Anybody tow with a Subaru Outback?

[Anonymous]

I've decided to throw the towel in on my Chevy Blazer. I am pretty focused on wanting an Outback 2000-2001 ish.
I owned one previously and thought pretty well of it.
My question is does anybody out there tow there boat with this car? All boats being different of course..... I have a 14' Lund Aluminum , with an EZ-loader Alum. trailer. That is not a very heavy boat by any means, and I think that it would be fine, plus I think the AWD. would be nice getting in and out of launches. But if anybody has been down this road, please let me know. The towing capacity is rated for 1000 lbs for an unbreaked trailer, which is what I have. I am pretty sure that I am within those numbers.

[dilbert]

Ask 2000Subaru... he towed with a...2000Subaru outback wagon. Before it got totaled by the launch. Seemed to work fine as long as you don't drive it into a bollard.

Why does everyone change their names?

[Toni]

Outback
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005: 2.5i, XT 2700 pounds,
6 cylinder LLBean, VDC, 3.0R 3000 pounds
2004, 2003: Outback 4 cyl and all sedans 2000#, 6cylinder wagons 2400lbs
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 Outbacks: 2000lbs

It says you can tow upto 2000 pounds

[The Quadfather]

Ask 2000Subaru... he towed with a...200Subaru outback wagon. Before it got totaled by the launch. Seemed to work fine as long as you don't drive it into a bollard.

Oh yeah!! How could I forget. That whole bollard quote was hillarious (the quote from the city...not what happened to his car)
Thanks for the tip.

[The Quadfather]

Outback
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005: 2.5i, XT 2700 pounds,
6 cylinder LLBean, VDC, 3.0R 3000 pounds
2004, 2003: Outback 4 cyl and all sedans 2000#, 6cylinder wagons 2400lbs
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 Outbacks: 2000lbs

It says you can tow upto 2000 pounds

If you trailer is of the type without it's own breaks then those figures are cut in half.

[2000subaru]

Ask 2000Subaru... he towed with a...2000Subaru outback wagon. Before it got totaled by the launch. Seemed to work fine as long as you don't drive it into a bollard.

Why does everyone change their names?

WLWPP = Washington Lakes Witness Protection Program

Us guys names Chris have things to hide from!

[Bodofish]

IMHO to tow safely your tow rig should be able to stop the trailer with it's own brakes. The other criteria is weight. Tow rig should weigh close to double what you're towing.

It's not the towing, it's the stopping.

[Rollin with Rolland]

The story about 2000subaru sounds funny, just one thing.....what's a bollard??

[dilbert]

The story about 2000subaru sounds funny, just one thing.....what's a bollard??

see 5th post for photos
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... e-517.aspx

[2000subaru]

A1w1p1raBrc

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

The story about 2000subaru sounds funny, just one thing.....what's a bollard??

A bollard is a big sneaky thing created by auto repair centers. It increases their revenues. 2ksubaru zigged when he should have zagged and got bollardized.

[The Quadfather]

I think it's not going to be a problem.. My boat is quite a bit lighter than i thought, weighing in at 260 lbs. Including trailer and other stuff, I'm well within the limits.

[dilbert]

You could tow that with a Geo Metro.

[Rollin with Rolland]

Sorry 2000suby....way to funny!! What the heck.....they have impenetrable posts around boat launches if you don't pay the fee??? WOW....that's hardcore. That looks like some compensation to me.....


Wait quad....your boat only weighs 260?? that must be without the motor and trailer? I'm no expert, but I would say your rig weighs around 150 (motor)....260 (boat only)....plus around 300lbs trailer. Add some gear and fuel and you should be close to 1000lbs (being conservative). Still, plenty of room to spare (towing) with a Subaru wagon IMO. NO PROBLEM!!

[Bodofish]

At 1k the Suby should be just fine. My custom Weld is about 3700 pounds. I had a mits montero that weighed 4200 rolling. I had to step on the brakes in down town Snohomish and the boat just pushed me like I wasn't even there for almost a block. That was only going 25 mph. When the road was wet the monty didn't weigh enough to acuate the trailer brakes. That was the last time I towed with it. Got a suburban now. No problems with towing.

For anyone towing, you can tow with darn near anything, it's all in the stopping.

[The Quadfather]

Sorry 2000suby....way to funny!! What the heck.....they have impenetrable posts around boat launches if you don't pay the fee??? WOW....that's hardcore. That looks like some compensation to me.....


Wait quad....your boat only weighs 260?? that must be without the motor and trailer? I'm no expert, but I would say your rig weighs around 150 (motor)....260 (boat only)....plus around 300lbs trailer. Add some gear and fuel and you should be close to 1000lbs (being conservative). Still, plenty of room to spare (towing) with a Subaru wagon IMO. NO PROBLEM!!

Rollin/Rolland, yes, that is 260 lbs boat only, motor 175, of course I'm looking at trailer and gear also. I'm totaly comfortable with things not that i found it's that light. I guess i'm just a wus that i couldn't lift the stern, LOL.

[mallard83]

Like everyone has said it is all about stopping! I drive trucks for a living and I can pull just about anything I want to it just comes down to how much weight can I safely stop. Brakes...Brakes...Brakes...Compression...Compression...Compression...Distance...Distance...Distance... all are things to keep in mind while towing.

It does sound like you are within the vehicles capability of towing your boat. I don't know if you would ever consider getting a bigger boat. If so and in the not so distant future I would consider getting something a bit larger though.

Subaru + towing = ??? Not a great tow rig but if the load is light and you need a nice reliable vehicle with decent gas mileage and is family friendly than this is a good choice.

[hewesfisher]

IMHO to tow safely your tow rig should be able to stop the trailer with it's own brakes. The other criteria is weight. Tow rig should weigh close to double what you're towing.

It's not the towing, it's the stopping.

I agree with this, wholeheartedly, but what about those of us, and there's a lot of us, with single axle, non-brake equipped boat trailers?

I tow a 16' Hewescraft Sportsman with an '04 Ford Ranger 4x4 (3700lbs curb weight) equippped with the factory tow package rated for max towing capacity of 5560lbs. My boat has a dry weight of 950lbs, motors weigh ~360lbs, trailer weighs 460lbs, 150lbs fuel (24gals) come in at just over 1900lbs. With gear and goodies I estimate my rolling weight to be about 2200 - 2500lbs. That's less than half the rated tow capacity of my tow vehicle which I think is a good rule of thumb when towing trailers not equipped with brakes.

It would be nice to have trailer brakes, and I checked into adding them, but my EZ Loader trailer cannot be modified to add them unless I replace the axles - $$$$. Cheaper to buy another trailer.

[sickbayer]

I must admit. I have a dodge dakota 04 v8 can tow 5700lbs. However it sucked pulling my 19.5 thunderjet. which according to TJ is 3500 add 50 gallons of gas and the trailer i am about 48 or 4900. Stopping was terrible and up hills was like someone pulling hte tranny out. so i upped to a F150 which is 11000 towing and i dont even know it is there. My buddy has a Northriver which weighs 6700 with trailer and he had the same problem with his f150 as i was having with my dodge. His solution buy a chevy v8 diesel 2500. so my 2cents is to double up and be safe with pulling and stopping. Personally i like the expedtion same rating as a F150 but carry all the kids.

[fishndude]

Hey Quad, so hows the Outback + Lund setup going? I own a 2002 Outback Wagon 2.5 Liter and I'm looking into purchasing a 12' alum with trailer. Just wanted to see if you're having any problems with that setup. Thanks!