I would like to install a hitch on my 2007 Impreza Sport Wagon (2.5i).
The wiring instructions say to remove 2 floor panels in the rear cargo
area and the plastic panel in the area of the rear latch. The diagram
shows the 6-pin trailer harness connector in the vicinity of the
vehicle body harness but I don't see it exposed with those panels
removed. I suspect it's behind the side panel up by the taillight.
That panel looks like it's more difficult to remove. I see 2 plastic
push fasteners right at the hatch I could pop off. There's a
connection point for the "Top Tether" that looks like it's securing
that panel somehow and there's got to be more fasteners on the side &
front of that panel.

It could be that panel doesn't need to be completely removed to get to
the harness connector.

If anybody has any experience locating that trailer harness connector
or removing that panel I'd appreciate any tips or information.

Regarding the hitch - it appears the OEM (# L1010SS000) hitch requires
some minor trimming of the bumper apparently only visible from under
the car - after market hitches (Drawtite, Hidden Hitch, Curt etc)
don't require trimming. Is this true? I'd rather use the OEM
especially if the trimming isn't visible.

Thanks Dave

Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of the
aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy to
install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
yourself- www.etrailer.com

On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I would like to install a hitch on my 2007 Impreza Sport Wagon (2.5i).
> The wiring instructions say to remove 2 floor panels in the rear cargo
> area and the plastic panel in the area of the rear latch. The diagram
> shows the 6-pin trailer harness connector in the vicinity of the
> vehicle body harness but I don't see it exposed with those panels
> removed. I suspect it's behind the side panel up by the taillight.
> That panel looks like it's more difficult to remove. I see 2 plastic
> push fasteners right at the hatch I could pop off. There's a
> connection point for the "Top Tether" that looks like it's securing
> that panel somehow and there's got to be more fasteners on the side &
> front of that panel.
>
> It could be that panel doesn't need to be completely removed to get to
> the harness connector.
>
> If anybody has any experience locating that trailer harness connector
> or removing that panel I'd appreciate any tips or information.
>
> Regarding the hitch - it appears the OEM (# L1010SS000) hitch requires
> some minor trimming of the bumper apparently only visible from under
> the car - after market hitches (Drawtite, Hidden Hitch, Curt etc)
> don't require trimming. Is this true? I'd rather use the OEM
> especially if the trimming isn't visible.
>
> Thanks Dave

I contacted the people at DrawTite a few weeks ago. They told me you
need to buy a Modulite Kit to protect the vehicles circuitry for the
Impreza. The diagram I saw showed the power being drawn directly from
the fusebox. All the after market harness's that I've checked into
work this way. The wiring looked more complicated than I want to get
into.

If I want to plug right into vehicle existing trailer harness you have
to use the OEM - it's the only one (that I've found) that comes with
that 6-pin connector.

I've seen the OEM hitch & harness for around $160 - the Hidden Hitch
is around $115 + around $50 for the Modulite Kit.

To be honest the money isn't that much of an issue anyway - it's a one
time expense.

I still might go ahead and get the DrawTite or Hidden Hitch (that's
why I asked about trimming the bumper) - but I'm going with the Subaru
wiring to get that connector. The problem with that route - the
cheapest I've found the Subaru wiring is around $70 - Hidden Hitch at
$115 + $70 is more than the $160 for the OEM hitch & harness.

Thanks for the info!


On May 31, 6:07 am, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
> http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Subaru_Impreza.htm
> hidden hitch is $115 with drawbar- draw tite is $100 w/o drawbar
>
> Wiring harness runs from $20-40
>
> On May 31, 1:19 am, isq...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
> > On May 30, 7:34 pm, elau...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > > On May 30, 4:58 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
>
> > > > I was leaning toward the OEM hitch because it comes with the the
> > > > wiring harness that plugs right into my car - aftermarket wiring
> > > > appears to be more involved which I don't feel like getting into.
>
> > > > On May 30, 5:14 pm, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>
> > > > > Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of the
> > > > > aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy to
> > > > > install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
> > > > > yourself- www.etrailer.com
>
> > > > > On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > You can buy aftermarket wiring harness that does exactly the same as
> > > the OEM wiring harness. So staying with OEM does not make sense.
>
> > i think subaru oem hitch is $200 and that includes the harness.
> > drawtite runs about $135 i think. is aftermarket harness significantly
> > less than the $65 split?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I went the same way, oem hitch & adapter. Everything fit with no wiring
headaches. I looked around before on here for the correct adapter and for
the matching plug. It just does not justify any savings for the time &
effort to find the aftermarket adapter and to do the excess wiring when I
just popped a plug out and plugged it in.

