People have used the Outback successfully to tow a mid sized trailer. But there are some serious limitations listed in the owner's manual. You could get in trouble towing in high temps in hilly country. I know the Los Angeles to Vegas run has a 17 mile hill and temps on that route reach 110 degrees frequently in summer.
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Here are the limitations:
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The max tongue weight is listed as 200 lbs.? None of the mid or large sized A frames have a tongue weight that low.? Most people towing mid sized aframes with outbacks are exceeding the tongue limit. A weight distributing hitch cannot be used to solve this problem.
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The max trailer weight rating gets cut to 1350 lbs if towing up long hills in hot weather.? That's because the cvt transmission tends to overheat.
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They advise not to pass cars when towing while going uphill, because the engine will reduce power automatically if an overheat condition is detected.
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The car's compact spare should not be used while towing.
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Just FYI a mid sized trailer loaded for camping typically weighs 2300 to 2700 lbs. That 1700 lb figure doesn't include factory options, batteries, propane tanks, water, or your gear.
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On Thu, Oct 10, 2024 at 02:27 PM, bruce gowdy wrote:
Greetings,
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I'm hoping someone can offer some sage advice.? I have a 2014 Subaru 2.5L Subaru Outback (low mileage) and am considering buying the Aliner Ranger 12 to tow.? It's dry weight is advertised as 1700 pds.? Does anyone know if this can be towed safely with this engine or is it too heavy a load?? The Outback has a max towing (GTW) rating of 2700 pds, however, I know that would quickly kill this car once I got off a flat highway.? I plan to drive thru the Sierras, Cascades and perhaps the Rockies on some long road trips.
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Thanks for any advice.
-bruce
