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Towing with a Forester

151 messages,  Last post on Sep 07, 2010 at 5:28 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Towing, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 16

#17 of 151 Newbie at towing with Forester XT by xtop

Oct 07, 2007 (10:43 am)

Hello: We just purchased a TB travel trailer. It's GVWR is 1939 lbs. it does have mechanical surge brakes. I have been looking around to see if there is any way to beef up the rear suspension on the Forester without luck. I imagine it's not a common request. I am also looking at the 7-pin trailer electrical plug installation. I have ordered a Subaru specific T-connector and adapter for the 7-pin. We already had a Hidden Hitch class II installed for bike racks and the like so that is done. We haven't actually picked the trailer up yet as the electrics must be installed next week. Are there any suggestions relevant to towing with the 2004 Forester XT with manual transmission? I would love to hear any experiences with this vehicle towing. We live in the Colorado mountains but most travel would be to lower elevation. Thanks and best regards to all, Fred

#18 of 151 Re: Newbie at towing with Forester XT [xtop] by kayakingsue

Oct 07, 2007 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: xtop (Oct 07, 2007 10:43 am)
When I first asked about towing with my 2007 Forester someone said that it wasn't what the car could pull, it was what it could STOP. With that in mind, several other people said what I needed was a Prodegy Brake Controller that would connect the car's brakes to the trailer's brakes so they'd activate when you hit the brake pedal. I had one installed for $170.00 in Longmont at Big Boys' Toys; talk with them about where in the car's cab they are going to put the little box because the first time they installed it I couldn't move my right leg from the gas to the brake without knocking against it! I've driven my tent pop-up to the west coast and back and have had no trouble with the brakes. The car needed to be shifted down into THIRD on some of the hills, however, and my car's newer than yours and my trailer is lighter, so don't load the TB with very much.

#19 of 151 Thanks for the information by xtop

Oct 07, 2007 (3:28 pm)

The trailer has its own brakes actuated through the tongue. I'm hoping that's sufficient. I would love to hear if it's not. The 2004 and 2007 Foresters are essentially identical mechanically. What model Forester is yours? Ours is the turbocharged model. I see yours is a manual shift. We don't plan on loading it too heavy as there don't seem to be any kits to increase the load carrying capacity of the rear suspension. We travel pretty light most of the time. We go looking for wildlife as I am a photographer and my wife and I love animals. Did you adjust the headlights for night driving? It sounds like you're having fun with your trailer. Fred

#20 of 151 Forester towing misc. by kayakingsue

Oct 07, 2007 (3:51 pm)

From what everyone has told me, if you have a brake controller in the car that controlls the brakes in the TB you will be fine. The issue with me was the Subaru sold me their hitch set-up as though it would be sufficient for anything the Forester was rated for, but it was not and I had to retro-fit the brake controller and then buy something extra to accommodate the trailer's ball hitch.
 
My Forester is the cheapest model, so you may have more soup than I do, which will make climbing those hills much nicer.
 
I was a camp-host in Oregon so I could kayak more frequently. I missed my Colorado sunshine, but I had a wonderful time, the the kayaking was fabulous. I like my tent trailer because it has more room when both beds are extended, although it had the same floor space as the TB I looked at. However, it's really chilly when the nights get cold.

#21 of 151 Forester towing misc. by kayakingsue

Oct 07, 2007 (3:51 pm)

From what everyone has told me, if you have a brake controller in the car that controlls the brakes in the TB you will be fine. The issue with me was the Subaru sold me their hitch set-up as though it would be sufficient for anything the Forester was rated for, but it was not and I had to retro-fit the brake controller and then buy something extra to accommodate the trailer's ball hitch.
 
My Forester is the cheapest model, so you may have more soup than I do, which will make climbing those hills much nicer.
 
I was a camp-host in Oregon so I could kayak more frequently. I missed my Colorado sunshine, but I had a wonderful time, the the kayaking was fabulous. I like my tent trailer because it has more room when both beds are extended, although it had the same floor space as the TB I looked at. However, it's really chilly when the nights get cold.

#22 of 151 Re: Forester towing misc. [kayakingsue] by paisan

Oct 07, 2007 (7:01 pm)

Replying to: kayakingsue (Oct 07, 2007 3:51 pm)
If you have surge brakes you won't need a controller.
 
As for the rear suspension, the easiest thing to do is to move anything inside the trailer to the rear to reduce the tounge weight. You may be able to get some custom upgraded springs for the rear which would help.
 
-mike

#23 of 151 Re: Forester towing misc. [paisan] by p0926

Oct 09, 2007 (1:31 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Oct 07, 2007 7:01 pm)
I don't suppose that installing the self-leveling suspension is a financially feasible option?
 
-Frank

#24 of 151 Moving cargo by xtop

Oct 09, 2007 (2:28 pm)

I imagine that I will load up the storage at the rear of the trailer itself to cut the load on the back of the Subaru. A simple and effective method, thank you. The battery might end up being moved as well to help.
 
The self-leveling suspension would be lovely but not an option for me.
 
What would be an optimum hitch weight on the tongue, does anyone have an idea? It's common knowledge, I'm sure, but I don't know it.
 
Thank you, everyone, for your help.
 
Fred

#25 of 151 Towing by p0926

Oct 09, 2007 (4:15 pm)

Hey where's Bob, our resident towing expert and champion of all things towing related

#26 of 151 Re: Towing [p0926] by paisan

Oct 09, 2007 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Oct 09, 2007 4:15 pm)
Ideally w/o the leveling you'd want less than 10% tongue weight of the trailer and not less than 6%.
 
On my peformance boat trailer I run about 600lb tounge on a 10,000lb trailer and this works out well to keep it balanced.
 
-mike

Messages Page 3 of 16

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