How Much Does It Cost To Install A Trailer Hitch On A Subaru Outback?

Wondering how much does it cost to install a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback?

If you want to install a trailer hitch on your Subaru Outback, you need to set aside some money. In comparison to other vehicle types, adding a trailer hitch to a Subaru is a bit expensive.

There are ways you can save money, but these options may not be feasible for all people.

What’s the cost to install trailer hitch on Subaru Outback? To have a trailer hitch installed on a Subaru Outback, you can expect to pay between $150 and $800. This wide range comes from the fact that there are different installation options. The installation option you select will determine how much your hitch installation costs.

We are going to give a general price range for the installation, as well as break down the different costs per the installation options.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Price Range For Installing A Trailer Hitch On A Subaru Outback

Installing a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback can be quite a bit of an expense. You can expect to pay between $150 and $800 to get the part installed. Of course, where you get it installed will largely determine the exact price.

Installing the hitch yourself is the cheapest option. You will only have to pay for the part, not labor. Buying a trailer hitch for a Subaru Outback can cost between $150 and $300.

In comparison, taking your vehicle to a professional will cost a minimum of $100 more than doing it yourself.

Most professionals will charge between $400 and $800 to install the hitch. Going to a professional is more expensive because you have to pay for both the part and labor.

The tables below show cost estimation for trailer hitch installation on a Subaru Outback:

Install Yourself	Cost ($)
Trailer Hitches Online	$150-$300
Total Cost	$150-$300

Install By Dealer or Mechanic	Cost ($)
Factory Trailer Hitches	$250-$400
Wiring harness	$350-$400
Total Cost for Installation	Around $600 to $800

Installing It Yourself

As we mentioned above, the cheapest option for installing a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback is to do it yourself. The only thing you should have to buy to install it yourself is the hitch.

You can buy a brand new hitch online for as little as $150. We recommend shopping around to select the hitch that is right for your Subaru.

It’s important to note that you should always select a hitch that is specific to your vehicle. This ensures that the hitch is molded correctly to your vehicle and is strong enough to withstand towing heavy items.

You can look on trailer websites or Subaru to find a hitch for your vehicle.

For example, you want the hitch for a 2018 model to have a trailer weight of 4000 pounds and a maximum tongue weight of 675 pounds.

The year of your Subaru Outback may impact the tongue weight and trailer weight.

In addition to the hitch, you will need all of the tools to do it yourself. This includes screwdrivers, sockets, extension, torque wrench, saw, exhaust pliers, and drill.

It’s important that you have all of these tools before committing to the task.

If you do not have the tools necessary to install the hitch yourself, we recommend going to a professional instead.

“The cost to buy all of these tools will simply not be worth it because they can be costly, and you may never use them again.”

More so, only install the hitch yourself if you are confident in your abilities. Attaching a hitch isn’t very difficult, but you want to get it right.

You can look online to get some tips for installing a hitch to your Subaru Outback.

Hiring A Professional

If you do not have the tools or skills to install the hitch yourself, you will need to hire a professional instead.

For a Subaru Outback, you will have two professionals to choose from: the dealer or a local mechanic. Both of these options are more expensive than doing it yourself, but the dealer is the most expensive option.

Dealer

Dealers are designed to make a lot of money for Subaru. As a result, they tend to charge way more for all services, including hitch installation, than local shops.

How much does Subaru charge for Hitch? You can easily expect to pay between $500 and $800 if you go to the dealer.

The benefit of going to a dealer is that you know the people working on your vehicle are accustomed and skilled for the Subaru Outback specifically.

The drawback is that you pay an astronomical price that you simply don’t need to pay.

Local Shop

Instead of going to a dealer, you could go to a local shop. Local shops will tend to have much more affordable prices, yet they are still skilled and experienced just as much as the dealers, if not more.

With this in mind, we recommend going to a local shop instead of a dealer.

A local mechanic will likely charge between $400 and $600 for installing a trailer hitch on your Subaru Outback.

This price is pretty fair because it accounts for both the parts and the labor. At the same time, it is not overcharged for labor either.

If you are not sure where to go, you can shop around at different locations near you. Ask for estimates and prices to get a better understanding of how much you will pay at each individual location.

This will allow you to find the best local shop for the price.

How Much Does It Cost To Install a Hitch?

The cost of installing a trailer hitch varies depending on both the type of vehicle as well as the type of hitch. For general ball-style applications, though, parts will range from $150-$450, and labor will range from $100-$250.

Subaru Outback Hitch Installation Cost FAQs

Let’s close out this page about Subaru Outback hitch with answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about them!

How much does installing a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback cost?

Installing a trailer hitch on a Subaru Outback can cost between $150 and $800 on average. On the lower end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay between $150 and $200 if you are installing it yourself.

This price only accounts for the part, not labor.

If you cannot install the hitch yourself, you will need to go to a professional instead. Professionals typically cost between $400 and $800.

If you go to a local shop, you are more likely to pay between the $400 and $600 mark. Dealerships may charge you upwards of $800.

Should I go to the dealer or local shop?

Both the dealer and local shop are fully equipped to install a hitch on the back of your Subaru Outback. Still, local shops tend to have much more affordable prices, and they are much more willing to negotiate on the price.

Because of these two facts, we recommend going to a local shop instead of a dealer. You will get the same great quality work for a much more affordable and fairer price.

Plus, you are supporting local workers in your community, making the local option the best choice.

Of course, it is totally acceptable to go to a dealer to get the trailer hitch installed, just expect to pay much more, even though the work is not any different.

Should I rent a U-Haul?

If you are debating installing a trailer hitch on your Subaru Outback because you need to move some items, you might want to rent a U-Haul instead.

Renting a U-Haul will allow you to maximize your time and space without spending the money on a trailer hitch.

It’s best to rent a U-Haul if you don’t anticipate using the trailer hitch often. It is the best choice if you are only moving an item for one day or so.

The prices for U-Haul are much cheaper, typically costing below $100 for a whole day of use. This can make it a much more economic choice for short-term usage.

On the other hand, you should not rent a U-Haul if you expect to use the trailer hitch often or if you have to use it for an extended amount of time.

U-Haul charges can add up really quickly if you are using them multiple days in a row. You should not select a U-Haul if you plan to need it for more than one or two days.

You should also not use a U-Haul if you expect to use the trailer hitch infrequently but common enough to get your money’s worth.

For example, you may need a trailer hitch if you go camping or on some other adventure. It would be much more advantageous to simply install the trailer hitch.

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Final Thoughts

Installing a trailer hitch to your Subaru Outback can cost between $150 and $800. We know. That is a crazy wide price range, but it reflects the multiple installation options available.

If you’re on a budget and have the skills to do so, installing the hitch yourself is the cheapest option. Paying for the part on its own should cost about $150.

Of course, not everyone is able to install the hitch themselves. If you are one of these people, you can hire a professional to do it instead.

Hiring a professional will likely cost between $400 and $800. Although this may sound like a lot, it ensures that the hitch goes on properly.

When it comes to getting a professional installation, we recommend going to a local shop. Local shops tend to have much more affordable prices and are more willing to negotiate.

Dealers, on the other hand, charge much more for the same job. Go to a local shop to get a much fairer price.