I thought the manual said trailer brakes are required above 1000 lbs?

 

It does. That's never changed. (Trailer brakes, that is.)

I really, REALLY wish they would make their minds up, though - or at least point it out to us. I've literally never seen this until now, simply because it's never come up, and they didn't point it out in any of our training that they'd reduced the load capacity. So I apologize to all those people I told wrong last year - we've spent the last 4 years saying one thing, now suddenly it's different.

Because the other posts are also right - the '16 owner manual says 2700 / 3000. The '17 Owners Manual just says 2,700. And now the '18 Owners Manual says 2700, BUT now includes: When towing a trailer on a long uphill grade continuously for over 5 miles (8 km) with an outside temperature of 104F (40C) or above, it's 1350 for the 2.5 and 1500 for the 3.6. Which, as some of the other guys say, means you probably want to add a transmission cooler.

 

From the cars101 website:

(Note:..for the 2017 model, the 3.6L's maximum towing weight has been dropped from 3000 to 2700 pounds. It was 3000 pounds on the 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012 3.6L models... )
​

So the limit is 2700 for both 2.5 and 3.6.

I think I saw the same 2700 weight limit for the 2018 MY.

 

From thecars101 website

(Note:..for the 2017 model, the 3.6L's maximum towing weight has been dropped from 3000 to 2700 pounds. It was 3000 pounds on the 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012 3.6L models... )
​

So the limit is 2700 for both 2.5 and 3.6.

I think I saw the same 2700 weight limit for the 2018 MY.

Ahh I see now. Thank you. My wife had the car so I didn't have the manual with me.

Most cars including the Outback have marginal brakes without a trailer in tow.

I strongly recommend trailer brakes.

I tow a 2200 lb utility trailer with a Prodigy brake controller.

When stopping I rarely even notice the trailer.

Transmission cooler depends on where you plan to tow.

I have one on my 2012 3.6R Outback and I monitor the transmission temperatures on the 5EAT and it definitely needs the extra transmission cooler on the 6 percent grades we have in the West.

Thank you for advice. Looks like if I end up with the boler I will be adding brakes to it or going with a different trailer. I will probably do most of my towing in Alberta (flat) but some will be through the mountains by Calgary and into BC to visit family so it sounds like a cooler should be on my list as well.

1048/408C?

"When driving inside an active volcano, a transmission cooler is recommended."

Ha! That was amusing.

 

Most cars including the Outback have marginal brakes without a trailer in tow.

I strongly recommend trailer brakes.

I tow a 2200 lb utility trailer with a Prodigy brake controller.

When stopping I rarely even notice the trailer.

Transmission cooler depends on where you plan to tow.

I have one on my 2012 3.6R Outback and I monitor the transmission temperatures on the 5EAT and it definitely needs the extra transmission cooler on the 6 percent grades we have in the West.

 

UK Outbacks are rated at 4400lbs. Why the disparity between specs in the US and UK?

 

Metric pounds?

 

3.5R w/ CVT in Australia is rated 4000lbs max w/ trailetr brakes and 400lbs max tongue weight - why only 200lbs tongue weight in US?
(2.5 3300lbs and 330lbs tongue weight)

 

Simple US restricted speeds are far higher for trailering. Just drive across NV, Idaho, Montana, Utah and you’ll have your answer.

 

As for towing do some digging here search on Alto youll find a thread Canadian 3.6 towing. He targeted 1800ish lbs. As do I with the 2.5 power isnt the issue. Cooling capacity is. One trip through the mountains and you’ll either go much lighter trailer or get a bigger tow vehicle. Brakes on the RV trailer is a no brainer and at that weight a must.

If you haven’t purchased the trailer and dont plan on going bigger heavier tow car I highly recommend going to a lighter trailer. The Cricket trailer might be interesting.

My boat was 1800lbs loaded all up towed nice with the OB but long climbs and or hot summer temps and head winds were less than ideal strictly due to cooling capacity limitations. Adding a cooler seems to give marginal results some of which could be just added fluid volume. There is only so much space and air flow to use for shedding heat which no doubt plays a role in the effectiveness of added coolers.

