Hi all, new guy here from Penna. I did a search on this and came up empty (thought it would be a popular topic). Retired and downsizing so the F150 must go, only used it for towing a couple of times a year so just not practical and my GF sell Subaru's so.... Looking to get a gen 4 outback and my question is. I know it's rated 2500lbs w/brakes but I'm looking for real world experience, will be towing utility trailer with Harley trike (total weight will not exceed 1700lbs) to Flordia and back once a year. Will the 2.5 CVT stand up to this??
1700 lb total weight? Open, flat, trailer or a tall box? A tall box will create a huge amount of aerodynamic drag that will suck down a lot of power on the highway. It's doable though.
"KM" has more of a story to tell than I do, and as he says it depends a lot of whether your trailer will be open or a box for hauling your trike. This is my 5x8 high side Carry-On that I modified with a wood floor on top of the wire mesh (and a spare tire carrier on the right side not there when I took this picture). It weighs around 600 empty, and I use it for my yard tractor, charity projects, dirt/mulch, etc. The furthest I've gone so far is about 100 miles, but my area is all hills. My 2014 handles the trailer a lot better than my old 2002 (by the garage) ever did.
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I don't think I'd even bother with the transmission cooler. They're great, but they do introduce more fittings and hoses that can leak later in life. If you're towing all the time it's worth the hassle, but for one round trip per year I wouldn't bother.
I don't own a trailer, but I've dragged most of what U-haul has available on various trips between eastern Pennsylvania and eastern Massachusetts.
PA can have some significant hills. Read the manual section that references towing. It will tell you what kind of grades in what temperature to avoid.
Learn how to read your two temperature indicators: one for engine, and one for AT. Each has its own way of signalling.
Take it easy, and expect a lot of fuel stops. I left the "miles until empty" display active as a reminder that I was getting significantly lower mpg and needed to plan my fuel stops accordingly. Expect in the neighborhood of 16-18 mpg.
Monitor your oil level.
Verify tire inflation pressures.
Properly load the trailer. 200lb tongue wt limit, but not too light or it might start swaying. About 10% should be good, so around 170 lb on your 1700lb loaded trailer.
Based on the little information you've given I wouldn't worry about what you've described.
Subaru's main limitations have always been cooling. Engine overheating will be the first failure/symptoms besides just the standard longer stopping distances, etc.
Comes down to basic physics:
90+ degree steep mountain grades - that's where you'll see issues.
I've moved huge 16 foot utility trailers by hand on flat smooth concrete, i can't even push a tiny trailer up a small incline if it's loaded and steep.