction indica-
tor lamp coming on could be a loose or missing fuel fill-
er cap. Remove the cap and retighten it until it clicks.
Make sure nothing is interfering with the sealing of the
cap. Tightening the cap will not make the CHECK EN-
GINE warning light turn off immediately. It may take
several driving trips. If the light does not go out, take
your vehicle to your authorized SUBARU dealer im-
mediately. T If the light is blinking:
If the light is blinking while driving, an engine misfire
condition has been detected which may damage the emission control system.
To prevent serious damage to the emission control
system, you should do the following: y
Reduce vehicle speed.
y Avoid hard acceleration.
y Avoid steep uphill grades.
y Reduce the amount of cargo, if possible.
y Stop towing a trailer as soon as possible.
The CHECK ENGINE warning light may stop blinking
and come on steadily after several driving trips. You
should have your vehicle checked by an authorized
SUBARU dealer immediately. „ Charge warning light
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it
may indicate that the charging system is not working
properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does not go out
after the engine starts, stop the engine at the first safe
opportunity and check the alternator belt. If the belt is
loose, broken or if the belt is in good condition but the
light remains on, contact your nearest SUBARU deal-
er immediately.

6-18
Interior and exterior equipments
y
Remove the bed extender for vehicle “Off
Road” use. y To avoid creating a dangerous road hazard or
causing personal injury, cargo must not stick
out beyond the bed extender.y To avoid damage, the tailgate and bed ex-
tender must remain in the closed/inward posi-
tion when towing with a trailer hitch.y To avoid damage, clean the bed extender
only with soap, water and a soft brush.
„ Operation Open/Outward Position
– To use the bed extender in
the open/outward position, simply lower your license
plate bracket (see section “License plate bracket” un-
der heading of “Tailgate” in Chapter 2), open your tail-
gate, and rotate the bed extender until it sits on the tail-gate.
After you have rotated the bed extender, lock the black
buckle pin into the tailgate latch by pushing downward
until you hear two clicks. Then tighten the tether
straps. Repeat this process for the other side. When
you want to return the tailgate and the bed extender to
the closed/inward position, pull on the tailgate release
handle to disengage the tethers.
UB8032AA
UB8033AA

8-1
8
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) ............................... 8-2
Fuel economy hints ...................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .... 8-3
Catalytic converter ........................................ 8-4
Periodic inspections ..................................... 8-6
Driving in foreign countries ......................... 8-6
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ...................... 8-7
Off road driving ............................................. 8-9
Winter driving ................................................ 8-11 Operation during cold weather ........................ 8-11
Driving on snowy and icy roads ...................... 8-13
Corrosion protection ........................................ 8-14
Snow tires .......................................................... 8-14
Tire chains ......................................................... 8-15
Rocking the vehicle .......................................... 8-16
Loading your vehicle .................................... 8-16 Vehicle capacity weight ................................... 8-18
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........ 8-19
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ............................. 8-20 Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-20
When you do not tow a trailer ......................... 8-24
Trailer towing ................................................ 8-24 Warranties and maintenance ........................... 8-24
Maximum load limits ........................................ 8-25
Trailer hitches ................................................... 8-30
Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-30
Trailer towing tips ............................................. 8-33

8-18
Driving tips
„
Vehicle capacity weight The load capacity of your vehicle is determined by
weight, not by available cargo space. The total weight
you can carry in your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side door jamb. Locate
the statement “The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on
your vehicle’s placard. It includes the total weight of
driver and all passengers and their belongings, any
optional equipment such as a trailer hitch, roof rack or
bike carrier, etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.
UB8031BA
UB8053BA

8-19
Driving tips
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„GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
The certification label attached to the driver’s side
door shows GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must never exceed
the GVWR. GVW is the combined total of weight of the
vehicle, fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage, any op-
tional equipment and trailer tongue load. Therefore,
the GVW changes depending on the situation.
In addition, the total weight applied to each axle
(GAW) must never exceed the GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be adjusted by relocating luggage in-
side the vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is lower than
the vehicle capacity weight, either front or rear GAW
may exceed the GAWR, depending on the distribution
of the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly distributed
throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you should con-
firm that GVW and front and rear GAWs are within the
GVWR and GAWR by putting your vehicle on a vehi-
cle scale, found at a commercial weighing station.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower load range
than the originals because they may lower the GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a high-
er load range than the originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
UB8043BA

8-20
Driving tips
Trailer hitch (if equipped)
y
Never exceed the maximum weight specified
for the trailer hitch. Exceeding the maximum
weight could cause an accident resulting in se-
rious personal injuries. Permissible trailer
weight changes depending on the situation. Re-
fer to the next section “Trailer towing” for pos-
sible recommendations and limitations. y 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 cre-
ate a traffic safety hazard if the trailer separates
from the hitch due to coupling damage or hitch
ball damage. y Be sure to check the hitch pin and safety pin
for positive locking placement before towing a
trailer. If the ball mount comes off the hitch re-
ceiver, the trailer could get loose and create a
traffic safety hazard.y Use only the ball mount supplied with this
hitch. Use the hitch only as a weight carrying
hitch. Do not use with any type of weight dis-
tributing 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”. „ Connecting a trailer
UB8047BA

8-21
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
The license plate bracket will hit the hitch ball
and may be damaged if the tailgate is opened
and the license plate bracket is at the lowered/ open position. Close the tailgate and return the
license plate bracket to its normal position
flush against the tailgate itself whenever you
tow a trailer or whenever a trailer is hitched to
the vehicle.
1. Before connecting the ball mount to the hitch re-
ceiver, close the tailgate and return the license plate
bracket to its normal retracted position 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 insert the ball mount into the hitch receivertube. 3. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch receiv-
er tube so that the pin passes through the ball mount.
UB8018BA