The Subaru Outback is one of the most popular overland and camping crossovers on the road, but it does not carry a full-size external spare from the factory. If you are building one out for backcountry travel, here is where the spare actually lives, why so many owners move to a full-size external spare, the carrier options, and how to protect that spare once it is out in the weather.
Where is the Outback's spare tire?
Most Subaru Outbacks store a temporary, compact spare under the rear cargo floor, and some newer trims ship with a tire inflator and sealant kit instead of a spare at all. Check your specific model year and trim to see which you have. Either way, that factory setup is built for a quick limp to a tire shop, not for a remote trail hundreds of miles from one.
Why overlanders run a full-size external spare
For real backcountry travel, owners swap to a full-size matching spare, and that changes everything:
- A full-size or larger tire does not fit under the floor. Once you step up to a full-size all-terrain tire, it will not fit in the shallow under-floor well, so it has to go outside.
- You need the cargo area. That rear floor is where a drawer system, a fridge slide, or a sleeping platform goes on a built Outback.
- Trail access and condition. A full-size spare you can reach and inspect beats digging under the cargo floor with the car packed to the roof.
External spare carrier options for an Outback
Because the Outback has no tailgate mount like a Jeep or Bronco, you add a carrier. The common routes owners discuss:
- Hitch-mounted spare tire carrier. The most common path. It bolts into a rear trailer hitch receiver, so you will need a hitch installed first. Check the carrier's weight rating and how it affects rear access.
- Swing-out carrier. A swing-away arm, often paired with a hitch or a rear bumper, that swings clear so you can still open the rear hatch. This is the more built, more expensive route.
- Roof mount. Some owners strap a spare to a roof rack. It works, but it is heavy to lift up there and raises the center of gravity, so most serious builds prefer a rear carrier.
Whichever you choose, mind your departure angle, the hitch or rack weight rating, and rear-hatch access before you buy.
Cover the spare once it is out there
A rear-mounted spare on an Outback takes the same abuse a Jeep's does: full sun, road salt, rain, and trail grime that age the rubber and dull the look of the build. A spare tire cover shields it between trips. Our covers are universal and size-based, so they fit a hitch-mounted or swing-out Outback spare just as well as a Jeep tailgate spare, as long as you match the tire diameter. Measure your spare or use the tire cover size guide to find the size.
Related reading
- How overlanders carry a spare tire: tailgate mounts, hitch carriers, and covers
- Spare tire cover size guide
Frequently asked questions
Does a Subaru Outback come with a spare tire?
Most Outbacks include a temporary, compact spare under the rear cargo floor, though some newer trims come with a tire inflator and sealant kit instead. Check your model year and trim to confirm which you have.
Where is the spare tire on a Subaru Outback?
Under the rear cargo floor, beneath the load area. It is a compact temporary spare on most trims, not a full-size tire.
How do I add a full-size external spare to an Outback?
Owners use an aftermarket hitch-mounted spare tire carrier, which requires a rear trailer hitch, or a swing-out carrier that clears the rear hatch. A roof mount is possible but heavy and raises the center of gravity.
Will a tire cover fit an Outback's external spare?
Yes. Covers are sized by tire diameter, not by vehicle or mount, so the same cover fits a hitch-mounted or swing-out Outback spare. Match the diameter using the size guide.
Running an external spare? Cover it.
Universal, size-based covers fit hitch-mounted and swing-out spares, not just Jeep tailgates.
Shop Spare Tire Covers
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