2019–2024 Subaru Forester Upgrades, Ranked: 4 Mods in Order, With Roof Rail and Tongue Weight Traps
Four upgrades for the fifth-generation Forester, in buying order. Fit on this compact SUV turns on a few facts: whether the roof has rails at all, whether they are the Wilderness rails, the 150 lb of tongue weight that limits a bike rack, and the years on the listing. Subaru's own sheets give the standard roof more than the hitch, which is why the roof rack ranks above the trailer hitch here.
- Look at the roof first. Subaru lists raised rails as standard on Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring and optional on the Base; the 2022–2024 Wilderness has its own.
- The roof figure is Subaru's, not the bar's. Its 2022 and 2024 sheets print 176 lb for standard rails, and 220 lb dynamic and 800 lb static for the Wilderness.
- The hitch is for bikes and a small trailer. Subaru lists 1,500 lb, or 3,000 lb for the Wilderness, and a dealer listing gives 150 lb and 300 lb of tongue weight.
- Choose 2 in for bike racks. Many larger platform racks are sold only in 2 in.
- Read the years on every listing. The 2025 Forester is a new generation, except the Wilderness per Wikipedia, yet some titles run to 2025 or 2026.
Forester upgrades in priority order
Each step links to a full fit-checked guide for the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester.
Floor liners first: one fit for six model years, and the lowest price on the page
Floor liners lead on the Forester because they cost the least and their fit is the simplest of the four. The liner listings in the floor liner guide cover 2019–2024 as one fit, so the main check is the year range in the title. Husky sells a separate 95381 set for the 2025 Forester. Prices in the guide run about $80–$120 for Subaru's J501SSJ030 set of four, about $90–$130 for IKABEVEM's set with a cargo liner, about $100–$140 for LASFIT's or 3W's TPE sets and about $130–$170 for Husky's WeatherBeater 95891, which Husky says is made in the USA with a lifetime warranty against cracks and breaks. The trade-off is walls against price: Subaru's liners cost less but sit lower than Husky's. One Wilderness note: Subaru's 2022 and 2024 sheets don't offer its All-Weather Floor Liners accessory on that trim, so have a dealer check the part against your VIN.
Skip it if: Raised-edge liners are already hooked onto the driver-side retention hooks and the cargo carpet stays clean.
Our best overall: Husky Liners Weatherbeater 3-piece front & 2nd row ($130–$170)
Compare all 5 floor mats & liners picks →Roof rack second: low-cost clamp-on bars, on a roof Subaru rates above the hitch
A roof rack ranks second because clamp-on crossbars cost little, Subaru's sheets list rails but not crossbars as standard equipment, and the cargo box in slot four can't go on without them. The 2022 and 2024 sheets print 176 lb for the standard rails, more than the 150 lb of tongue weight a non-Wilderness Forester allows at the hitch. Rail type decides fit: raised rails are standard on Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring and optional on the Base, and most listings exclude the 2022–2024 Wilderness. Prices in the roof rack guide run about $80–$120 for EZREXPM's bars, about $90–$130 for Snailfly's set or the lockable adjustable set, about $100–$140 for Tuyoung's lockable 300 lb bars, about $120–$170 for BRIGHTLINES' aero bars and about $260–$350 for Subaru's SOA367010 aero set, which Subaru's catalog excludes from the base model and the Wilderness. The trade-off is that a bar's rating is not the roof's: a 300 lb bar still sits on a 176 lb roof, and the bars count toward it.
Skip it if: Nothing you carry has to go on the roof, or your Base has no rails, in which case move the trailer hitch up to second.
Our best overall: Tuyoung 300 lb Lockable Cross Bars ($100–$140)
Compare all 6 roof racks & crossbars picks →Trailer hitch third: a bike rack mount first and a tow point second
A trailer hitch ranks third because on most Foresters it is an accessory mount more than a tow point. Subaru's sheets list 1,500 lb for every trim except the Wilderness, which is rated at 3,000 lb, and a Subaru dealer listing gives 150 lb and 300 lb of tongue weight. Every aftermarket hitch with published ratings in the hitch guide is rated at 3,500 lb, so the choice comes down to the receiver. A 2 in receiver takes the widest range of platform bike racks and cargo carriers; a 1.25 in receiver is lighter and suits a small trailer. Prices run about $120–$180 for the budget Wsays 2 in hitch, about $170–$250 for the 1.25 in Reese 06191 and Draw-Tite 36671, about $200–$280 for the 2 in CURT 13409 and Draw-Tite 76271 and about $410–$475 for Subaru's own kits. The trade-off is the tongue limit: rack and bikes together must stay under 150 lb on a standard trim. Aftermarket hitches also need a plug-in wiring harness, bought separately.
