Subaru Tribeca (2014 year). Instruction

New vehicle break-in driving – the first

1,000 miles (1,600 km) .....................................

8-2

Fuel economy hints ............................................

8-2

Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)............

8-2

Catalytic converter ..............................................

8-3

Periodic inspections ...........................................

8-4

Driving in foreign countries ...............................

8-4

Driving tips for AWD models..............................

8-4

On-road and off-road driving..............................

8-6

Winter driving ......................................................

8-8

Operation during cold weather.............................

8-8

Driving on snowy and icy roads ..........................

8-9

Corrosion protection .......................................... 8-10
Snow tires ......................................................... 8-10
Tire chains.........................................................

8-11

Rocking the vehicle............................................

8-11

Loading your vehicle.........................................

8-12

Vehicle capacity weight......................................

8-12

GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................

8-13

Roof rails and crossbar (if equipped)..................

8-14

Roof molding and crossbar (if equipped)............

8-17

Trailer hitch (if equipped) ..................................

8-18

Connecting a trailer ...........................................

8-19

When you do not tow a trailer ............................

8-20

Trailer towing .....................................................

8-21

Warranties and maintenance ..............................

8-21

Maximum load limits ..........................................

8-21

Trailer hitches....................................................

8-24

Connecting a trailer ...........................................

8-25

Trailer towing tips ..............................................

8-26

Driving tips

8-2

Driving tips

New vehicle break-in driving
– the first 1,000 miles (1,600

km)

The performance and long life of your

vehicle are dependent on how you handle

and care for your vehicle while it is new.

Follow these instructions during the first

1,000 miles (1,600 km):
. Do not race the engine. And do not

allow engine speed to exceed 4,000 rpm

except in an emergency.
. Do not drive at one constant engine or

vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or

slow.
. Avoid starting suddenly and rapid

acceleration, except in an emergency.
. Avoid hard braking, except in an

emergency.

The same break-in procedures should be

applied to a newly installed or overhauled

engine or when brake pads or brake

linings are replaced with new ones.

Fuel economy hints

The following suggestions will help to save

your fuel.
. Select the proper gear position for the

speed and road conditions.
. Avoid sudden acceleration or decelera-

tion. Always accelerate gently until you

reach the desired speed. Then try to

maintain that speed for as long as

possible.
. Do not pump the accelerator and avoid

racing the engine.
. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep the engine properly tuned.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct

pressure shown on the tire placard, which

is located under the door latch on the

driver’s side. Low pressure will increase

tire wear and fuel consumption.
. Use the air conditioner only when

necessary.
. Keep the front and rear wheels in

proper alignment.
. Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage or

cargo.

Engine exhaust gas (carbon

monoxide)

WARNING

. Never inhale engine exhaust gas.

Engine exhaust gas contains

carbon monoxide, a colorless

and odorless gas which is dan-

gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.

. Always properly maintain the en-

gine exhaust system to prevent

engine exhaust gas from enter-

ing the vehicle.

. Never run the engine in a closed

space, such as a garage, except

for the brief time needed to drive

the vehicle in or out of it.

. Avoid remaining in a parked

vehicle for a lengthy time while

the engine is running. If that is

unavoidable, then use the venti-

lation fan to force fresh air into

the vehicle.

. Always keep the front ventilator

inlet grille free from snow, leaves

or other obstructions to ensure

that the ventilation system al-

ways works properly.

. If at any time you suspect that

exhaust fumes are entering the

vehicle, have the problem

checked and corrected as soon

as possible. If you must drive

under these conditions, drive

only with all windows fully open.

. Keep the rear gate closed while

driving to prevent exhaust gas

from entering the vehicle.

NOTE

Due to the expansion and contraction

of the metals used in the manufacture

of the exhaust system, you may hear a

crackling sound coming from the ex-

haust system for a short time after the

engine has been shut off. This sound is

normal.

