Subaru Outback as tow vehicle - sorry for double post

You should look at livin lite. They make various options with hitch weight of less tan 175 lbs. Well built, all metal. Ours is a 21 ft flagship of the line and full size, with hitch weight under 400 lbs. good luck. Our half ton truck loves it.

Subys are great cars. 2 in the family, growing to 3.

So then.. .I also have an Outback and am looking for a small RV to accommodate 2 adults and 3 small dogs for months at a time... anyone have any suggestions?

rjstractor wrote:


The weight is constant, what changes is that a longer tongue transfers more weight onto the axle of the trailer. Think wheelbarrow. That's why one guy can put 300 pounds in a wheelbarrow and lift the handles easily from the ends. If he were to cut 18" off the handles and then try to lift them it would be much more difficult.

Precisely. The handles of the wheelbarrow are like the tongue of the trailer. Same weight in the bucket, but less load on the human hand (trailer hitch ball) with a longer handle (tongue).

popupcamping wrote:
Yes of course but the weight never changes. It doesn't magically go away.

Weight is constant whether you lengthen the pole or shorten it.

The weight is constant, what changes is that a longer tongue transfers more weight onto the axle of the trailer. Think wheelbarrow. That's why one guy can put 300 pounds in a wheelbarrow and lift the handles easily from the ends. If he were to cut 18" off the handles and then try to lift them it would be much more difficult.

rvtrailerpuller wrote:

popupcamping wrote:

Without moving the axle forward, I do not understand how lengthening the pole would reduce TW. Adding pole will only add TW

Think about it a little longer. Remember Archimedes? This involves lever arm and fulcrum. Yes, a longer trailer tongue length effectively reduces the force applied downward at the hitch ball, all other things being held constant.

Would you rather pull a nail with a very short crowbar, or a long crowbar? The nail will come out much easier with the long crowbar.

Yes of course but the weight never changes. It doesn't magically go away.

Weight is constant whether you lengthen the pole or shorten it.

rvtrailerpuller wrote:
Someone mentioned that with a maximum hitch weight of 200lbs, this would be more of a determining factor than the 2,700 lb tow rating.
I'm sure boaters do this more than RV people, but how about a longer tongue on a trailer to effectively reduce the tongue weight? Some boat trailers are modified with swing away tongues which increase the tongue length. This effectively decreases the weight on the hitch of the tow vehicle. Just a thought.
Keep in mind, my main tow vehicle is my diesel truck. This Outback idea is more as a second choice tow vehicle for a small A-frame trailer (yet to be purchased). My primary tow vehicle will always be my truck.

Tongue weight limitation is a function of the hitch platform. Subaru factory hitches available in the US are limited to class I, and thus have the 200 pound tongue weight rating. It is easy to buy class II hitches that go up to 350 pounds aftermarket, and any welder can make a class III hitch for one that can handle weight distribution if needed.

popupcamping wrote:

Without moving the axle forward, I do not understand how lengthening the pole would reduce TW. Adding pole will only add TW

Think about it a little longer. Remember Archimedes? This involves lever arm and fulcrum. Yes, a longer trailer tongue length effectively reduces the force applied downward at the hitch ball, all other things being held constant.

Would you rather pull a nail with a very short crowbar, or a long crowbar? The nail will come out much easier with the long crowbar.

rvtrailerpuller wrote:
Someone mentioned that with a maximum hitch weight of 200lbs, this would be more of a determining factor than the 2,700 lb tow rating.
I'm sure boaters do this more than RV people, but how about a longer tongue on a trailer to effectively reduce the tongue weight? Some boat trailers are modified with swing away tongues which increase the tongue length. This effectively decreases the weight on the hitch of the tow vehicle. Just a thought.
Keep in mind, my main tow vehicle is my diesel truck. This Outback idea is more as a second choice tow vehicle for a small A-frame trailer (yet to be purchased). My primary tow vehicle will always be my truck.

Without moving the axle forward, I do not understand how lengthening the pole would reduce TW. Adding pole will only add TW

Someone mentioned that with a maximum hitch weight of 200lbs, this would be more of a determining factor than the 2,700 lb tow rating.
I'm sure boaters do this more than RV people, but how about a longer tongue on a trailer to effectively reduce the tongue weight? Some boat trailers are modified with swing away tongues which increase the tongue length. This effectively decreases the weight on the hitch of the tow vehicle. Just a thought.
Keep in mind, my main tow vehicle is my diesel truck. This Outback idea is more as a second choice tow vehicle for a small A-frame trailer (yet to be purchased). My primary tow vehicle will always be my truck.

rvtrailerpuller wrote:
how much trailer can the Subaru Outback handle?

What Can I Tow?

This should help you decide.