Skip it if: A receiver is already under the bumper, as on a used Forester with the dealer-fitted kit, or you never carry bikes or pull a trailer.
Our best overall: Draw-Tite 76271 Class 3 Trailer Hitch 2 in ($200–$280)
Compare all 6 trailer hitches picks →Cargo box last: the costliest part here, after the bars and the roof math
The cargo box comes last because it is the largest single purchase, about $450–$880 in the cargo box guide, and it depends on slot two. A box clamps to crossbars, so the box itself is universal. Two numbers decide which one suits this SUV. Length comes first, because the liftgate swings up toward the back of a compact roof: the boxes run from 63 in for SportRack's Vista XL to 83 in for Yakima's CBX 16. Weight is second, because bars, box and gear share Subaru's 176 lb figure, or 220 lb on a Wilderness, and the boxes weigh 31 to 57 lb. Prices run about $450 for the Vista XL, about $699 for the CBX 16, about $700 for Thule's Pulse 2 M, about $709 for Yakima's GrandTour 16, about $865 for the INNO Wedge 660 and about $880 for Thule's Force 3 L. The trade-off is drag: fueleconomy.gov puts the highway cost of a large rooftop box at 6–17%.
Skip it if: Your gear fits behind the seats, or the heavy items are bikes, which belong on a hitch rack.
Our best overall: Yakima GrandTour 16 Premium Rooftop Cargo Box ($709)
Compare all 7 cargo boxes picks →What a Forester build costs, by tier
| Upgrade | Budget | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor liners | About $80–$130 (Subaru J501SSJ030 set of four, or IKABEVEM with a cargo liner) | About $100–$140 (LASFIT or 3W TPE, first and second row) | About $130–$170 (Husky WeatherBeater 95891) |
| Roof rack | About $80–$130 (EZREXPM or Snailfly clamp-on bars) | About $100–$140 (Tuyoung lockable bars, 300 lb bar rating) | About $545 (Thule WingBar Evo system, etrailer price) |
| Trailer hitch | About $120–$180 (Wsays 2 in Class 3; confirm ratings on the listing) | About $200–$280 (Draw-Tite 76271, 2 in, 3,500 lb / 525 lb) | About $410–$475 (Subaru L101SSJ005 for 2022–2024, 2 in, harness included) |
| Cargo box | About $450 (SportRack Vista XL, 18 cu ft, 63 in) | About $709 (Yakima GrandTour 16, 79 in, 51.5 lb) | About $880 (Thule Force 3 L, 76.8 in, 43 lb) |
| Total | About $730–$890; wiring harness extra | About $1,109–$1,269; wiring harness extra | About $1,965–$2,070; ball mount extra |
Which roof is overhead: no rails, standard raised rails or the Wilderness rails
The fifth-generation Forester was built with three roofs, and each crossbar listing is written for one of them.
Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. Subaru's 2019, 2022 and 2024 trim comparison sheets list raised roof rails as standard. A gap under the rail is what clamp-on crossbars grip.
Base. The same sheets list raised roof rails as optional, and Subaru's 2022 release says an option package adds alloy wheels and roof rails to the base model. A Base can therefore have a bare roof. Subaru's catalog excludes the base model from its SOA367010 aero crossbars. We could not confirm whether the optional rails match the rails on other trims, so Base owners should send the seller a photo of the roof before ordering.
Wilderness. For 2022–2024 the sheets give the Wilderness roof rails with integrated tie-down points, anodized copper-finish accents and higher ratings. The crossbar listings in the roof rack guide say "except Wilderness" or "not Wilderness", and etrailer treats the trim as its own roof configuration. We could not confirm from Subaru what differs in the rail's shape, so go by the listing.