Catalytic converter

WARNING

. Avoid fire hazards. Do not drive

or park the vehicle anywhere

near flammable materials (e.g.

grass, paper, rags or leaves),

because the catalytic converter

operates at very high tempera-

tures.

. Keep everyone and flammable

materials away from the exhaust

pipe while the engine is running.

The exhaust gas is very hot.

The catalytic converter is installed in the

exhaust system. It serves as catalyst to

reduce HC, CO and NOx in exhaust

gases, thus providing cleaner exhaust.

To avoid damage to the catalytic conver-

ter:
. Use only unleaded gasoline. Even a

small amount of leaded gasoline will

damage the catalytic converter.
. Never start the engine by pushing or

pulling the vehicle.
. Avoid racing the engine.
. Never turn off the ignition switch while

the vehicle is moving.
. Keep your engine tuned-up. If you feel

the engine running rough (misfiring, back-

firing or incomplete combustion), have

your vehicle checked and repaired by an

authorized SUBARU dealer.
. Do not apply undercoating or rust

prevention treatment to the heat shield of

catalytic converter and the exhaust sys-

tem.
. Do not drive with an extremely low fuel

level.

Driving tips

8-3

8-4

Driving tips

Periodic inspections

To keep your vehicle in the best condition

at all times, always have the recom-

mended maintenance services listed in

the maintenance schedule in the “War-

ranty and Maintenance Booklet” per-

formed at the specified time or mileage

intervals.

Driving in foreign countries

When planning to use your vehicle in

another country:
. Confirm the availability of the correct

fuel. Refer to “Fuel requirements” F7-2.
. Comply with all regulations and re-

quirements of each country.

Driving tips for AWD models

WARNING

. Always maintain a safe driving

speed according to the road and

weather conditions in order to

avoid having an accident on a

sharp turn, during sudden brak-

ing or under other similar condi-

tions.

. Always use the utmost care in

driving – overconfidence be-

cause you are driving an All-

Wheel Drive model could easily

lead to a serious accident.

. When replacing a tire, you must

use a tire that is of the same size,

circumference, speed symbol

and load index as the original

tires listed on the tire placard.

Using tires of other sizes, cir-

cumferences or constructions

may result in severe mechanical

damage to the drive train of your

vehicle and may affect ride,

handling, braking, speedometer/

odometer calibration, and clear-

ance between the body and tires.

It also may be dangerous and

lead to loss of vehicle control.

. You must install four tires that are

of the same size, circumferences,

construction, manufacturer,

brand (tread pattern), degree of

wear, speed symbol and load

index. Mixing tires of other sizes,

circumferences or constructions

may result in severe mechanical

damage to the drive train of your

vehicle and may affect ride,

handling, braking and speed-

ometer/odometer calibration. It

also may be dangerous and lead

to loss of vehicle control.

CAUTION

If you use a temporary spare tire to

replace a flat tire, be sure to use the

original temporary spare tire stored

in the vehicle. Using other sizes may

result in severe mechanical damage

to the drive train of your vehicle.

All-Wheel Drive distributes the engine

power to all four wheels. AWD models

provide better traction when driving on

slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and

when moving out of mud, dirt or sand. By

shifting power between the front and rear

wheels, SUBARU AWD can also provide

added traction during acceleration, and

added engine braking force during decel-

eration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle

may handle differently than an ordinary

two wheel drive vehicle and it contains

some features unique to AWD. For safety

purposes as well as to avoid damaging

the AWD system, you should keep the

following tips in mind.
. An AWD model is better able to climb

steeper roads under snowy or slippery

conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.

There is little difference in handling,

however, during extremely sharp turns or

sudden braking. Therefore, when driving

down a slope or turning corners, be sure

to reduce your speed and maintain an

ample distance from other vehicles.
. Always check the cold tire pressure

before starting to drive. The recom-

mended tire pressure is provided on the

tire placard, which is located under the

door latch on the driver’s side.
. There are some precautions that you

must observe when towing your vehicle.

For detailed information, refer to “Towing”

F9-14.

Driving tips

8-5

8-6

Driving tips

On-road and off-road driving

WARNING

. In a rollover crash, an unbelted

person is significantly more

likely to die than a person wear-

ing a seatbelt. You the driver and

all your passengers should fas-

ten the seatbelts before starting

to drive in order to minimize the

chance of serious injury or death.

. Do not make sharp turns and

quick maneuvers unless abso-

lutely unavoidable. Such actions

are dangerous as you may lose

control, possibly resulting in a

rollover which could cause death

or serious injury.

. Always maintain a safe driving

speed according to the road and

weather conditions in order to

avoid having an accident on a

sharp turn, during sudden brak-

ing or under other similar condi-

tions.

. Whenever strong crosswinds are

present, slow down sufficiently

to maintain control of your vehi-

cle. Remember that your vehicle,

with its higher profile and center

of gravity, is more likely to be

affected by crosswinds than or-

dinary passenger cars.

. Always use the utmost care in

driving – overconfidence be-

cause you are driving an All-

Wheel Drive model could easily

lead to a serious accident.

Your vehicle is classified as a utility

vehicle. Utility vehicles feature a higher

ground clearance which enables them to

be used for wide applications including off-

road driving. But please keep in mind that

your vehicle is neither a conventional off-

road vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. A

higher center of gravity in relation to the

tread width as compared with ordinary

passenger cars makes vehicles of this

type more likely to roll over. In reality, utility

vehicles have a significantly higher roll-

over rate than other types of vehicles. The

high ground clearance of this vehicle is a

real advantage, giving you a better view of

the road and allowing you to anticipate

problems earlier. However, remember that

your utility vehicle is not designed for high-

speed cornering comparable to ordinary

passenger cars and that your vehicle

could roll over if you make a sharp turn

at high speed. If you do take your

SUBARU off-road, certain common sense

precautions such as those in the following

list should be taken.
. Make certain that you and all of your

passengers are wearing seatbelts.
. Carry some emergency equipment,

such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,

wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or

citizens band radio.
. Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-

sary risks by driving in dangerous areas or

over rough terrain.
. Slow down and employ extra caution at

all times. When driving off-road, you will

not have the benefit of marked traffic

lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and

the like.
. Do not drive across steep slopes.

Instead, drive either straight up or straight

down the slopes. A vehicle can much

more easily tip over sideways than it can

end over end. Avoid driving straight up or

down slopes that are too steep.
. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-

cially at higher speeds.
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the

steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk the

wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive

with your fingers and thumbs on the

outside of the rim.
. If driving through water, such as when

crossing shallow streams, first check the

depth of the water and the bottom of the

stream bed for firmness and ensure that

the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly

and completely through the stream. The

water should be shallow enough that it

does not reach the vehicle’s undercar-

riage. Water entering the engine air intake

or the exhaust pipe or water splashing

onto electrical parts may damage your

vehicle and may cause it to stall. Never

attempt to drive through rushing water;

regardless of its depth, it can wash away

the ground from under your tires, resulting

in possible loss of traction and even

vehicle rollover.
. Always check your brakes for effec-

tiveness immediately after driving in sand,

mud or water. Do this by driving slowly

and stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat

that process several times to dry out the

brake discs and brake pads.
. Do not drive or park over or near

flammable materials such as dry grass or

fallen leaves, as they may burn easily. The

exhaust system is very hot while the

engine is running and right after engine

stops. This could create a fire hazard.
. After driving through tall grass, mud,

rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there

is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones,

sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the

underbody. Clear off any such matter from

the underbody. If the vehicle is used with

these materials trapped or adhering to the

underbody, a mechanical breakdown or

fire could occur.
. Secure all cargo carried inside the

vehicle and make certain that it is not

piled higher than the seatbacks. During

sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo

could be thrown around in the vehicle and

cause injury. Do not pile heavy loads on

the roof. Those loads raise the vehicle’s

center of gravity and make it more prone

to tip over.
. If you must rock the vehicle to free it

from sand or mud, depress the accelerator

pedal slightly and move the select lever

back and forth between “D” and “R”

repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For

the best possible traction, avoid spinning

the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
. When the road surface is extremely

slippery, you can obtain better traction by

starting the vehicle with the transmission

in 2nd than 1st.
. Never equip your vehicle with tires

larger than those specified in this manual.
. Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-

road driving. Suspension components are

particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they

need to be washed thoroughly.
. Frequent driving of an AWD model

under hard-driving conditions such as

rough roads or off roads will necessitate

more frequent replacement of engine oil,

brake fluid and transmission oil than that

specified in the maintenance schedule

described in the “Warranty and Mainte-

nance Booklet”.

Remember that damage done to your

SUBARU while operating it off-road and

not using common sense precautions

such as those listed above is not eligible

for warranty coverage.

Driving tips

8-7

8-8

Driving tips

Winter driving

& Operation during cold

weather

Carry some emergency equipment, such

as a window scraper, a bag of sand,

flares, a small shovel and jumper cables.

Check the battery and cables. Cold

temperatures reduce battery capacity.

The battery must be in good condition to

provide enough power for cold winter

starts.

Use an engine oil of proper grade and

viscosity for cold weather. Heavy summer

oil will cause harder starting.

Keep the door locks from freezing by

squirting them with deicer or glycerin.

Forcing a frozen door open may damage

or separate the rubber weather strips

around the door. If the door is frozen,

use hot water to melt the ice, and after-

wards thoroughly wipe the water away.

Use a windshield washer fluid that con-

tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use

engine antifreeze or other substitutes

because they may damage the paint of

the vehicle.
SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-

tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%

surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-

perature varies according to how much it

is diluted, as indicated in the following

table.

Washer Fluid Con-

centration

Freezing Temperature

30%

10.48F (−128C)

50%

−48F (−208C)

100%

−498F (−458C)

In order to prevent freezing of washer

fluid, check the freezing temperatures in

the table above when adjusting the fluid

concentration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with

a different concentration from the one

used previously, purge the old fluid from

the piping between the reservoir tank and

washer nozzles by operating the washer

for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if

the concentration of the fluid remaining in

the piping is too low for the outside

temperature, it may freeze and block the

nozzles.

CAUTION

. Adjust the washer fluid concen-

tration appropriately for the out-

side temperature. If the concen-

tration is inappropriate, sprayed

washer fluid may freeze on the

windshield and obstruct your

view, and the fluid may freeze in

the reservoir tank.

. State or local regulations on

volatile organic compounds may

restrict the use of methanol, a

common windshield washer anti-

freeze additive. Washer fluids

containing non-methanol anti-

freeze agents should be used

only if they provide cold weather

protection without damaging

your vehicle’s paint, wiper blades

or washer system.

! Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove any

snow or ice from your shoes because that

could make the pedals slippery and

driving dangerous.

While warming up the vehicle before

driving, check that the accelerator pedal,

brake pedal, and all other controls operate

smoothly.

Clear away ice and snow that has

accumulated under the fenders to avoid

making steering difficult. During severe

winter driving, stop when and where it is

safe to do so and check under the fenders

periodically.

! Parking in cold weather

WARNING

Snow can trap dangerous exhaust

gases under your vehicle. Keep

snow clear of the exhaust pipe and

from around your vehicle if you park

the vehicle in snow with the engine

running.

Do not use the parking brake when

parking for long periods in cold weather

since it could freeze in that position.

Instead, you should observe the following

tips.
1. Place the select lever in “P” position.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to

prevent the vehicle from moving.

When the vehicle is parked in snow or

when it snows, raise the wiper blades off

the glass to prevent damage to them.

When the vehicle has been left parked

after use on roads heavily covered with

snow, or has been left parked during a

snowstorm, icing may develop on the

brake system, which could cause poor

braking action. Check for snow or ice

buildup on the suspension, disc brakes

and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.

