Forum Discussion

rvtrailerpuller's avatar
rvtrailerpuller
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013

Subaru 2014 Outback as a tow vehicle

Does anyone have experience using a Subaru Outback as a tow vehicle?
I currently tow a very large dual slide trailer with a diesel Chevrolet crew cab. I want to downsize my trailer to an A-Frame type. I want to keep the trailer in my garage, and I need to be able to set it up FAST.
I will keep the pickup truck, as it only has 120,000 miles on it.
I soon will stop maintaining a 2003 Saab because it is too expensive to maintain. I am considering trading in the Saab for a 2014 Subaru Outback with CVT automatic and the 2.5 engine.

Subaru lists the 2.5 Outback as having a 2,700 lb towing capacity and a 200 lb tongue weight max.
I know I will still tow the yet-to-be-purchased small trailer with my truck, but how much trailer can the Subaru Outback handle?
(It would be nice to know I can tow with either of my 2 cars.)
  • Oaklevel's avatar
    Oaklevel
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2013
    kend40 wrote:
    The first question that popped into my mind when reading your post was that you talk of a CVT transmission in the outback. My understanding is that CVT is NOT suitable for towing? Can anyone provide some feedback on this?


    Our 2011 has the same & could be ordered with a class 3 hitch & is rated at the 2700lb area of tow rating We had pulled a trailer with a golf car area of 1500lbs pulled with ease still pull utility trailers.... The weird thing is there is no maintenance that can be do on the trans. no way to change fluids........ Waiting to see how that works out..... but we have 89,000 miles on it with no issues.
  • kend40's avatar
    kend40
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2013
    The first question that popped into my mind when reading your post was that you talk of a CVT transmission in the outback. My understanding is that CVT is NOT suitable for towing? Can anyone provide some feedback on this?
  • popupcamping's avatar
    popupcamping
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2013
    Francesca Knowles wrote:
    There's a lot of discussion of Outbacks over at FiberglassRv...

    Your big problem is that tongue max- as you can see, it's limited to less than the ideal 10 to 15 percent (of the 2700 total weight) needed for travel trailer stability. As a practical matter, one could tow a BOAT at the higher weight, since due to design differences a lower tongue-to-total ratio will work for that combo.

    As always, the weakest link in the chain rules, so the Outback's real-world RV trailer tow limit is really only around 2,000 pounds.


    The op isnt looking at a TT :h

    looking at a popup A liner

    To the OP maybe you should ask a Mod to move this from TT to folding
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2013
    There's a lot of discussion of Outbacks over at FiberglassRv...

    Your big problem is that tongue max- as you can see, it's limited to less than the ideal 10 to 15 percent (of the 2700 total weight) needed for travel trailer stability. As a practical matter, one could tow a BOAT at the higher weight, since due to design differences a lower tongue-to-total ratio will work for that combo.

    As always, the weakest link in the chain rules, so the Outback's real-world RV trailer tow limit is really only around 2,000 pounds.

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