Subaru Outback 2015-2019 Special Installation

Installing Dropracks on a Subaru Outback:

A Comprehensive Guide to the car with the most complex roof.

With 161,000 Outbacks sold in the US in 2023 and the adventurous lifestyle of its owners, the Subaru Outback is one of the most inquired car models among our Dropracks Regular customers. Installing Dropracks on a Subaru Outback is notably more complex than on other vehicles.

The unique design of the Outback's swing rails necessitates careful planning and specific equipment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through two potential methods for installing Dropracks on your 2015-2019 Subaru Outback, ensuring you have all the information needed for a successful setup.

Understanding the Challenge

The Subaru Outback's swing rails need to be removed. They are innovative, but not really robust, and a more sturdy mount is recommended for installing Dropracks. These instructions are specifically tailored for the 2015-2019 Outback with swing rails.

Option A: Using Yakima Components

One of the methods involves utilizing Yakima products, which you can find on www.etrailer.com or from any Yakima dealer. Please note that some of these products might be outgoing and could be difficult to source.

Required Yakima Components:

1. Yakima Landing Pad 15
2. Yakima Skyline Towers
3. Yakima Dropracks Adapter

These components will cost approximately $450.

Installation Steps:

1. Remove Swing Rails: Begin by removing the swing rails from your Subaru Outback. This step is crucial for both installation options.
2. Install Yakima Landing Pads: Attach the Yakima Landing Pad 15 to the roof of your vehicle.
3. Attach Yakima Skyline Towers: Install the Yakima Skyline Towers onto the landing pads.
4. Mount Yakima HD Bars: Secure the Yakima HD Bar SL adapter on top of the Skyline Towers. This setup will fit the Dropracks.

Note: You’ll also need shorter connecting bars (front-rear) of the Dropracks to fit the fixed distance between the front and rear mounts. Specifically, they reduce the length from 33.5” to 30.5" on the Outback 2015-2019 and 30" on the 2019 and beyond.

Use the Disount code "SUBARUOUTBACK" to get the original connecting bars shoretened to fit your Outback for free and save $100 buy using the discount code "SUBARUOUTBACK"

Option B: Anderson Design and Fabrication Crossbar System

An alternative method is to use a custom steel structure from Anderson Design and Fabrication, which provides a more extended front-to-rear distance compared to the first Yakima solution.

Product and Installation Video:

• Anderson Design and Fabrication Roof Crossbar System: Product Link
• Installation Video: YouTube Video

This system costs $299 and can be installed in one of the following ways:

1. Direct Mount: Attach Dropracks directly onto the small Z-brackets of the unit.
2. Crossbar Mount: Secure Dropracks onto the included crossbars with suitable hardware.
3. Universal Plates: If the pre-made holes do not align with the Dropracks, use our universal plates to mount the racks onto the crossbars.

Conclusion

The Outback has a very complex starting point, an dcompared to the Outback Wilderness that has robust raised siderails, and a straight forward installation process, this is in the other end of the scale.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help ensure your Dropracks installation is smooth and successful!