If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,

being careful not to damage the disc

brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-

ness.

! Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in

the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,

use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel

tank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specifically

designed for this purpose. When an

antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts

longer if the tank is refilled whenever the

fuel level reaches half empty.

If your SUBARU is not going to be used

for an extended period, it is best to have

the fuel tank filled to capacity.

& Driving on snowy and icy

roads

WARNING

Do not use the cruise control on

slippery roads such as snowy or icy

roads. This may cause loss of

vehicle control.

CAUTION

Avoid prolonged continuous driving

in snowstorms. Snow will enter the

engine’s intake system and may

hinder the airflow, which could re-

sult in engine shutdown or even

breakdown.

To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid

sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-

speed driving, and sharp turning when

driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between

your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you

to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the

engine brake effectively to control the

vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear

when necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-

Driving tips

8-9

– CONTINUED –

8-10

Driving tips

vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly

leading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-

hances your vehicle’s braking perfor-

mance on snowy and icy roads. For

information about braking on slippery

surfaces, refer to “ABS (Anti-lock Brake

System)” F7-20 and “Vehicle Dynamics

Control system” F7-23.

! Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure

the wiper blades are not frozen to the

windshield or rear window. If the wiper

blades are frozen to the windshield or rear

window, use the defroster with the airflow

control button in the “

” position and the

temperature control dial set for maximum

warmth until the wiper blades are com-

pletely thawed out. The wiper deicer is

helpful to thaw the windshield wiper

blades. To thaw out the rear wiper blade,

use the rear window defogger.

When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts

to stick on the surface of the windshield

despite wiper operation, use the defroster

with the airflow control button in “

” and

the temperature control dial set for max-

imum warmth. After the windshield gets

warmed enough to melt the frozen snow

on it, wash it away using the windshield

washer.

Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the

wiper from working effectively. If snow is

stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to

a safe place, then remove it. If you stop

the vehicle at road side, use the hazard

warning flasher to alert other drivers.

We recommend use of non-freezing type

wiper blades (winter blades) during the

seasons in which you could have snow

and freezing temperatures. Blades of this

type give superior wiping performance in

snowy conditions. Be sure to use blades

that are suitable for your vehicle.

CAUTION

During high-speed driving, non-

freezing type wiper blades may not

perform as well as standard wiper

blades. If this happens, reduce the

vehicle speed.

NOTE

When the season requiring non-freez-

ing type wiper blades is over, replace

them with standard wiper blades.

& Corrosion protection

Refer to “Corrosion protection” F10-4.

& Snow tires

WARNING

. When replacing original tires with

winter (snow) tires, make sure

you use only tires of the same

size, circumference, speed sym-

bol and load index as the original

tires listed on the tire placard.

Using tires of other sizes or

constructions may affect speed-

ometer/odometer calibration and

clearance between the body and

tires. It also may be dangerous

and lead to loss of vehicle con-

trol.

. You must install four winter tires

that are of the same size, circum-

ferences, construction, manufac-

turer, brand (tread pattern), de-

gree of wear, speed symbol and

load index. Mixing tires of other

sizes, circumferences or con-

structions may result in severe

mechanical damage to the drive

train of your vehicle and may

affect ride, handling, braking and

speedometer/odometer calibra-

tion. It also may be dangerous

and lead to loss of vehicle con-

trol.

. Do not use a combination of

radial, belted bias or bias tires

since it may cause dangerous

handling characteristics and lead

to an accident.

Your vehicle is equipped with “all season

tires” which are designed to provide an

adequate measure of traction, handling

and braking performance in year-round

driving. In winter, it may be possible to

enhance performance through use of tires

designed specifically for winter driving

conditions.
If you choose to install winter tires on your

vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire size

and type. You must install four winter tires

that are of the same size, construction,

brand and load range and you should

never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires

since this may result in dangerous hand-

ling characteristics. When you choose a

tire, make sure that there is enough

clearance between the tire and vehicle

body.