Subaru's release also describes the refreshed 2022 Forester's rails as a new ladder-type design. The listings in the guide still treat the 2019–2024 standard rails as one fit.
| Roof | Trims and years | Subaru's roof figure | Crossbars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised rails, standard | Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring, 2019–2024 | 176 lb maximum (2022 and 2024 sheets); 700 lb static (2022 release) | Clamp-on bars titled for Forester raised rails, about $80–$170; Subaru SOA367010, about $260–$350 |
| Raised rails, optional | Base, when the option was ordered | 176 lb maximum (2022 and 2024 sheets) | Confirm with the seller; Subaru's aero set excludes the base model |
| No rails | Base without the option | Not listed; see the owner's manual | Door-jamb clamp system from Thule or Yakima; none of the clamp-on sets |
| Wilderness rails | Wilderness, 2022–2024 | 220 lb dynamic, 800 lb static (2022 and 2024 sheets) | A Thule or Yakima system entered in the fit guide as Wilderness, or a set titled for it |
176, 700, 220 and 800 lb: what Subaru prints for the roof, and what a box leaves
Four numbers describe this roof.
- 176 lb. Subaru's 2022 and 2024 trim comparison sheets list the standard roof rails at a 176 lb maximum capacity. Subaru's release on the refreshed 2022 Forester calls the same figure a dynamic load capacity, meaning while driving.
- 700 lb. The static, or parked, limit that the 2022 release gives the standard rails. The sheets don't print it.
- 220 lb and 800 lb. The Wilderness rails' dynamic and static maximums in the 2022 and 2024 sheets.
We could not confirm the figure for 2019–2021: the 2019 sheet we read lists the rails without a capacity, so use the owner's manual. The 300 lb on a crossbar listing and the 165 lb on a Thule box describe the bar and the box. The lower number wins.
Here is what each box in the cargo box guide leaves under 176 lb, before the crossbars' own weight comes off:
- Thule Pulse 2 M, 31 lb: 145 lb.
- Rhino-Rack MasterFit 440, 38.6 lb: 137.4 lb.
- INNO Wedge 660, 42 lb: 134 lb, but etrailer lists the box at a 110 lb capacity.
- Thule Force 3 L, 43 lb: 133 lb.
- Yakima GrandTour 16, 51.5 lb: 124.5 lb.
- Yakima CBX 16, 57 lb: 119 lb.
- SportRack Vista XL: weight not published.
The crossbar titles in the roof rack guide give no bar weights. The cargo box guide allows around 15 lb for a set and puts the room left for gear at about 100–130 lb. On a Wilderness, start from 220 lb, which adds 44 lb to every line above.
Towing: 1,500 lb, 150 lb on the tongue, and why receiver size is the real choice
The rating. Subaru's 2019 trim comparison sheet lists a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 lb on every trim. The 2022 and 2024 sheets list 1,500 lb on every trim except the Wilderness, at 3,000 lb. The 2024 sheet notes that trailer brakes may be needed.
Tongue weight. This is the limit for a bike rack or cargo carrier. A Subaru dealer listing for the 2022–2024 factory hitch gives 150 lb for non-Wilderness trims and 300 lb for the Wilderness. The dealer page for the 2019–2021 kit, L101SSJ001, prints 176 lb. We could not confirm which figure Subaru applies to a 2019–2021 car, so check the owner's manual and plan on 150 lb until you have.
1.25 in or 2 in. Every aftermarket hitch with published ratings in the guide is rated at 3,500 lb, so receiver size is the real choice. The guide notes that many larger platform bike racks are sold only in 2 in. The 1.25 in Draw-Tite 36671 and Reese 06191 weigh 27.5 lb, against 34 lb for CURT's 13409 and 37 lb for Draw-Tite's 76271.
