So what have you found to be the best all around dinghy?

[Blanco1]

I've got a truck camper & also plan on buying the wife a Wagon/SUV?

I'm thinking in about the $5K price range?
& its gotta have room for 4 people a space in the back for our dog, that we will be putting up a divider to keep him from climbing over the seats.
So it must be a Wagon or SUV, I'd like it to be light & if possible 4WD & so that being said I'm thinking an SUV with a transfer case that releases the front drive & is tall enough to allow me to just climb under without lifting it onto jack stands to disconnect & reconnect the rear drive shaft?

The simpler the better.

I'm thinking Explorer or maybe a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

& wonder what you guys think & why?

We are not buying it just as a dinghy but I figure if I'm looking to buy her another car, why not think ahead about this option?
I'd be towing it behind this.

[Blanco1]

Ok, I went & got myself a CR-V

[mowermech]

Many (if not most) of the OLD manual transmissions were the same way. The cluster gear splashes the lube around, and the cluster gear is in constant mesh with the input shaft, so it only turns when the engine is running.
Subaru, however, is a front wheel drive transaxle modified for All Wheel Drive.
I have owned a couple of Outbacks, the wagon and the sedan, and they both said in the book that the manual transmission version was towable four down. NO Subaru can be dolly towed. The automatic transmission models must be put on a trailer.

[beachcomber_1]

Some of the new standard trans missions do not lube the tail shaft bearings unless the mail shaft is turning, meaning that they will burn out the bearings if towed flat.

[tropical36]

Jeep Wrangler's of course for any type of terrain and whether auto or manual, they're good to go and the later models have no steering lock to contend with either. COOLTECH makes a plug and play wiring harness, so no mods with diodes or separate bulb assy's required for the lights. The new JKU's are much more highway friendly these days as well and ours is DW's DD.

[Bobbo]

In 2010, when I bought my current Subaru Forester to tow, the dealer's "manual transmission specialist" confirmed, face to face, that it was towable. However things can change.

[az99]

V'ger wrote:
I'm new, granted. Just received an email from a Subaru dealer stating that if I purchased a (manual) Subaru Forester from them and tow it behind my motorhome they will not honor the warranty and that their technicians do not recommend towing that vehicle. I am really getting confused. We have not yet purchased a toad but would like to do so immediately

Then I sure would not consider a Subaru based on your correspondence. Look at the 2013 Dinghy guide. Lots of new cars suitable for towing.

[mowermech]

Y'know, there is a very simple way to find a towable vehicle. I am somewhat amazed that nobody has mentioned it yet, so I will:
READ the OWNERS MANUAL that comes with the vehicle; FOLLOW the instructions contained therein!
If the Owners Manual says the vehicle is towable, and gives instructions on how to go about it (as, IIRC, Subaru DOES), and the dealer says he will not honor the warranty, show him the book and state that you plan to contact the Subaru Zone Representative about the issue. It really does not matter what they or their technicians think, all that matters is what Subaru states in the Book!

[V_ger]

I'm new, granted. Just received an email from a Subaru dealer stating that if I purchased a (manual) Subaru Forester from them and tow it behind my motorhome they will not honor the warranty and that their technicians do not recommend towing that vehicle. I am really getting confused. We have not yet purchased a toad but would like to do so immediately

[V_ger]

I'm new, granted. Just received an email from a Subaru dealer stating that if I purchased a (manual) Subaru Forester from them and tow it behind my motorhome they will not honor the warranty and that their technicians do not recommend towing that vehicle. I am really getting confused. We have not yet purchased a toad but would like to do so immediately

[Blanco1]

Well...... The wife prefers an automatic & the subaru would have to be a manual trans for flat towing & to be honest living in Los Angeles & with all the traffic we have I'd agree with the preference of an auto trans.

That being said the truck that carries my camper is a Stick, yet it hardly driven, in no way a daily driver.

[Bobbo]

Blanco1 wrote:
Yes the outbacks can be towed with a stick, yet, they will have lots more moving parts during the process.

Given "Yes the outbacks can be towed with a stick", what is the significance of "they will have lots more moving parts during the process"?

Are you saying there is a higher failure rate for Subarus? If so, please point to the reports. If not, what is the significance?

I have only been towing my Subaru about 2 years, for about 5,000 miles, but I have had zero problems so far.

Bobbo

[Blanco1]

Yes the outbacks can be towed with a stick, yet, they will have lots more moving parts during the process.

[SRT]

Blanco1 wrote:

Rick Jay wrote:
Blanco1,

My recollection from reading towing guides is that the manual transmission Suburu's are all approved for flat towing. I just mentioned it because you said you liked them,

~Rick

If it turns out I'm wrong & OutBacks or Foresters make good dinghys, then game over, thats what I want, But The Subi nuts says no, yet they are not RV people & don't ever even think about things like this?

Not sure who else I would ask about it besides the OutBack forums & the parts distributors?
Is there a Info line for the Factory on slightly older Subi's?

We have a '98 Subaru Outback 5 spd that is our toad. Probably have over 10,000 towed miles. This vehicle can be taken off the beaten path to some extant as it has more than adequate ground clearance (about 8"). All Subaru manual transmissions are flat towable with no speed or time constraints. Plus the AWD is there all the time. IIRC, the new 2013 Outback 3.6 can be bought with a manual 5 spd. I'm now trying to talk my wife into getting one.

[Blanco1]

Gotsmart: If I didn't need the room I'd love to get one of them for a toad.