2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness - 3,500 tow capacity - any & all advice please

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Camper to Scamper
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2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness - 3,500 tow capacity - any & all advice please

I'll make this short. We have sold an F150 and now have a 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness (and a 13' Scamp Standard) on order. This is extravagant business for us two frugal tent campers! I have read so much conflicting advice. Any thoughts and experiences and opinions on proper hitch, wiring, brakes, and sway bar (is it even necessary?) would be greatly appreciated. I would be thrilled if someone who has tread this trail before use chimed in. Thanks! smiley

salukispeed
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Crosstrek

We pulled a 2019 13 with bath for 2.5 years with our 2018 crosstrek and never had an issue it towed great and reality is that it was right on the upper edge of capacity, and we now have a 2021 outback onyt XT and it is 100% even better.  it is very stable so long as you keep to 10% of gross on the tongue. and seriously secure any bikes and rack to avoid sway inducing .   The hitch is critical for stability and a bumper sandwich type is not adequate It can flex and eventually be a real issue.  Trailer brakes are highly recommended even at sub 1,500 lb.  There are many that feel nothing less than a 3/4 ton diesel is even a suitable tow vehicle but a Scamp standard is a non issue for the Wilderness.  You will want to slow down for safety. traveling 70+ is not recommended with such a short trailer.  Tongue weight is easy to mess up with how loaded and is the most critical thing for stability. I checked ours with a 300lb bath scale numerous times to confirm. Three bikes on on a  Yakima bike rack and 10 gal of fresh water was enough to lighten the tongue severly. You now have a very good TV for the Scamp

2019 Scamp 13 standard

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Crosstrek sandwich?

Thank you for all the information! Having a Crosstrek pulling your Scamp is quite a tribute to Subaru. 

I just looked up the tow specs, and the 2021 Onyx and 2022 Wilderness have the same (3,500) tow capacity - so I am grateful for your sharing that yours has worked well with the 13' Scamp.

When you say "10% of gross tongue"...do you mean we need to have 10% of the total Scamp weight (1,200-1,500) plus supplies, in the tongue area? Do you literally set the front of the trailer piece ("leg"?) onto the bathroom scale? 

I like to bike, and our Subaru will be coming with racks for the back of it (when not pulling a Scamp), but we are going to avoid any racks on the back of the Scamp, simply because of all the horror stories we have heard about them causing sway. Are you saying that you have loaded yours in such a way that it helps prevent sway? The 10 gallons of water is a pro or a con? (Sorry, I am a total trailer newbie and want to go to hubby with intelligent info.) 

When I looked up "what is a sandwich hitch?" it brought up lots of sandwiches and no hitches! LOL I will research more on that. 

athearn2
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3,500 Tow Capacity

We tow our 13' standard Scamp With a Nissan Frontier that has the same (3,500#) tow capacity. In the northeast that capacity is a bare minimum. In the west and southeast it does fine. In the northeast the roads are narrow, winding, and hilly. Not a good combination for towing with minimum power. So, your TV should be fine. If you visit the northeast it will have to work a little harder.

salukispeed's suggestions are very good too.

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3,500 Tow Capacity

Thank you very much for your thoughts. You know our tow capacity well.

We live on the east coast (lots of mountains in VA, NC, TN). I grew up in California (base of Sierras) and have children and grandchildren in Idaho (near Tetons, Yellowstone, etc.). We love dessert and mountain hiking both and were hoping to see quite a few mountains with the Scamp.

Do you recommend trailer brakes and sway bar both? Thank you. 

markjazzbassist
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that will work great. 

that will work great.  definitely get trailer breaks (scamp should come with them, just get the controller for the Subie), no sway bar needed.  travel with the water/sewage/grey tanks empty, fill water at the campground.  if possible, get foldable bikes and put in the scamp or tow vehicle, adding to the back of the scamp is fishtail territory.  make sure you pack your stuff in the front, like on the couch, that way the weight is on the tongue and the will prevent swaying/fishtailing.  

 

enjoy!!!

1987 Scamp 16

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Thank you Mark! Good advice.

Thank you Mark! Good advice. Do you have a certain ebike brand recommendation? Thanks. 

Aide de Scamp
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Outback, Scamp and Rack with Big Trike on Back

I drive a 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT, pull a 2020 13' Scamp with full front bath, and have a 40# rack on the back with a 40# recumbent trike on it. Of course I pack as much weight as possible in the front of the camper, but the rack and trike put so much weight in the back, I definitely need a sway bar. There is no other option for me as this is the only way to transport my trike--it's a long one--but it all works just fine. Unfortunately, I'm going to be putting the whole kit and kaboodle up for sale pretty soon because my doctor thinks I should become more of a hotel camper. So stay stay tuned to this site and others like it for my "for sale" ad. In the meantime, all the best to all of you, and have fun camping!!!  Amy

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That looks like such a great

That looks like such a great set-up. I am so sorry you have to consider parting ways with the Scamp and/or bike. Can you get a second opinion?? 

salukispeed
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16

In addition to our Scamp13   We pulled a friends Scamp 16 deluxe back to Chicago from Nevada with our Subaru XT and was no issue either.   As has been well stated it is critical to keep enough weight on the hitch is critical and nothing wagging the dog from behind like a loose bike rack or platform. Each pound on the back bumper hitch is basically a pound off the front and closer to catastrophic sway.  

2019 Scamp 13 standard

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Thank you for your advice. I

Thank you for your advice. I watched a few trailer sway video and have scared myself straight - before we even have a chance to go curvy! :>l

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