Meaning of Towing and Tongue Weight Capacities on Trailer Hitches for 2008 Subaru Impreza

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When looking at a trailer hitch for your 2008 Subaru Impreza, the towing weight capacity refers to the maximum trailer weight that the hitch can safely pull. For a trailer hitch that has a 2,000 pound towing weight capacity, the most a trailer can weigh is 2,000 pounds when hooked up to this hitch.

A tongue weight capacity refers to the maximum vertical load that can be placed onto the hitch receiver. This is usually more of a factor when looking at things like bike racks and cargo carriers, accessories that hang in the air and simply push down onto the trailer hitch. A 200 pound tongue weight capacity means the hitch cannot handle more than 200 pounds pushing down onto it. Think of tongue weight as the weight you would put onto the hitch if you were to simply stand on top of the receiver. Towing capacity is simply the weight it is designed to pull.

The correct trailer hitch for your Impreza will depend on your particular model. If you have the 5-Door Wagon with Single Exhaust, I recommend the Draw-Tite Class I Hitch # DT24959. If you have the Sedan (excluding WRX STi), I recommend the Draw-Tite # 24807. And if you have the 5-Door Wagon with Quad Exhaust, you will need the Curt Class I # C11120.

I have attached the installation details for these trailer hitches that you can also check out.

Lastly, you will want to verify both the towing and tongue weight capacity for the vehicle itself, which will be listed in your copy of the owner's manual. You will need to follow whichever capacity is lower, the vehicle's or the trailer hitch's.

expert reply by: Chris R

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