The receiver. Subaru sells the hitch as an accessory. The sheets we read list no receiver as equipment, so we could not confirm that any Forester leaves the factory with one. Look under the rear bumper.
| Version | Max tow | Max tongue weight | Subaru's accessory hitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021, every trim | 1,500 lb (2019 sheet) | Not confirmed: the dealer page for L101SSJ001 prints 176 lb; use the owner's manual | L101SSJ001, 1-1/4 in, listed as Class One |
| 2022–2024 Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring | 1,500 lb | 150 lb | L101SSJ005, 2 in; harness and hitch plug included, ball mount separate |
| 2022–2024 Wilderness | 3,000 lb | 300 lb | L101SSJ005, 2 in |
| 2025 Wilderness (older body per Wikipedia) | 3,000 lb per the dealer listing | 300 lb per the dealer listing | A dealer lists L101SSJ005 for this 2025 trim only |
Model years: the 2022 refresh, the 2014–2018 Forester and the 2025 Forester
This site's vehicle data and all four guides treat 2019–2024 as one generation. Four kinds of listing blur the edges.
The 2022 refresh. Wikipedia describes it as a new front end and a slightly tweaked rear bumper, with the Wilderness introduced alongside. Two things in the guides split at 2022: Subaru's own hitch went from the 1-1/4 in L101SSJ001 to the 2 in L101SSJ005, and the Wilderness roof arrived. The aftermarket hitches and the floor liners run 2019–2024 as one part.
The 2014–2018 Forester. Liners don't carry over, but Snailfly's and EZREXPM's clamp-on crossbars are titled 2014–2024.
The 2025 Forester. Wikipedia says the sixth generation went on sale in the second quarter of 2024 as a 2025 model. Husky sells a separate liner set, 95381, for 2025–2026. Titles that reach past 2024 need a question to the seller: Tuyoung's crossbars are titled 2014–2026 and the adjustable set 2019–2025. Hitch makers are the exception, since Draw-Tite, CURT and Reese list their Forester hitches for 2019–2026.
The 2025 Wilderness. A Subaru dealer lists the 2022–2024 factory hitch for the 2025 Forester Wilderness and no other 2025 trim. Wikipedia says the outgoing Forester ended after the 2024 model year except for the Wilderness, which was offered for 2025, and that the redesigned Wilderness went on sale as a 2026 model. So treat a 2025 Wilderness as the older body. We could not confirm it from Subaru, so 2025 Wilderness owners should check every part by VIN.
Roof or hitch: where the weight goes, what isn't ranked and the order to fit things
The Forester is a two-row SUV with no bed, so cargo that won't fit inside goes on the roof or behind the bumper. On standard trims Subaru's numbers are close: 176 lb on the roof against 150 lb on the tongue. The roof takes bulky, light gear in a cargo box, and the cargo box guide sends bikes to a hitch rack. On a Wilderness the hitch pulls ahead, at 300 lb against 220 lb.
Height is the roof's other cost. The 2019 sheet gives an overall height of 68.1 in with roof rails, and the boxes in the guide stand 11 to 19 in tall on top of the bars, so measure before driving into a garage. Subaru's sheets also list a panoramic moonroof on every trim except the Base, and etrailer advises against opening it with a rack installed.
This page ranks the four categories that have a fit-checked Forester guide on this site. Running boards, lighting and bike racks have none for this vehicle, so they aren't ranked.
Fit the four in this order.
1. Floor liners. Remove the factory mat and hook the driver liner onto Subaru's retention hooks. 2. Crossbars. Set the spread to suit the box and keep the rear bar ahead of the point where the rail curves down toward the liftgate. 3. Trailer hitch. Draw-Tite quotes about 30 minutes with no drilling for the 76271; CURT says its 13409 needs a hole enlarged. Fit the plug-in 4-flat harness the same day. 4. Cargo box. Slide it as far forward as the windshield and antenna allow and open the liftgate slowly the first time.
What to avoid
Clamp-on crossbars for the wrong roof. Standard-rail bars are titled "except Wilderness" or "not Wilderness", and a Base without the rail option has nothing to clamp to.
Loading the roof to the bar or box rating. A 300 lb crossbar or a 165 lb box rating doesn't change Subaru's 176 lb figure for the standard rails or the Wilderness's 220 lb dynamic figure. The 700 lb and 800 lb numbers are for a parked Forester.
Planning a bike rack around the hitch rating. A 3,500 lb, 525 lb hitch on a standard Forester is still a 1,500 lb, 150 lb setup. Add the rack's weight to the bikes before buying.