Maybe the experts here have the correct part numbers to share with the rest
of us so we all know where the $20 wiring harness is.

Blair

"david59" <d5954@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1180610020.586178.28050@q69g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>I contacted the people at DrawTite a few weeks ago. They told me you
> need to buy a Modulite Kit to protect the vehicles circuitry for the
> Impreza. The diagram I saw showed the power being drawn directly from
> the fusebox. All the after market harness's that I've checked into
> work this way. The wiring looked more complicated than I want to get
> into.
>
> If I want to plug right into vehicle existing trailer harness you have
> to use the OEM - it's the only one (that I've found) that comes with
> that 6-pin connector.
>
> I've seen the OEM hitch & harness for around $160 - the Hidden Hitch
> is around $115 + around $50 for the Modulite Kit.
>
> To be honest the money isn't that much of an issue anyway - it's a one
> time expense.
>
> I still might go ahead and get the DrawTite or Hidden Hitch (that's
> why I asked about trimming the bumper) - but I'm going with the Subaru
> wiring to get that connector. The problem with that route - the
> cheapest I've found the Subaru wiring is around $70 - Hidden Hitch at
> $115 + $70 is more than the $160 for the OEM hitch & harness.
>
> Thanks for the info!
>
>
> On May 31, 6:07 am, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>> http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Subaru_Impreza.htm
>> hidden hitch is $115 with drawbar- draw tite is $100 w/o drawbar
>>
>> Wiring harness runs from $20-40
>>
>> On May 31, 1:19 am, isq...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> > On May 30, 7:34 pm, elau...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> > > On May 30, 4:58 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > > > Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
>>
>> > > > I was leaning toward the OEM hitch because it comes with the the
>> > > > wiring harness that plugs right into my car - aftermarket wiring
>> > > > appears to be more involved which I don't feel like getting into.
>>
>> > > > On May 30, 5:14 pm, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>>
>> > > > > Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of the
>> > > > > aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy to
>> > > > > install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
>> > > > > yourself- www.etrailer.com
>>
>> > > > > On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > > You can buy aftermarket wiring harness that does exactly the same as
>> > > the OEM wiring harness. So staying with OEM does not make sense.
>>
>> > i think subaru oem hitch is $200 and that includes the harness.
>> > drawtite runs about $135 i think. is aftermarket harness significantly
>> > less than the $65 split?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>

Blair-

Do you remember if you had to remove the rear side panel to get to the
harness? Was it difficult to remove? Sounds like you didn't have any
problems - Thanks Dave


On May 31, 8:55 pm, "Blair Baucom" <jbbau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I went the same way, oem hitch & adapter. Everything fit with no wiring
> headaches. I looked around before on here for the correct adapter and for
> the matching plug. It just does not justify any savings for the time &
> effort to find the aftermarket adapter and to do the excess wiring when I
> just popped a plug out and plugged it in.
>
> Maybe the experts here have the correct part numbers to share with the rest
> of us so we all know where the $20 wiring harness is.
>
> Blair
>
> "david59" <d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1180610020.586178.28050@q69g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
> >I contacted the people at DrawTite a few weeks ago. They told me you
> > need to buy a Modulite Kit to protect the vehicles circuitry for the
> > Impreza. The diagram I saw showed the power being drawn directly from
> > the fusebox. All the after market harness's that I've checked into
> > work this way. The wiring looked more complicated than I want to get
> > into.
>
> > If I want to plug right into vehicle existing trailer harness you have
> > to use the OEM - it's the only one (that I've found) that comes with
> > that 6-pin connector.
>
> > I've seen the OEM hitch & harness for around $160 - the Hidden Hitch
> > is around $115 + around $50 for the Modulite Kit.
>
> > To be honest the money isn't that much of an issue anyway - it's a one
> > time expense.
>
> > I still might go ahead and get the DrawTite or Hidden Hitch (that's
> > why I asked about trimming the bumper) - but I'm going with the Subaru
> > wiring to get that connector. The problem with that route - the
> > cheapest I've found the Subaru wiring is around $70 - Hidden Hitch at
> > $115 + $70 is more than the $160 for the OEM hitch & harness.
>
> > Thanks for the info!
>
> > On May 31, 6:07 am, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
> >>http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Subaru_Impreza.htm
> >> hidden hitch is $115 with drawbar- draw tite is $100 w/o drawbar
>
> >> Wiring harness runs from $20-40
>
> >> On May 31, 1:19 am, isq...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> > On May 30, 7:34 pm, elau...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> > > On May 30, 4:58 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> > > > Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
>
> >> > > > I was leaning toward the OEM hitch because it comes with the the
> >> > > > wiring harness that plugs right into my car - aftermarket wiring
> >> > > > appears to be more involved which I don't feel like getting into.
>
> >> > > > On May 30, 5:14 pm, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>
> >> > > > > Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of the
> >> > > > > aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy to
> >> > > > > install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
> >> > > > > yourself- www.etrailer.com
>
> >> > > > > On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> > > You can buy aftermarket wiring harness that does exactly the same as
> >> > > the OEM wiring harness. So staying with OEM does not make sense.
>
> >> > i think subaru oem hitch is $200 and that includes the harness.
> >> > drawtite runs about $135 i think. is aftermarket harness significantly
> >> > less than the $65 split?- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Mine is a 2005 Forester XS, and the plug was under my right rear floor
panel.