Remember to drive with care at all times

regardless of the type of tires on your

vehicle.

Your vehicle comes with P255/55R18
“all season tires” as original equip-

ment. You should be aware that some

winter tires with that same size desig-

nation may actually be too large for the

vehicle and may cause rubbing on

sharp turns. Listed in the following is

the winter tire size that we recommend.

Recommended winter (snow) tire size

P255/55R18 stud less

& Tire chains

CAUTION

Tire chains cannot be used on your

vehicle because of the lack of

clearance between the tires and

vehicle body.

& Rocking the vehicle

If you must rock the vehicle to free it from

snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-

erator pedal slightly and move the select

lever back and forth between “D” and “R”

repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For

the best possible traction, avoid spinning

the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.

When the road surface is extremely

slippery, you can obtain better traction by

starting the vehicle with the transmission

in 2nd than 1st.

For information about holding the trans-

mission in the 2nd position, refer to
“Selection of manual mode” F7-16 and
“Driving tips” F7-17.

Driving tips

8-11

8-12

Driving tips

Loading your vehicle

WARNING

Never allow passengers to ride on a

folded rear seatback or in the cargo

area. Doing so may result in serious

injury.

WARNING

. Never stack luggage or other

cargo higher than the top of the

seatback because it could tumble

forward and injure passengers in

the event of a sudden stop or

accident. Keep luggage or cargo

low, as close to the floor as

possible.

. When you carry something inside

the vehicle, secure it whenever

you can to prevent it from being

thrown around inside the vehicle

during sudden stops, sharp turns

or in an accident.

. Do not pile heavy loads on the

roof. These loads raise the vehi-

cle’s center of gravity and make it

more prone to tip over.

. Secure lengthy items properly to

prevent them from shooting for-

ward and causing serious injury

during a sudden stop.

. Never exceed the maximum load

limit. If you do, some parts on

your vehicle can break, or it can

change the way your vehicle

handles. This could result in loss

of control and cause personal

injury. Also, overloading can

shorten the life of your vehicle.

. Do not place anything on the

extended luggage cover. Such

items could tumble forward in

the event of a sudden stop or a

collision. This could cause ser-

ious injury.

CAUTION

Do not carry spray cans, containers

with flammable or corrosive liquids

or any other dangerous items inside

the vehicle.

NOTE

For better fuel economy, do not carry

unneeded cargo.

& Vehicle capacity weight

The load capacity of your vehicle is

determined by weight, not by available

cargo space. The maximum load you can

carry in your vehicle is shown on the

vehicle placard attached to the driver’s

side door pillar. It includes the total weight

of the driver and all passengers and their

belongings, any optional equipment such

as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,

etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.

& GVWR and GAWR (Gross

Vehicle Weight Rating and

Gross Axle Weight Rating)

Certification label

The certification label attached to the

driver’s side door shows GVWR (Gross

Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR (Gross

Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must

never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the

combined total of weight of the vehicle,

fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage, any

optional equipment and trailer tongue

load. Therefore, the GVW changes de-

pending on the situation.

In addition, the total weight applied to

each axle (GAW) must never exceed the

GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be

adjusted by relocating luggage inside the

vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is

lower than the vehicle capacity weight,

either front or rear GAW may exceed the

GAWR, depending on the distribution of

the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly

distributed throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you

should confirm that GVW and front and

rear GAWs are within the GVWR and

GAWR by putting your vehicle on a

vehicle scale, found at a commercial

weighing station.

Do not use replacement tires with a lower

load range than the originals because they

may lower the GVWR and GAWR limita-

tions. Replacement tires with a higher load

range than the originals do not increase

the GVWR and GAWR limitations.

Driving tips

8-13

– CONTINUED –

8-14

Driving tips

& Roof rails and crossbar (if

equipped)

Roof rails

Crossbar kit

CAUTION

. For cargo carrying purposes, the

roof rail must be used together

with a roof crossbar kit and the

appropriate carrying attachment.

