advice needed for subaru forester

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lookie
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Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 06/26/2017 - 16:50
advice needed for subaru forester

newbie here.

i have a subaru forester and would like to put a trailer hitch on it and buy a scamp. is this okay? i had a subaru outback and pulled a hard sided Aliner with it with absolutely no problems. but the forester is another animal and i think it could be marginal. i would appreciate any advice.

enigma1083
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Last seen: 3 years 11 months ago
Joined: 05/21/2015 - 14:08
Forester

I bought my Outback new in 2015. At that time the Outback had 2700# max tow Capacity the Forester had 1500# . While I preferred the Forester/s looks, price, and size I knew it would be difficult to pull a 1200# + trailer higher depending on options and load. I know older Foresters have a higher rating and I don't know about the 16s or 17s capacity. My advise is do nt exceed the manufactures limits and the bigger the margin you have the better off you are.

JMHO

lookie
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Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 06/26/2017 - 16:50
forester

thank you for your reply.

i didn't see any mention of trailers in the owners manual. the year of the forester is 2011 and it doesn't have the power of my 2005 outback so i know it will have a problem negotiating some grades. i would be interested to know if any members here have this model and experience with pulling trailers.

 

lookie

AnthonyRM
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Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: 11/13/2016 - 08:35
Forester

I will be picking up a 13 footer in Backus on July 7th with my 2015 Forester. My 2010 Forester with the 2.5 L engine had a tow capacity of 2400 lbs. My 2015 Forester with the same 2.5 L engine has a tow capacity of 1500 lbs.  The  Outback with the same 2.5L 4 cylinder engine is rated for 2700 lbs.The Impreza with the 2.0 L engine has a towing capacity of 1500 lbs.  I think Subaru is full of "hot air" with their tow ratings. I'm not concerned about pulling a 13 foot Scamp with a Forester. Don't let the fact that you drive a Forester stop you from buying a 13 Scamp camper.

 

Anthony Memoli

keweenawbob
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Last seen: 4 years 10 months ago
Joined: 11/07/2014 - 07:06
2011 Forester has a 2400

2011 Forester has a 2400 pound tow rating with electric brakes on the trailer.  https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/forester/2011/#edm-entry-features-specs

We tow with a 2004 Forester (same rating) and you will go more slowly up the hills.

AnthonyRM
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Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: 11/13/2016 - 08:35
Forester

We picked up the 13 foot Scamp in Backus last week. I towed it home, 1,600 miles with my 2015 Forester with a six speed manual transmission. There were no issues towing it with the 2.5 L engine. On flat roads I was able to cruise in sixth gear at about 62+ miles an hour.  At 55 to 60 I would use 5th gear. On hills I would anticipate the decrease in speed and downshift to a lower gear. I won't say I didn't know it was back there, I did, but the Forester will pull a 13 foot Scamp. I plan on keeping the forester for another 2 or 3 years. I might opt for a turbo charged 4 cylinder next time, I'm just not willing to give up the Forester which gets about 30 mpg highway for a 6 cylinder vehicle getting around 20. We are continually driving from  CT. to northern VT. and back, a trip of 600 miles and I am looking for fuel efficiency. I think a turbo four will give decent gas mileage and sufficient power for towing the 13 footer. 

Anthony Memoli