Trusting a year range that crosses a generation. The 2025 Forester has its own liners, such as Husky's 95381, and crossbar titles that run to 2025 or 2026 need the seller's confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
What should I upgrade first on a 2019–2024 Subaru Forester?
Floor liners, then crossbars. Liners cost the least, about $80–$170 in the floor liner guide, and the listings cover 2019–2024 as one fit. A roof rack is second: the Amazon crossbar sets for the raised rails run about $80–$170, and Subaru's sheets give the standard roof 176 lb against 150 lb of tongue weight at the hitch. A trailer hitch is third at about $120–$280 from the aftermarket, mainly for a bike rack. The cargo box is last because it costs the most and needs the bars first.
How much weight can a 2019–2024 Forester roof carry?
Subaru's 2022 and 2024 trim comparison sheets print a 176 lb maximum capacity for the standard roof rails. The same sheets give the Wilderness rails 220 lb dynamic, meaning while driving, and 800 lb static, meaning parked. Subaru's release on the refreshed 2022 Forester adds a 700 lb static limit for the standard rails. The 2019 sheet we read lists the rails without a figure, so 2019–2021 owners should check the owner's manual. Crossbars, box and cargo all count.
Does every 2019–2024 Forester have roof rails?
No. Subaru's 2019, 2022 and 2024 trim comparison sheets list raised roof rails as standard on Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring and as optional on the Base trim. So a Base can have a bare roof, and etrailer's 2022 fit guide lists a Forester configuration with no rails or crossbars. Without rails, none of the clamp-on crossbars in the roof rack guide will mount, and the guide's route is a door-jamb clamp system from Thule or Yakima.
Does the Forester Wilderness need different parts?
For the roof, yes. The Wilderness was sold with this body for 2022–2024, and for 2025 per Wikipedia, and the crossbar listings in the roof rack guide say "except Wilderness" or "not Wilderness". The guide found no Amazon set titled for it and points to a Thule or Yakima system entered in the fit guide as Wilderness. Subaru rates its rails at 220 lb dynamic and 800 lb static and the trim at 3,000 lb of towing. Aftermarket floor liners titled 2019–2024 carry no trim exclusion, but Subaru's sheets don't offer its own liners on this trim, so confirm the fit.
How much can a 2019–2024 Forester tow, and does an aftermarket trailer hitch raise it?
A hitch never raises it. Subaru's 2019 trim comparison sheet lists 1,500 lb for every trim, and the 2022 and 2024 sheets list 1,500 lb for every trim except the Wilderness, which is rated at 3,000 lb. A Subaru dealer listing for the 2022–2024 factory hitch gives tongue weights of 150 lb and 300 lb. Every aftermarket hitch with published ratings in the hitch guide is rated at 3,500 lb, so the vehicle is the limit. We read three model years only, so use your owner's manual.
Should I get a 1.25 in or a 2 in receiver on a Forester?
Get 2 in if bikes are the reason for the hitch. The hitch guide notes that many larger platform bike racks are sold only in 2 in. Draw-Tite's 76271 is about $200–$280 and bolts on without drilling. A 1.25 in hitch such as Draw-Tite's 36671, about $180–$250, weighs 27.5 lb against 37 lb and is enough for a small trailer or a light rack.
Can a Forester carry two e-bikes on a hitch rack?
Add it up first. A hitch bike rack is all tongue weight, and a Subaru dealer listing gives 150 lb for non-Wilderness Foresters and 300 lb for the Wilderness. The rack's own weight counts along with both bikes, and the hitch guide warns that two heavy e-bikes on a large platform rack can reach or pass 150 lb. The hitch's rating doesn't help: Draw-Tite's 76271 is rated at 525 lb, but the Forester's figure still applies.
Can I put a rooftop tent on a 2019–2024 Forester?
Subaru's release on the refreshed 2022 Forester gives the standard roof rails a 176 lb dynamic capacity and a 700 lb static limit and says that allows safe use of a roof-top tent. The Wilderness rails are rated at 220 lb and 800 lb. Subaru's catalog says its SOA367010 aero crossbars do not support rooftop tents, so use a rated aftermarket system. We could not confirm the static figure for 2019–2021 cars, so check the owner's manual.