The roof rail must never be used

alone to carry cargo. Otherwise,

damage to the roof or paint or a

dangerous road hazard due to

loss of cargo could result.

. When using the roof crossbar kit,

make sure that the total weight of

the crossbars, carrying attach-

ments and cargo does not ex-

ceed the maximum load limit.

Overloading may cause damage

to the vehicle and create a safety

hazard.

The roof rails are not designed to carry

cargo by themselves. Cargo can be

carried after securing the roof crossbar

kit to the roof rail and installing the

appropriate carrying attachment. When

installing the roof crossbar kit, follow the

manufacturer’s instructions.
When you carry cargo on the roof using

the roof crossbar kit and a carrying

attachment, never exceed the maximum

load limit as explained below. You should

also be careful that your vehicle does not

exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

(GVWR) and front and rear Gross Axle

Weight Rating (GAWR). For information

on loading cargo into or onto your vehicle,

refer to “Loading your vehicle” F8-12. The

maximum load limit of the cargo, cross-

bars and carrying attachments must not

exceed 150 lbs (68 kg). Place the

heaviest load at the bottom, nearest the

roof, and evenly distribute the cargo.

Always properly secure all cargo.

! Installing carrying attachments on

the crossbars

When installing any carrying attachments

such as a bike carrier, ski carrier, kayak

carrier, cargo basket, etc. on the cross-

bars, follow the manufacturer’s instruc-

tions and make sure that the attachments

are securely fixed to the crossbars. Use

only attachments designed specifically for

the crossbars. The maximum load limit of

the cargo, crossbars and carrying attach-

ments must not exceed 150 lbs (68 kg).

Before operating the vehicle, make sure

that the cargo is properly secured on the

attachments.

NOTE

Remember that the vehicle’s center of

gravity is altered with the weight of the

load on the roof, thus affecting the

driving characteristics.
Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, hard

cornering and abrupt stops. Crosswind

effects will be increased.

! Removal and installation of the

crossbars

The crossbars can be removed when you

do not use the roof to carry cargo.

! To remove the crossbar

1. Loosen and remove the T-30 torx

head screw from the top of each crossbar

end support.
Loosen the lower clamps.

2. Carefully raise the crossbar from roof

rails.

! To install the crossbar

Front crossbar:
Front crossbar has a 150 lbs (68 kg) load

label on left-hand side.

T-25 torx

head screw

1. Make sure that the T-25 torx

head

screw on the back of each crossbar end

support is tightened correctly.
2. Before placing the crossbar on the roof

rails, make sure that the T-30 torx

head

screw is removed from the top of each

crossbar end support.

3. The crossbar with a 150 lbs (68 kg)

load label attached onto it is the front

crossbar. An arrow is marked on the back

of the front crossbar for correct installa-

tion. Install the front crossbar so that the

arrow faces the front of the vehicle.

Driving tips

8-15

– CONTINUED –

8-16

Driving tips

6 in (150 mm)

4. Install the front crossbar so that the

crossbar end supports are located ap-

proximately 6 in (150 mm) rearward from

the joints between the roof rails and the

front roof rail supports.

Lower clamp

T-30 torx

head screw

5. Tighten the lower clamps onto the

crossbar. Using a torque wrench, loosely

tighten the T-30 torx

head screws.

NOTE

It may be necessary to squeeze the

lower clamp and the end support

together to compress the pads and

gain a better alignment of the pieces

while trying to start the screw. Use care

not to cross-thread the screw in the

insert.

6. Adjust the alignment of the crossbar

on the roof rails, and if available, use a T-

30 torx

bit and torque wrench and tighten

the T-30 torx

head screws to 30 to 35

lbf·in (3.4 to 4.0 N·m, 0.35 to 0.41 kgf·m) of

torque (or tighten securely with the torx

wrench provided).

Subaru Tribeca (2014 year). Instruction - part 18