Todd H. wrote:

I'll second all this. I ordered a hitch last year from them (for a
Hyundai Sante Fe) and it bolted on pretty easily as well.

Rich

In article <84slzobgf7.fsf (AT) ripco (DOT) com>, subaru (AT) toddh (DOT) net (Todd H.)
wrote:

Thanks a lot! I cruised eTrailer's site and have it bookmarked for
future purchases.

Cheers.

Glenn

"Ken & Rese Szeplaki" <ken50397 (AT) rcn (DOT) com> writes:

The Hidden Hitch is not terribly noticeable on the Outback. The
bracket does drop below the exhaust, but it's thin and flat where it
does. The hitch is recessed enough under the overhang of the bumper
that it doesn't appear terribly noticeable unless you're looking for
it.

And visually the black bracket that surves under teh exhaust isn't
that noticeable either, since it's only ... oh, I'm guessing a 1/2"
tall there.


--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA

Ken & Rese Szeplaki wrote:

Installing the hitch above the exhaust might require lowering the
exhaust temporarily (it did in our case). In the case of our SanteFe,
that required some big rubber grommet-type things to be pushed out of
the brackets attached to the exhaust. It was more work to remove them
then reinstall them, but neither was terribly difficult.

Yes the hidden hitch drops below but is not obtrusive. Plus hidden
hitch includes drawbar while draw-tite did not. Draw tites drawbar
sells for $20 while the hidden hitch was the same $$ as the drawtite.

Thanks all,

I have just purchased a pre owned 01 outback and was trying to figure the
best way to get my bike on it. I was thinking hitch and then I was think
roof. I still don't know, but I am looking. Does anyone know who makes a
rack that just mounts right to the load bars?

Thanks,

Ken.


<jabario (AT) backpacker (DOT) com> wrote

Try www.1stsubaru.com. Yakima makes the oem roof rack and sells on
their own. Thule also makes them. Avoid hitch racks. Bikes sway, paint
gets rubbed. If you can lift bike to the roof go with a roof rack.

I've used Yakima setups on both my 01 and 03 OBWs (and many other
vehicles). I've always been very pleased with them. I use the Yakima
towers that clamp to the stock Subaru side rails (not the cross rails)
with Yakima crossbars. We regularly carry our tandem bike up top, and
I've also used it with my kayak and canoe. No problems.

BrianW wrote in message
<1118671889.622927.296290 (AT) g47g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>...
We have two Thule tandem racks on our 98 Outback, and it works the same way
as the Yakima. I just need help hoisting the damn bike up there. I can get a
single up no problem, but the tandem is too big/heavy/awkward for someone
with spindly arms and of my height.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referr*al/Cpetersky

"Ken & Rese Szeplaki" <ken50397 (AT) rcn (DOT) com> writes:
Yakima sells a few models that will essentially mount right on the
factory crossbars. The Raptors I have with MightyMounts 24H (one box
per bike) work that way and they're pretty cool. The MightyMounts
are just little plastic thingees that encircle the factory crossbar
and give a base for the raptor's bolts to fasten onto.

The Raptor is not the only one of their mounts that can direct mount
with a 24H MightMount.

Try Yakima's vehicle configurator, choose rooftop as your preferred
style and go from there. They might try to get you to buy their
crossbars and towers though, so stick to the options that only require
MightyMounts.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA