2003 Subaru Baja Owner's Manual - Page 261

B Connecting a trailer HB8047BA CAUTION The license plate bracket will hit the hitch ball and may be damaged if the tailgate is opened and the license plate bracket is at the lowered/open position. Close the tailgate and return the license plate bracket to its normal position flush against the tailgate itself whenever you tow a trailer or whenever a trailer is hitched to the vehicle. 1. Before connecting the ball mount to the hitch receiver, close the tailgate and return the license plate bracket to its normal retracted position up against the tailgate. Refer to "License plate bracket" under the heading "Tailgate" in Chapter 2 for more information on the function of the license plate bracket. 2. Remove the receiver cover from the hitch receiver tube. Then insert the ball mount into the hitch receiver tube. 3. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch receiver tube so that the pin passes through the ball mount. 8-20