2013 Subaru Crosstrek battery dies when towed
I replaced a 2004 Saturn Ion as a toad with a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. When I started towing the Saturn I had the same problem and quickly found that I could avoid it by pulling a particular fuse. What ...
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miller, we tow a 2013 Subi Crosstrek, and have almost 10,000 towing miles on it without any problems at all.
The proper and only way to tow a STICK SHIFT Subi 4 down, is...
Ignition to the FIRST position. This unlocks the steering but does not turn on any electronics. If any dash lights come on, you've turned it too far.
Tranny in neutral.
Emergency brake off.
Thats it, no fuses to pull, nothing except to hook up whatever aux brake system you use.
You do need to hook up some type of towed battery charger. I have the RVi brake system along with their Towed Vehicle Battery Charger.
The reason you need a charger is simple. Even though your ignition switch is off, the brake lights will come on everytime you hit the brake in your motor home. That causes your aux brake system to hit the towed veh brake, which activates your Subi's brake light. Over a long day of driving, hitting your brakes numerous times, will slowly drain your Subi's battery. Maybe not a complete drain, but enough to make it hard to start. And, constantly draining the battery day to day is not good for it.
A battery charger like RVi's system will keep your Subi'e battery charged while you drive. Simple system, but needed.
Grumpy
The proper and only way to tow a STICK SHIFT Subi 4 down, is...
Ignition to the FIRST position. This unlocks the steering but does not turn on any electronics. If any dash lights come on, you've turned it too far.
Tranny in neutral.
Emergency brake off.
Thats it, no fuses to pull, nothing except to hook up whatever aux brake system you use.
You do need to hook up some type of towed battery charger. I have the RVi brake system along with their Towed Vehicle Battery Charger.
The reason you need a charger is simple. Even though your ignition switch is off, the brake lights will come on everytime you hit the brake in your motor home. That causes your aux brake system to hit the towed veh brake, which activates your Subi's brake light. Over a long day of driving, hitting your brakes numerous times, will slowly drain your Subi's battery. Maybe not a complete drain, but enough to make it hard to start. And, constantly draining the battery day to day is not good for it.
A battery charger like RVi's system will keep your Subi'e battery charged while you drive. Simple system, but needed.
Grumpy