Forester instruction here:
http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/down...?doc_id=139135

Here is the Impreza instruction:
http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/down...?doc_id=139133

This is the document page:
http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/ixSe...12&free_pub=13

The Impreza instructions mention the wiring adapter but I don't see the
instruction online.

Blair

"david59" <d5954@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1180695695.783463.214060@m36g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
> Blair-
>
> Do you remember if you had to remove the rear side panel to get to the
> harness? Was it difficult to remove? Sounds like you didn't have any
> problems - Thanks Dave
>
>
> On May 31, 8:55 pm, "Blair Baucom" <jbbau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> I went the same way, oem hitch & adapter. Everything fit with no wiring
>> headaches. I looked around before on here for the correct adapter and for
>> the matching plug. It just does not justify any savings for the time &
>> effort to find the aftermarket adapter and to do the excess wiring when I
>> just popped a plug out and plugged it in.
>>
>> Maybe the experts here have the correct part numbers to share with the
>> rest
>> of us so we all know where the $20 wiring harness is.
>>
>> Blair
>>
>> "david59" <d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1180610020.586178.28050@q69g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> >I contacted the people at DrawTite a few weeks ago. They told me you
>> > need to buy a Modulite Kit to protect the vehicles circuitry for the
>> > Impreza. The diagram I saw showed the power being drawn directly from
>> > the fusebox. All the after market harness's that I've checked into
>> > work this way. The wiring looked more complicated than I want to get
>> > into.
>>
>> > If I want to plug right into vehicle existing trailer harness you have
>> > to use the OEM - it's the only one (that I've found) that comes with
>> > that 6-pin connector.
>>
>> > I've seen the OEM hitch & harness for around $160 - the Hidden Hitch
>> > is around $115 + around $50 for the Modulite Kit.
>>
>> > To be honest the money isn't that much of an issue anyway - it's a one
>> > time expense.
>>
>> > I still might go ahead and get the DrawTite or Hidden Hitch (that's
>> > why I asked about trimming the bumper) - but I'm going with the Subaru
>> > wiring to get that connector. The problem with that route - the
>> > cheapest I've found the Subaru wiring is around $70 - Hidden Hitch at
>> > $115 + $70 is more than the $160 for the OEM hitch & harness.
>>
>> > Thanks for the info!
>>
>> > On May 31, 6:07 am, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>> >>http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Subaru_Impreza.htm
>> >> hidden hitch is $115 with drawbar- draw tite is $100 w/o drawbar
>>
>> >> Wiring harness runs from $20-40
>>
>> >> On May 31, 1:19 am, isq...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> >> > On May 30, 7:34 pm, elau...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> >> > > On May 30, 4:58 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >> > > > Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
>>
>> >> > > > I was leaning toward the OEM hitch because it comes with the the
>> >> > > > wiring harness that plugs right into my car - aftermarket wiring
>> >> > > > appears to be more involved which I don't feel like getting
>> >> > > > into.
>>
>> >> > > > On May 30, 5:14 pm, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>>
>> >> > > > > Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of
>> >> > > > > the
>> >> > > > > aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy
>> >> > > > > to
>> >> > > > > install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
>> >> > > > > yourself- www.etrailer.com
>>
>> >> > > > > On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >> > > You can buy aftermarket wiring harness that does exactly the same
>> >> > > as
>> >> > > the OEM wiring harness. So staying with OEM does not make sense.
>>
>> >> > i think subaru oem hitch is $200 and that includes the harness.
>> >> > drawtite runs about $135 i think. is aftermarket harness
>> >> > significantly
>> >> > less than the $65 split?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> >> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>

Thanks Blair!