Will 2019–2024 Forester parts fit a 2025 Forester, and do 2014–2018 parts fit mine?
Treat floor liners and crossbars as no. The 2025 Forester is a new generation, except the Wilderness per Wikipedia, and Husky sells a separate liner set, 95381, for 2025–2026. Hitches are the grey area: Draw-Tite, CURT and Reese list their Forester hitches for 2019–2026, so confirm with the maker's fit checker. Going back, 2014–2018 liners don't fit, but some clamp-on crossbars are titled 2014–2024 because they grip raised rails.
How much does it cost to add all four upgrades to a Forester?
From the prices on the four guides' picks, a budget build runs about $730–$890: Subaru's or IKABEVEM's liners, EZREXPM or Snailfly crossbars, the Wsays hitch and SportRack's Vista XL. A mid build runs about $1,109–$1,269 with LASFIT or 3W liners, Tuyoung's lockable bars, Draw-Tite's 76271 and Yakima's GrandTour 16. A premium build with Husky's liners, a Thule WingBar Evo system, Subaru's hitch kit and Thule's Force 3 L runs about $1,965–$2,070. The totals assume standard raised rails. Hitch wiring and a ball mount are extra.
On the 2019–2024 Forester, buy floor liners by generation first, crossbars by rail type second, a 2 in trailer hitch planned around 150 lb of tongue weight third, and a cargo box last, once the bars and the 176 lb roof math are settled.
The fifth-generation Forester is easy to accessorize once four facts are written down: model year, whether the roof has rails, Wilderness or not, and whether a receiver is already fitted. Floor liners need the year first, since the listings cover 2019–2024 as one fit, and they cost the least. A roof rack needs the rail answer. On standard raised rails an Amazon set costs about $80–$170, and Subaru's 2022 and 2024 sheets give that roof 176 lb, which is why it goes ahead of the trailer hitch. On a Base with no rails, swap the two.
The hitch is third because Subaru rates most Foresters at 1,500 lb and a dealer listing gives 150 lb of tongue weight, so it is a bike rack mount first. The cargo box is last because it costs the most and has to fit the bars, the liftgate and the roof figure. Owners of a 2025 Forester should treat this page as a list of questions, not part numbers.
Fit facts plus every guide for the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester.
Open the Forester fit hub →How we wrote this
We did not install any of these parts ourselves. The order comes from the four fit-checked 2019–2024 Forester guides on this site, weighing how many Foresters each upgrade suits, what it costs and how much can go wrong with fit (roof rails, trim, receiver size, model year). Price bands are the prices listed on those guides' picks, checked at maker and retailer stores in September 2026, and are approximate. Vehicle facts come from this site's vehicle data, the guides' sources, Subaru's 2019, 2022 and 2024 trim comparison sheets, Subaru's 2022 Forester release, a Subaru dealer parts page and Wikipedia. Where we couldn't confirm a factory detail, the text says so.
Sources- 2024 Forester trim comparison: roof rails and capacity, towing by trim (Subaru)
- 2022 Forester trim comparison: roof rails and capacity, towing by trim (Subaru)
- 2019 Forester trim comparison: roof rails by trim, towing, height (Subaru)
- Subaru announces pricing on refreshed 2022 Forester: roof rail design and load limits, Wilderness (Subaru U.S. Media Center)
- Subaru Forester: fifth generation, 2022 facelift, sixth generation (Wikipedia)
- Subaru L101SSJ005 trailer hitch, 2022–2024: ratings by trim, contents, 2025 Wilderness note (Subaru Parts Pros)
- Subaru L101SSJ001 trailer hitch, 2019–2021 (Subaru Parts Pros)
- Subaru Aero Crossbar Set SOA367010: fit notes and MSRP (Subaru Parts Pros)
- 2022 Forester roof rack systems by rail type and moonroof note (etrailer)
- Draw-Tite 76271 Class III hitch (Draw-Tite)
- CURT 13409 Class 3 hitch (CURT)
- Yakima GrandTour 16 (Yakima)
- Thule Force 3 L (Thule)
- Cargo box fuel economy impact (fueleconomy.gov)
- Husky Liners: WeatherBeater vs X-act Contour (Husky Liners)