Trailers

[Unclviny]

Folks,
The time is coming quickly for me to start pulling a trailer, I will need to pull it a few times a year but these will be long trips 1,800 miles is the short trip and the long trip is 3,300 miles.

I have a 2009 Forester X with a factory hitch and I'm pulling a relatively light trailer (rented Baxley motorcycle trailer with 2 Vintage motorcycles on it, well within the weight capabilities of the Forrie).

I have never pulled a trailer with anything smaller than a full-sized (American full size) Pickup Truck.

Does anybody here regularly pull trailers a long way with a Subie?

How does your Subie handle in the Mountains with a trailer?

How bad is the mileage "hit" with a trailer?

Any advice for a trailer Noob?

Unclviny

 

[Kevin]

Make sure it has a spare wheel! The number of trailers I see left by the roadside because they have no spare is incredible.

 

[Barry]

My manual n.a. 2.5 litre 05 Outback pulls my light camper trailer as if it isn't there.
Didn't notice much impact on fuel useage, but was driving for economy, not speed.

 

[tinknocker07]

Hey guys I have a 2000 Leggy auto! Do you tow in 3 or Drive since there is no over drive off button.


Nate

 

[3jarrells]

We used to pull a 1500# pop-up with ours. No problems, the Subaru is a pretty good tug. Slight decrease in mileage. Then again the camper was slightly wider than the car, so a bit of a drag.

 

[guzzla]

I have always been impressed by how stable my XT remains with the 450kg trailer behind and the "hit" in fuel consumption is around 1.5L/100km.

 

[El_Freddo]

These pics are of the usual setup of Ruby Scoo when we're headed up the Murray. The first pics is with the old EA82 donk - this engine had trouble holding 100km/h (62.something miles/h) when flatfooted and much preferred 80km/h (50mph?) in fourth:

These next two pics are Ruby Scoo packed up for our last oz day camping trip to the Murray. This time she "sports" the torquey EJ22. The drive was simple, the subi could cruise at 110km/h if wanted. Just below 100 was comfortable. Handling is still pretty good - I've got discs all round which makes the braking HEAPS better than the standard carbie discs/drum setup!

The camper is slightly wider than the subi which creates a bit of drag but other than that she goes really well.

Cheers

Bennie