I'm new to SOI. We have been camping for the past 8 years with a 1973 Trillium...13 foot. Towed it for several years with a Toyota Matrix. We now have a Subaru Forester with a towing capacity of 2400 pounds, and a hitch weight limit of 200 pounds. Is it realistic to be considering purchase of a 16 foot Scamp with the idea of towing it with the Subaru? I would appreciate any advice I can get.
Fri, 02/27/2015 - 17:44
#1
Towing with Subaru Forester
I have been reading a lot on forums about towing, tow vehicles, brakes, and weight limits. The Scamp site tells me that a 16 foot Scamp weights 1700-2000 pounds. Hitch weight would be about 10% of that. I know there are a lot of variables...how much water, Propane, luggage will be in the trailer, what options are on it. What I am wondering about is whether tow limits (in the case of my Subaru it is 2400 pounds) is a safe limit, or do published to limits assume that owners will keep to, perhaps 25% below the limit. Similarly, the published max hitch weight for my Subaru is 91 kg (a little over 200 pounds). Can somebody help me out with this?
Regards to all
Bruce
Hi Bruce and Welcome to the clubhouse!
16 Standard Scamp depending on options will take you somewhere in the range stated by Scamp. Fully loaded with tanks full and gear, etc. will push you right up to and probably over that 2400 lb. which we don't recommend. The tongue weight will be difficult on the 16 to be at 200 and most likely will be over. I have seen quite a few folks over the years that tow with the Subaru Forester, so hopefully someone that has towed with that setup will chime in here as well.
No matter what you tow with and pull it is always a good idea for everyone to hit the scales from time to time when you are out on a trip and find out what your actual weight is for your trailer loaded.
This looks like a good post for you to read Eddie's response. http://www.scampcamper.com/forums/towing-16-scamp-2015-outback-premium-i...
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
This discussion is all very interesting to me. Purchased a used 2008 Scamp 16 (with shower) last year and have been towing with a 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6L (6 cylnder). First time trailering, and enjoying it. Had a transmission shop add a transmission cooler as that seemed to be prudent. Have taken a few 200 - 300 mile trips, and no isses with going up hills or braking, everything feels smooth and stable (came with a stabilizer bar). According to my owners manual, I can tow up to 3,000 lbs. total trailer weight (which includes cargo). Reading about tongue weights concerns me as it seems I may be exceeding the 200 lb. limit. The owners manual shows how to use a bathroom scale to calculate, which I will plan to do. My question is can I redistribute some weight to the rear of the trailer to counter the tongue weight if too heavy? I have the dual propane tanks, which I know are very heavy. I try to carry one full and one empty, if that helps. What does exceeding the tongue weight do - unsafe for trailering or just too much load on the shocks, etc.? I also plan to run it through a weight station and see what everything weights when loaded. Thanks, appreciate any insight or tips anyone can offer.
SharNix
I wanted to to tow a 2011 S-16 SD with my 2011 Outback. Empty trailer with two full LP tanks the TW was 285 lbs. Removing a tank, tank tray and installing a single tank regulator the TW was still 245lb. When you are 20% overloaded to start with, with an empty car and trailer where are you going to put your stuff. My S-13 FB loaded had a tongue weight right at 200. I sure miss getting 22.5 MPG when camping. For a Subie the S-13 FB big bed would be my perfect trailer (used).
Eddie
I am also trying to decide which Scamp to buy to tow with my Forester. I really want the 16ft, but think I may have problems towing it with my 2010 Forester XT. I plan to call my Subaru dealer to get their input, and to find out if there is a way to beef up the suspension, and add a 2 inch hitch instead of the current 1 inch. From the looks of these posts it may be better to stick with the 13 ft. model. I plan to check out the April Scamp event near Townsend TN and maybe get some input from owners there and hope to see both sizes to see what they really look like. Any new input from current Scamp owners would be appreciated.
Diane B
New to this forum. Thinking of the S-16 front dinette pulled with Jeep GC with 5.7 V8. Anyone using this combination? What are your results?
Packrat
Packrat, you will never know the trailer is there, I pull a 13' and it follows like it is in the trunk. Wish I had a 16' but maybe in the future. Add a 2" hitch to back of camper to carry our road bikes and working on Awings for the rear windows, pics to follow later. Good luck.
Jerry Johnson
Hello,
I have a 2012 Subaru Forester i use to tow my S-13. First let me specify the difference between older and newer Subaru foresters. The 2014 and newer has a reduced tow weight compared to my 2012. It has something to do with computer and transmissions. The 2012 and older still can tow 2400 pounds with electric brakes.
I towed my S-13 from the factory back to Utah. On some of the steeper grades i struggled a bit getting up the hills, but still made it with out dropping below 60MPH. I got horrible gas mileage going through Wyoming, around 10MPGs. I think the wind may have contributed to the poor gas mileage because as soon as i hit the Utah border my gas mileage jumped up. I have electric brakes and brake controller installed. I would not feel comfortable towing an S-16 with a forester unless i was sticking to flat roads. I choose the 13 because of the limited tow capacity and didn't want to stress the vehicle with a wife and 2 kids in the car. I am planning on taking the egg into northern AZ this summer and will be pushing grades around 6 or 7 percent. I am confident the Forester can do it with some love and care through the steep grades. In my opinion, stay below the rated tow capacity with the forester. Also, i am going to carry the propane tank in the cargo area of the car in hopes of reducing tongue weight. I didn't notice a great deal of issues with battery and full single propane tank, but am curious if removing the tank will help get the front wheels better grip.
2012 Subaru Forester
Scamp 13 front Bunk
Thanks, everybody, for your advice and observatons. I think that at this point, we will look for a more substantial tow vehicle...maybe a Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. Any thoughts?
Regards to all
All I know is I pull my 13' with both vehicles and have no problem, do wish I had a 16' for the extra room and the tongue weight is for the hitch max #. Wish I could be more helpfull. I did add a access door in the back to move some more weitght to the back.
Jerry Johnson