Need light-duty hitch on WRX STi...

S

sergio.dubois

No, I don't need to haul a boat, just 2-3 mountain bikes on a Thule
bike carrier.

(Please don't preach that I should have gotten a wagon...)

Is it confirmed that the part sold in the U.S. for the Wagon
(recommended or not) actually works on a Sedan? (It seems like in
Australia they market it as such...)

Can/will U-haul set me up?

(Can't live on the 2 nearby trails alone forever...)
 
Looking at the bolt-on installation instructions and pictures of the
fender situations of the supported Impreza WRX Sedan and Wagon (which
look identical) I am going to give it a try:

I'll report back if it doesn't work. Thanks.
 
The Draw-Tite 24710 worked like a charm. Bolted on to my 2005 WRX STI
in minutes and supported my Thule 1.25" 4-bike carrier no problem. Its
nice that it's tucked under the bumper nicely and hardly shows except
for the central hitch mount itself. Can't figure out why Subaru America
didn't want to sell me their hitch, but at $80 bucks from
e-trailer.com, who cares (would have run into $500 plus for getting the
Subaru parts installed no doubt...)
 
The Draw-Tite 24710 worked like a charm. Bolted on to my 2005 WRX STI
in minutes and supported my Thule 1.25" 4-bike carrier no problem. Its
nice that it's tucked under the bumper nicely and hardly shows except
for the central hitch mount itself. Can't figure out why Subaru America
didn't want to sell me their hitch, but at $80 bucks from
e-trailer.com, who cares (would have run into $500 plus for getting the
Subaru parts installed no doubt...)

Subaru probably thinks you'll *gasp* TOW SOMETHING. <G>

The Legacy GT accepts the same hitch as any other Legacy, including
Outbacks. Subaru doesn't condone towing with a GT, but allows it on
Outbacks and standard Legacy wagons.

My guess is that low profile tires, like those on my FIL's GT and your
WRX, make crappy towing tires, and are the Achilles heel. I put a hitch
on the GT (the same hitch I put on an Outback) so my FIL can tow 300-500
pounds, including the trailer and load, for short distances.

Subaru has little control over what you will do, so they won't install a
hitch.

Barry
 
Get a roof rack-- Much quicker to load/unload and bikes dont get as
dusty / muddy as they do on a hitch rack.
 
Get a roof rack-- Much quicker to load/unload and bikes dont get as
dusty / muddy as they do on a hitch rack.

#1.) Do you have a garage with a remote opener?

#2.) What if he dosen't want the rack on the roof all the time? They do
make a decent amount of wind noise at highway speeds.

#3.) Have you ever put a wet, muddy mountain bike on the roof?

#4.) Have you ever put a 50+ pound downhill or kid's bike on the roof?

#5.) Have you ever had the headset of a high-end bike brinnelled, or had
the grease blown out of it by 70 MPH rain, while on a fork mount roof rack?

#6.) Have you ever damaged a high-end tube in a "quick load" upright
roof rack.

#7.) Can you tell I sell racks? <G>

There are plusses and minuses to both setups, depending on the user's
needs and bikes. Newer, good quality, hitch racks are extremely fast
and easy to load. You may be thinking of department store quality hitch
racks.

Barry
 
1.) Do you have a garage with a remote opener? <<

Yes. But I unload bikes before entering garage. No biggie.
make a decent amount of wind noise at highway speeds. <<

My OEM yakima makes very little noise on my OBW. With bikes on there's
more but no annyance.


When mud dries it stays on bike. Otherwise get car washed


Downhilling is not riding. I consider it coasting. Not even to be
considered cycling.

the grease blown out of it by 70 MPH rain, while on a fork mount roof
rack? <<

Sealed headsets and regular maintenance make that no problem. I use
the uprigt mount. Makes it quicker to ride.

roof rack. <<

I have a Cannondale mtb and a C'dale cross bike with beer can
downtubes. Using reasonable clamping force and never a problem


I've used both. Hitch racks look unprofessional and damage paint from
swaying unless you go crazy with bungee cords. Bikes at bumper level
are targets for theft and wayward cars, shopping carts etc. My hitch
rack will collect dust until I need to transport a cheap kids bike.
Some block license tags and taillights. Hitch racks just plain suck .
 
Yes. But I unload bikes before entering garage. No biggie.

It is to the owners of the 5-10 broken frames we replace a year. Both
serious cyclists in my neighborhood have dents above garage doors from
seatposts.
My OEM yakima makes very little noise on my OBW. With bikes on there's
more but no annyance.

Take it off and see the difference. If it's OEM - Yakima, chances are
you didn't drive the car much without it. On my OBW, my roof rack cost
me about 2 MPG. When I sold the car, I sold the rack separately. I was
shocked at how much quieter the car was without the rack, as I had been
used to it after four years.

