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Subaru Outback/Legacy Towing Questions

20 messages,  Last post on Jul 31, 2010 at 6:49 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru, Towing, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 2

#11 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by xwesx

Jul 29, 2010 (9:43 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 28, 2010 5:30 pm)
Steve, does your Quest have a four or six cylinder engine? For the trip you are proposing, that may make a big difference considering grades, etc. If that 4x8 U-Haul you may pull is an enclosed unit, it is going to buck a lot of wind and will make that 2.5L engine work pretty hard... believe me! So, in that case alone, it may be better to mod the Quest if it is a larger engine. Auxiliary coolers are incredibly easy to install (although I have never put one on either of those two particular models!), so you shouldn't worry much about that!
 
If you are considering DIY installation, I highly recommend Curt Manufacturing for trailer hitches - they make a very nice product! I do not think a class-3 unit is available for your Outback due to the location of the muffler, but class-2 is widely available. The Curt unit is #12270, and is available from Amazon for about $157.00. The wiring will run you another $35.00-$40, and is most likely available for that price both online and locally.
 
For your Quest, it is the same story, except that there are class-3 models available from Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch; if you think you might use it for other things such as a cargo tray, a class-3 is the only way to go! The Curt unit (class -2) is #12105 and Amazon has it for about $168. E-trailer.com has the class-3 units I mentioned above and also has good pricing with great service!
 
As for the trailer brakes, you're skirting the edge of the "no-brainer" comfort zone. If I was towing regularly with that weight using the Outback, I would probably invest in the brake controller (assuming my trailer had brakes on it - many that small do not). For just a one-time use, there's no way I would bother. At that weight, it all comes down to your comfort/familiarity with pulling trailers as you can get yourself into trouble if you do not know what you are doing. I have pulled a lot of trailers and am very comfortable with them, so I just want to offer a balanced opinion.

#12 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by rsholland

Jul 29, 2010 (10:24 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 28, 2010 5:30 pm)
Steve, the last time I checked, most (if not all) U-Haul trailers have a 45 mph speed limit. Yeah, I know, nobody follows that; but still...
 
Bob

#13 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by xwesx

Jul 29, 2010 (10:42 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 28, 2010 5:30 pm)
Oh, and Steve, you are more than welcome to borrow my trailer!

#14 of 20 Re: towing help [xwesx] by steve_ HOST

Jul 29, 2010 (12:27 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jul 29, 2010 9:43 am)
lol, thanks Wes. You deliver, right?
 
The Quest is a 170 hp 6 cylinder, and yeah, was looking at the enclosed box.
 
U-Haul didn't say anything about surge brakes, so I assume that's not available.
 
Oh, and it looks like the boxes are already pushing 800 pounds, so figure another 15% on top of that.
 
I had a utility trailer back in the mid-70s in my Jeep CJ days, and I didn't enjoy pulling it around. Imagine the fun of trying to back that thing up with a short wheel base Jeep.
 
So ... how about flat towing an Outback AT? Possible? Hmm, not recommended in the manual.

#15 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by xwesx

Jul 29, 2010 (2:18 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 29, 2010 12:27 pm)
So ... how about flat towing an Outback AT? Possible? Hmm, not recommended in the manual.
 
Not for any real distance! Maybe a few miles, at most. You could put the front end on a car dolly and disconnect the rear drive shaft, but otherwise I would put it on a car hauler.
 
Are you folks moving south?

#16 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by kcram HOST

Jul 29, 2010 (6:27 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 28, 2010 5:30 pm)
If you're just moving 500 pounds of boxes, you'd probably spend way more than it's worth to adapt your current vehicles. I'd say rent a full-sized passenger van - this way you can still have (at least) 5 seats (you can remove the extras and leave them in your garage til you get back) and plenty of enclosed locked space for the cargo.
 
That was the method we used when my sister got her first apartment back in the 80s... drove her stuff from NJ to Ohio (she went to college at OSU, and decided to move there permanently), plus, we were able to use the van to move her roommate's stuff as well as avoid delivery charges picking up some larger items from the store while we were out there. Then Dad and I went back to NJ with the empty van.
 
You'd probably be able to rent the van cheaper than the U-haul trailer and all the hitch work.
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host

#17 of 20 Re: towing help [kcram] by xwesx

Jul 29, 2010 (6:34 pm)

Replying to: kcram (Jul 29, 2010 6:27 pm)
That's a great idea, KC, especially if this is likely a one-shot deal for Steve!

#18 of 20 Re: towing help [xwesx] by steve_ HOST

Jul 29, 2010 (10:59 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jul 29, 2010 6:34 pm)
I do have a friend with a ~20 passenger bus I could borrow (might need a CDL though).
 
Naturally he's about as far north as you Wes.
 
I'm sort of thinking a small container may be easier. Gotta get some quotes.

#19 of 20 Re: towing help [steve_] by grahampeters

Jul 31, 2010 (3:58 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 29, 2010 10:59 pm)
G'day
 
It might be worth checking out some removalists in your area and where you are going. We just had to move 15m3 of books from my father in law's former home to our carport so that we can finish sorting them. I had intended to do it by trailer or hire a truck but checked out and found a removalist who typically carries new furniture from near my home to near my father in law's old place. They were happy to get a back load and only charged a fraction of the cost that I would have incurred with the truck. I reckon it was a bout 30% of the likely cost.
 
The only real problem was that they were too efficient. The boxes were delivered next day! A mad scrabble to get tarpaulins fixed over them because we then had wild weather. Now we are working through sorting all of the goods.
 
Cheers
 
Graham

#20 of 20 Re: towing help [grahampeters] by steve_ HOST

Jul 31, 2010 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: grahampeters (Jul 31, 2010 3:58 am)
I don't think we have "removalists" here in the States (there are survivalists and secessionists in the desert south of here though ).
 
Got a quote from a "mover", partial trailer load, door to door, for US $900. $600 to the terminal, but that's a good ways away. Not sure how to find a backhaul but that would be good.
 
Haven't gotten a quote yet, but the container services are attractive since you don't have to do a mad scramble. If the three days to unload it they give you at the destination aren't enough, you can pay to store it. That would also be the advantage of owning a trailer; no hurry to unpack it.

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