Towing hard with Outback 2008 PZEV 4 cylinders non-turbo

I would like to hear if someone around is towing hard with similar car as mine?

I mean 2000 lbs tent-trailer crossing the canadian rockies. I have efficient electric brake on the trailer. I will install a tranny cooler and a class 2 hitch. Subaru hitch is class 1 and too cheesy. Is this a completely insane project or people may actually go through it without killing their transmission?

That shouldn't be a problem as I see it, just keep a lower speed and plan the driving. Be aware that you should use the engine braking as much as possible downhill. If the brakes overheats while going downhill you are toast. Same gear (or lower) downhill as you would have used uphill. Can be done with AT gearboxes too. I suggest that you should keep below 55mph (90km/h).

 

Also keep an eye on the temperatures and check the oil often.

 

One factor is how much drag the trailer has. Since it's a tent trailer I suppose it's collapsed and lower than the car and that's a good thing. A lot lower amount of drag and lower center of gravity.

I'm more like a 65-70-75 miles per hour guy. While towing I try to stay around 70. I can do it without pushing hard on the gas (2700 - 3000 RPM). The instant consumption shows 20 MPH when normally the car does 28 MPH without the trailer at the same speed. When it climbs, I rev it up a bit to 4000RPM and I manage to climb most of the him at 65-70MPH. The tent trailer is fairly low profile (lower then the car) so it does not drag too much. I always use the engine compression while going down on nasty slope. I will try to take it easy when I'll do my long ride to the coast this summer.

youll be fine just be mindful of your tongue weight

Another factor that comes to mind is the dynamic stability which can cause the whole vehicle combination to swing sideways. Especially when driving downhill. That can range from very disturbing to outright dangerous and getting a jackknife effect in 55+ mph isn't my idea of fun. I did experience it once with a trailer on a Grand Cherokee. Luckily it stopped as soon as the road leveled out.

I've been curious about this too for towing with my GT. been itching to get an A-frame or a tear drop pop up camper (both fold up so little drag).

 

my mechanic recommended that I not tow with my car.

Regards tongue weight, I'm replacing the Subaru hitch by a class 2 to improve this. Subaru hitch has 200 lbs tongue weight rating, class 2 is 350lbs. My rig has scaled at 240lbs tong weight.

 

Regards the dancing effect, I know about it and this is where it's handy to have a brake controller in the cab with manual override. I can control the brake strength of the trailer without braking the car. If this dancing should occur, I can override and stop it right away. I did a quick test at 80 MPH with some side winds an the whole thing was stable. The Outback is 4400 lbs while my trailer is 2000 lbs. I find the proportion pretty good. When you think a Kia Borrego V8 can pull 6500 with a body of 4500 lbs, there is something to be scared!

 

c-lo: My friends mechanic told me the same at first, don't pull with your car. I think they don't know enough about Subaru. We'll see how it goes!

could be true, however mine is a subie specialist. have a hard time ignoring what he says:lol:

Just consider that most people in Europe tows bigger things with cars that are smaller than the 2.5i when they are towing I think you have a good answer. A two ton caravan with a 1.5 ton car do happen...

 

Just drive carefully and watch for overtemp.

If yours is a Subaru specialist, that's quite interesting. I wonder why they don't recommend it. The spec says 2700 lbs towing capacity with electric brake. The 6 cylinder is rated 3500 lbs and I'm almost sure it's the same tranny. In Australia, they spec 4400 lbs for the same car. I keep thinking it's a feasible plan as long you don't go wild on the RPM.

I will install a tranny cooler and a class 2 hitch. Subaru hitch is class 1 and too cheesy. Is this a completely insane project or people may actually go through it without killing their transmission?

 

I believe the Factory Hitch is actually a Class II hitch. Class I maxes at 2000 lbs, and Class II at 3,500 lbs.

 

Regards tongue weight, I'm replacing the Subaru hitch by a class 2 to improve this. Subaru hitch has 200 lbs tongue weight rating, class 2 is 350lbs. My rig has scaled at 240lbs tong weight.

 

Keep in mind that the actual 'safe limit' for BOTH towed load AND tongue weight is set by the manufacturer (assuming the hitch meets that at a minimum). If the hitch rating is lower than the manufacturer's, then that is the legal max, and if the manufacturers maximum rating is lower than the hitch's than that is the max. Just because some company makes a class II or even Class III hitch for the Outback, doesn't mean the vehicle is now rated to handle a higher towed OR tongue weight..

 

 

Is this a completely insane project or people may actually go through it without killing their transmission?

 

No, as another poster mentioned, they tow alot more with the same car in Europe, and the ROW Outbacks are rated to tow 3,960 lbs (H4) and 4,400 lbs (H6).

 

 

Check out this Thread and This Thread for a lengthier discussions..

 

Fun Picture (not my car), that may make you feel less like you are abusing your car..

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/gallery//500/16864dsc03089.jpg

Prbably tows that no problem too. It reminds me of a vid i saw on youtube of a older ford taurus towing a HUGE boat and I swear that thing was scrapping the ground. Of course yours is no where near that point its just the same kinda proportion

I like your fun picture Outback 2.5i Maryland !This is indeed comforting I'm not the worst out there!

I'm back from my 2300km camping trip in the rockies and the Outback made it all. I was faster then most of the pick up pulling travel trailers. Only a few managed to pass me. This was for sure asking a lot to the car but was able to climb most of the hill above 60 MPH. Some nasty slops brought me back to 40 MPH. On the way back it was fairly hot at 94F, the engine temp gauge only rise twice above mid range. Just a couple bar, not much.

I will get new engine & tranny oil in there and I should be all set for next year if needed.