On Jun 2, 5:50 am, "Blair Baucom" <jbbau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Mine is a 2005 Forester XS, and the plug was under my right rear floor
> panel.
>
> Forester instruction here:http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/down...?doc_id=139135
>
> Here is the Impreza instruction:http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/down...?doc_id=139133
>
> This is the document page:http://techinfo.subaru.com/html/ixSe...eyword=&keywor...
>
> The Impreza instructions mention the wiring adapter but I don't see the
> instruction online.
>
> Blair
>
> "david59" <d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1180695695.783463.214060@m36g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
>
> > Blair-
>
> > Do you remember if you had to remove the rear side panel to get to the
> > harness? Was it difficult to remove? Sounds like you didn't have any
> > problems - Thanks Dave
>
> > On May 31, 8:55 pm, "Blair Baucom" <jbbau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> I went the same way, oem hitch & adapter. Everything fit with no wiring
> >> headaches. I looked around before on here for the correct adapter and for
> >> the matching plug. It just does not justify any savings for the time &
> >> effort to find the aftermarket adapter and to do the excess wiring when I
> >> just popped a plug out and plugged it in.
>
> >> Maybe the experts here have the correct part numbers to share with the
> >> rest
> >> of us so we all know where the $20 wiring harness is.
>
> >> Blair
>
> >> "david59" <d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:1180610020.586178.28050@q69g2000hsb.googleg roups.com...
>
> >> >I contacted the people at DrawTite a few weeks ago. They told me you
> >> > need to buy a Modulite Kit to protect the vehicles circuitry for the
> >> > Impreza. The diagram I saw showed the power being drawn directly from
> >> > the fusebox. All the after market harness's that I've checked into
> >> > work this way. The wiring looked more complicated than I want to get
> >> > into.
>
> >> > If I want to plug right into vehicle existing trailer harness you have
> >> > to use the OEM - it's the only one (that I've found) that comes with
> >> > that 6-pin connector.
>
> >> > I've seen the OEM hitch & harness for around $160 - the Hidden Hitch
> >> > is around $115 + around $50 for the Modulite Kit.
>
> >> > To be honest the money isn't that much of an issue anyway - it's a one
> >> > time expense.
>
> >> > I still might go ahead and get the DrawTite or Hidden Hitch (that's
> >> > why I asked about trimming the bumper) - but I'm going with the Subaru
> >> > wiring to get that connector. The problem with that route - the
> >> > cheapest I've found the Subaru wiring is around $70 - Hidden Hitch at
> >> > $115 + $70 is more than the $160 for the OEM hitch & harness.
>
> >> > Thanks for the info!
>
> >> > On May 31, 6:07 am, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
> >> >>http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Subaru_Impreza.htm
> >> >> hidden hitch is $115 with drawbar- draw tite is $100 w/o drawbar
>
> >> >> Wiring harness runs from $20-40
>
> >> >> On May 31, 1:19 am, isq...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> >> > On May 30, 7:34 pm, elau...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> >> > > On May 30, 4:58 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> >> > > > Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
>
> >> >> > > > I was leaning toward the OEM hitch because it comes with the the
> >> >> > > > wiring harness that plugs right into my car - aftermarket wiring
> >> >> > > > appears to be more involved which I don't feel like getting
> >> >> > > > into.
>
> >> >> > > > On May 30, 5:14 pm, big...@backpacker.com wrote:
>
> >> >> > > > > Why pay more for OEM? Likely subaru buys hitches from one of
> >> >> > > > > the
> >> >> > > > > aftermarket makers. I put ahidden hitch on my OBW andwas easy
> >> >> > > > > to
> >> >> > > > > install. Finish has lasted fine for four NJ winters. Do it
> >> >> > > > > yourself- www.etrailer.com
>
> >> >> > > > > On May 30, 4:50 pm, david59 <d...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> >> > > You can buy aftermarket wiring harness that does exactly the same
> >> >> > > as
> >> >> > > the OEM wiring harness. So staying with OEM does not make sense.
>
> >> >> > i think subaru oem hitch is $200 and that includes the harness.
> >> >> > drawtite runs about $135 i think. is aftermarket harness
> >> >> > significantly
> >> >> > less than the $65 split?- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> >> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -