2018 Subaru and a trailer

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salukispeed
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2018 Subaru and a trailer

#1

Post by salukispeed »

I have been hauling trailers and driving trucks large and small for 45 years and never really thought much about it. Always tried to stay within the limits of the tow vehicle for reliability and safety. But we totaled our 26 foot Class "C" motorhome last week in a multi car interstate pile up no injuries or even a scrape. But are considering a total change of pace. We have a 2018 subaru crosstrek with the 6spd manual rated to pull a 1500 lb trailer Does anyone have knowledge of the abilities of these. I am well aware that Clutches are funny and fragile thing if misused/abused. but can last the life of the car if properly used. I have three cars now with 150,000+ miles and never needed a clutch so my best guess is all would be good. We are looking at the little 13 foot fiberglass egg trailer by Scamp out of Minnesota and weigh in at 13 to 1,500 lb depending on goodies.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#2

Post by wingrider »

I don’t have a lot to offer in terms of towing with one, but it does seem like you would be close to the weight recommendation of the vehicle.

I have a little VW Golf diesel with a hitch on it, and have been tempted to pull my steel 6x10 with it. The car will pull it, but not sure the vehicle will hold up to doing so.

On a slight side note, how good is the mileage cruising in that Suburu? I have been looking at a replacement cummuter, as my Golf is getting tired. Looked at the Crosstrek as an option, but wanted to stay away from that automatic that they are putting in them.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#3

Post by salukispeed »

We only have 1,600 miles on it so far so mileage is not confirmed. I have the Premium/middle version with the 6spd man. The stated mileage on the display is very optimistic and is likely 10% off. I really like the car but it may be a tiny bit under powered unless you push it. I suspect the average mileage is 24+ and highway closer to 30 but I drive conservatively too . I think that is very reasonable for an AWD vehicle. We also towed it behind our motorhome. My son has 6,000 miles on the exact same car but has the CVT trans. He likes it a lot but all CVT's take some getting used to. Not bad just different!
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

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Post by wingrider »

Good to know. That CVT seems to be a source of contention on the forums...have heard rumors of when it goes, it costs more than the car is worth to fix. I certainly don’t know that first hand, but would hate to find out. I truly hope the rumors are not founded....
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#5

Post by 5speed »

My sister is on her third or fourth subby. She refuses to own or drive anything else.
As for towing a trailer..I would be much more concerned with the cars brakes being able to handle the extra weight then the drive trains ability to pull it.
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salukispeed
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

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Post by salukispeed »

Agreed on the brakes. Even the little 13 footer has available electric brakes and would be on the gotta have list. . I see people doing this exact thing in videos and yet read that some have trouble. . I get that it is at the high limit and deserves special consideration and research. If I still owned any of my larger vehicles and trucks this conversation would not even happen.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

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Post by OCR »

Well I have a '14 Escape 2L ecoboost.
I pull a 20' tandem axle with up to 2.5 ton on it with no problem.
The car does have 4WD (automatic) and 4 wheel disk brakes and will stop that load without even trailer brakes.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

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Post by robin1731 »

OCR wrote:Well I have a '14 Escape 2L ecoboost.
I pull a 20' tandem axle with up to 2.5 ton on it with no problem.
The car does have 4WD (automatic) and 4 wheel disk brakes and will stop that load without even trailer brakes.
You tow 5,000lbs with a vehicle rated for 3,500lbs? Without trailer brakes?

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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#9

Post by OCR »

Yep, used to tow the same trailer with an '03 2wd Ranger.
Granted, I don't go far with that kind of load but it's nice to know it can handle it.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#10

Post by Whiskerfish »

In 2000 I got my last promotion in the Navy and as a reward I bought myself a very nice 19 foot Century Bay boat. It was Fiberglass with a 130 on the back and quite heavy, I had a Toyota T-100 to haul it. I can not remember the numbers (tow rating weight etc etc) of each but early one morning I was on my way up to the river out in the country on wet roads I tried to do an emergency stop for some deer. It was very nearly disastrous. The boat was up beside the truck and pushing both down the road sideways. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic because I had both lanes full. The next week I traded the T-100 for a full size. It got my attention.

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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

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Post by salukispeed »

I too learned in a similar manor. from your picture it does not look like your trailer tongue has surge brakes that could have made your stop less exciting. these are common on larger boats but Even fairly light trailers benefit greatly from either surge or electric brakes to supplement the tow vehicle.. It becomes terribly important the lighter the tow vehicle is.
Honda 72 CL100 sold
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#12

Post by flyin900 »

My question would be the additional stuff that would be carried in the trailer that adds to the base trailer weight. Personally I would not run something anywhere close to the maximum tow rating, especially if your travelling at highway speeds over any long distance.

I have a 2019 Subaru Outback with the 3.6 litre boxer six with a tow rating of 2800 lbs and 1500 lbs would be comfortable for me. Anything over 2000 lbs I would not consider towing... but that’s just me.
The CVT I find excellent in the vehicle and wouldn’t know it wasn’t a regular automatic, it’s just as smooth shifting and quiet as any regular automatic. I have never owned a CVT or Subaru before this and so far very impressed with the vehicle. I didn’t want a turbo vehicle given all the issues they are having regardless of the manufacturer.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#13

Post by Steven UK »

as a Brit living in the US.... towing trailers like this with vehicles like this is unusual in the US probably due to the availability of cheap full-size pickup trucks. however in Europe its perfectly normal, if its within the spec of the vehicle. I love Subaru's and only have/drive manual transmissions.
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Re: 2018 Subaru and a trailer

#14

Post by salukispeed »

Update
Have towed now for 3 seasons with the Crosstrek and with normal caution and thinking ahead it has gone well. But a couple months ago we added a 2021 Subaru Outback Onyx XT with the same driveline as the Ascent rated at 5,000 and 260HP turbo intercooled with the much larger CVT trans. The new OB is rated at 3,500 and 350 tongue and pulls very well although the mileage does suffer compared to the Crosstrek. We now have plenty of reserve and might even step up to the 16 foot at 2,000-2,200 ish . Thanks for the thoughts
Honda 72 CL100 sold
74 CB750 K4 nice driver
1966 CA77/305 Dream nostalgic driver
84 GL1200I work in progress
1970 CT 70
1982 GL500 Interstate
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