subaru outback as tow vehicles

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subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby ibbowhunting » Thu Aug 04, 2016 6:15 pm

just put a down payment on a 2017 outback with a 2.5l I know some of you tow with them how well does it tow?, how heavy is your trailer? did you do any thing other then add a hitch? how much does it bring your mileage down?
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Shadow Catcher » Thu Aug 04, 2016 6:31 pm

Ours is a 3.6L and towing our tear which is a 6X10 drops MPG by about 8MPG. we are at about 1800#. Now the warning, I am in dispute with SOA, they refuse to honor the extended warranty that I purchased and the transmission torque failed, they have denied coverage because I have a class three hitch, (I wanted a 2" receiver), transmission cooler and brake controller and the car rated to tow 3000#. Never mind the manual calls for brakes over 1000# and warns about long up hill climbs. Needless to say I am going after them under the Moss Magnuson Act under which after market parts are acceptable and for them to void warranty they must prove that they caused the failure.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby DrewsBrews » Fri Aug 05, 2016 7:46 am

From what I'm hearing pretty much all the new Subaru autos are going CVT. I'm weary of those things. The design is in constant friction.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby ParTaxer » Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:44 am

I have a Ford with the CVT transmission I have 150,000 miles on it with no problem whatsoever I am towing teardrop with approximately weight of 1400 pounds

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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Pixie Susan » Fri Aug 05, 2016 1:34 pm

I really wanted an Outback 3.6L to be my next vehicle. Then I started looking at buying a 16-17ft fiberglass TT (Casita) and the Outback's low tongue weight ruined my Subaru plans.


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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Shadow Catcher » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:05 pm

PS I know the low tongue weight is a problem but the addition of a couple of rally springs with a two inch lift takes care of it.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby yrock87 » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:07 pm

I have a 2015 (first year of the current model) with the 2.5 and the factory tow equipment (just a CL II reciver and 4 way plug I believe) and I towed a 2400 lb cargo trailer from Fairbanks, AK to Seattle Wa. Lots of grade on that trip going through the Rockies. and I wasn't being gentle. the car drove great. she could maintain speed (I was traveling about 70 the whole way) on pretty much any hill and I never had an overheating problem. the CVT will "downshift" to give you max RPMs if you need it, and I did on most hills. it sounds like she is getting quite loud and the Tach hitting just below redline looks scarey, but the car was fine with it. I didn't go through excessive oil or anything on that trip. time will tell if I took any life off the engine, but 10,000 miles later and still no issues.

On that trip I only got 16MPG which is a little more than 10 under the 26.5 we usually get. but once again, that was 70mph+ and going over mountains. we made the 2200 miles in under three days.

I recommend the Subi for small trailers. she handles well and I never felt pushed by the trailer nor had excessive bounce, ext. I also balanced the trailer well with about 130lbs of tongue weight
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby ibbowhunting » Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:31 pm

Shadow Catcher wrote:PS I know the low tongue weight is a problem but the addition of a couple of rally springs with a two inch lift takes care of it.


so where did you buy the rally springs and the lift? is the lift a ADF, I really would like to put a lift in my new rig but didn't want to give them any reason to hassle me on a warranty issues
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Pleiades » Sat Aug 06, 2016 4:51 pm

I have two Subarus, Bought 12x6 cargo trailer for conversion. Just decided to go ahead and buy a truck to pull it with. Not saying they wouldn't just to be safe.
Better to bring it and not need it...that whole thing.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Shadow Catcher » Sat Aug 06, 2016 9:36 pm

The springs come from http://get-primitive.com/9-suspension-lift-kits They might use it as an excuse but as I said I will be going after them on the Moss Magunsion act.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby vincigj » Sun Aug 07, 2016 7:16 pm

2015 4cyl outback. 1000#s trailer. factory hitch, 4pin wiring. 24 mph. Down from normal highway of 30+. No problems.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby ai4kk » Mon Aug 15, 2016 3:50 am

I used to tow my microlite Wazat all over with my older Outback...it barely knew it was there and could easily tow at 80 in 5th gear.
Looking at current specs, it lists a towing capacity of 2,700-3,000 lbs in America and 1,500-1,800 kgs (3,300 lbs - 3,960 lbs) with brakes and 750 kg (1,650 lbs) without brakes in Australia depending on engine. I can't imagine it having any trouble towing the average teardrop or even a cargo trailer up to those stated maximums.
Can-Am RV Center in Ontario ( http://www.canamrv.ca/ ) used to have several pages up about the advantages of towing with cars over trucks...better handling, lower center of gravity, better braking etc. I'll see if I can find their write-ups
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby Specktre » Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:28 am

I have an Outback 2013 with the 2.5L / CVT.
It two well our teardrop (2000lbs). Yes it can be nive to have the 3.6l but it is ok. No problem at all with the CVT and I've done over 10 000km of towing with it.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby yrock87 » Wed Nov 30, 2016 5:41 pm

I know this was a while ago, but I just finished a nearly 2000 mile round trip to San Francisco and back. My 2015 2.5 towed my home built (800-900lbs) tear like a dream. I barely knew it was back there. I took it easy on the way down, taking the costal highway and meandered through the redwoods. never got above 75 and was going 60-70 most of the trip. on the way back we took I5 and battled traffic heading home from the thanksgiving weekend. there was no cruise control used during the multiple mountain passes in traffic through southern Oregon and I was going 60-80 depending on traffic.

I got 19.9mpg for the whole trip. didn't go through any oil. The tear is about 4 inches taller than the outback, and I suspect that the air resistance from this higher profile was the major millage impactor opposed to weight.
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Re: subaru outback as tow vehicles

Postby ParTaxer » Thu Dec 01, 2016 10:36 am

I just recently purchased a 2017 Outback. My trailer weighs approx. 1300-1400 lbs. I had no problems as long as I knew there was a trailer behind me.
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