Since the OP has a WRX, he needs towers. Towers raise the rack system
higher into the airflow over the roof than rails attached to the Subaru
crossbars.
Downhilling is not riding. I consider it coasting. Not even to be
considered cycling.

If the OP rides downhill, freeride, BMX, or urban assault, why would he
care what you think of it?
the grease blown out of it by 70 MPH rain, while on a fork mount roof
rack? <<

Sealed headsets and regular maintenance make that no problem. I use
the uprigt mount. Makes it quicker to ride.

How does sealing a headset prevent brinnelling? How do you maintain a
sealed headset? <G>

Do you know what brinnelling is?
Hitch racks look unprofessional

'Nuff said! It's all about the uniform... <G> Although I'm not sure
what a "professional" rack is. I'm paid by a bike shop, and own both
types. Wouldn't that make both of my rack systems "professional"?

No reason to mention that I'm factory trained to configure, install, and
sell Yakima and Thule... We usually investigate the user's needs before
we pick or pan one style or the other. Note that I never said one was
better than the other in all applications.

The better hitch racks don't allow bikes to sway, Wal-Mart versions do.

Barry
 
Take it off and see the difference. If it's OEM - Yakima, chances are
you didn't drive the car much without it. On my OBW, my roof rack cost

me about 2 MPG. When I sold the car, I sold the rack separately. I
was
shocked at how much quieter the car was without the rack, as I had been

used to it after four years.

Since the OP has a WRX, he needs towers. Towers raise the rack system
higher into the airflow over the roof than rails attached to the Subaru

crossbars<<

I drove the car for about ~20k miles with no bike rack. Once I moved
the front crossbar back a bit it was very quiet. With the empty bike
rack I can't really notice a difference. No noticeable effect on
mileage. Towers may make noise. I can't say one way or the other.

care what you think of it? <<

Probably not. However if I can prevent someone from dealing with those
awful hitch racks my mission is complete. Yes a woman or weakling man
may not be able to use a roof rack . All hitch racks have sway at the
hitch and within the cradles.
 
@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com>,
(e-mail address removed) says...
Take it off and see the difference. If it's OEM - Yakima, chances are
you didn't drive the car much without it. On my OBW, my roof rack cost
me about 2 MPG. When I sold the car, I sold the rack separately. I was
shocked at how much quieter the car was without the rack, as I had been
used to it after four years.

I have an 02 RS. I've got an aftermarket Yakima Rack. The
rack comes off the SECOND I'm not using it. It makes so
much noise at highway speed it's mind boggling. We're
talking turn the stereo up by about double the volume.
Under 35-40mph it's livable.

When I put the cartop box on, the noise goes way down. I'm
hoping a wind deflector would help some.
Since the OP has a WRX, he needs towers. Towers raise the rack system
higher into the airflow over the roof than rails attached to the Subaru
crossbars.

See my experience. Especially if he has the WRX sedan.
NOISY!

And as such, it doesn't require a bike? Hmmm.

If the OP rides downhill, freeride, BMX, or urban assault, why would he
care what you think of it?

'Nuff said! It's all about the uniform... <G> Although I'm not sure
what a "professional" rack is. I'm paid by a bike shop, and own both
types. Wouldn't that make both of my rack systems "professional"?

No reason to mention that I'm factory trained to configure, install, and
sell Yakima and Thule... We usually investigate the user's needs before
we pick or pan one style or the other. Note that I never said one was
better than the other in all applications.

The better hitch racks don't allow bikes to sway, Wal-Mart versions do.

A hitch mount will allow you to put your cargo box on the
roof too...
 
Barry speaks wisely, I bought a roof rack for my recumbent, and even
though its fairly light with the seat off, I HATE roof racking it. I
worruy about dropping the forks onto the roof, stuff wobbling back and
forth, low branches, etc. Sure, the rail I got on ebay was about - oh -
1/4-1/6 a good hitch rack, but I can't wait to get a hitch rack. Even a
J.C.Whitney or something would be better.

If you go to the roof, get int he habit of moving the garage door opener
to a bike bag or into the gloce box or something, as an xtra reminder
not to scrape the bikes off with your house!

I'll be looking at draftmaster or sportworks probably.

Carl
 
Carl said:
I'll be looking at draftmaster or sportworks probably.

Carl

As you've noticed, the Sportworks racks CAN'T sway, as they cradle the
wheels. <G>

Here in CT, buses are equipped with Sportworks racks, as the rider can
quickly drop ANY bike into it and quickly board the bus.

Barry
 
Yeah, but getting one for a longer wheelbase recumbent....

Anyway, I've read they have them, just figuring how to order one
appropriate for a BikeE might be tricky.

Carl
 
Carl said:
Yeah, but getting one for a longer wheelbase recumbent....

True. Most racks are for wedgie bikes.

Somebody used to make a rack for tandems on the back, but it's escaping
me at the moment.

Barry
 

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