 

Get electric brakes! They make the trailer so much easier to tow and when you have that unexpected moment when you got to lock em up, you won''t be watching your trailer coming around to meet your driver's door or pushing you into what you're trying to avoid.

Besides, it's so much easier on your vehicles brakes too!

A transmission and oil cooler are both good ideas to keep your vehicle healthy!

At least get a surge brake system!

 

There are wireless brake controllers now that seem to be getting good feedback. Go Electric brakes on RVs. Working trailers that get lots of abuse dirt etc surge brakes are a more reliable way to go. My boat was in salt water constantly and essentially could not have trailer brakes the Legacy and the OB handled the 1800lbs of very stable well balanced low height boat/ trailer exceptionally well. But RV type trailers dont tow anywhere as nice and see far more goofy weight distribution changes which is where trailer brakes really help with stability.

 

I figure the difference is that on average we're fatter in the US so the trailer weight has to be lower to offset the driver and passenger weight in the car.

 

No euro specs are based on the strict trailering laws which are low speeds 45-50mph, very different trailer designs regarding suspension which greatly improves braking efficiency etc.

My last trip to Yellowstone we did 10hours doing 80-85mph with my well behaved low profile 900lb trailer in tow. Even then we were passed by a 5th wheel stock trailer no joke doing 90-95mph and countless semi trucks. Towing at 65mph would have been hazardous from a stand point of going too slow for traffic.

We did not do this trip with the Subaru! We took the 4.7L V8 Sequoia.

Could I have taken the Subaru? Yes. But the gear I stowed in the truck would have been lashed to the trailer deck and I would have had to remove it for a hotel stay one night each way. The subaru at 75-80mph with trailer would return about 17mpg average. The truck did 15mpg average there and 14mpg back with a head wind. While at the park sub 50mph speeds we had one tank average of 21mpg with the truck. The Subaru would have been 32mpg.

My dream rig? GMC 2.8L Canyon SLT long bed 4dr 4x4 it will beat the Subaru in mileage crush my Sequoia in towing and is a quiet nice ride.

 

Yes you need brakes! Not worth an accident. As additional cooler is probably advisable if you are traveling in the south in very hot weather with a heavy load or in the mountainous west. I have not found a need in upstate NY.
I purchased the 3.6R with all the bells and whistles and use them all. I tow an Aliner Expedition camper that fully loaded weighs 2900 lbs. I added electric brakes and a friction stabilizer (anti sway) due to the lightly loaded (200 lb.) tongue. I use the factory hitch. Perfect, and I tow at a max of 65 MPH. Travel to Cape Cod and the Adirondack Mountains in New York. I kept all the towing parameters within the recommended maximums. The 3.6 pulls without any problem. Lots of power on the hills. Rear visibility was a problem so I installed a wireless camera on the back of the camper and hang the screen over the rear view mirror. Now I can see all around me. On hot days I can monitor the engine oil and it can creep upwards of 225F if I am pushing it, from a normal flat cruising of 195F - 205F. I can't see what the CVT temp is, but have never had a warning come on. I just back off on the steeps. Awesome car. My first but not my last!

 

If you have a scan gauge try these codes. They work on my 2012 5EAT but do not know if it works on the CVT's.

My 2012 3.6R has a 5EAT and the following X codes give me transmission temperatures.


TXD: 07E1A800000056
RXF: 04E800000000
RXD: 2008
MTH (Celsius): 00010001FFCE
MTH (Fahrenheit): 00090005FFC6
NAME: ATF (or whatever you want)

 

Insurance. Liability. Big ol' highways. You can tow a lot with most cars. The Manufacturers don't want to take the chance with the "I'll Sue!" mentality in America.

 

The current model I have, 2018, has a CVT cooler already in place (you can see it through the grill... it's smaller than the big dogs). I guess one could upgrade it if they wanted but I wouldn't want to touch it until my warranty was done.... if you notice, the Ascent has much larger cooler and a much larger towing capacity.

Brakes.... The real reason you want brakes, from my use, is that if you need to stop you want everything stopping... if the car stops, it is the car's braking that would slow an unchecked trailer... brakes brakes brakes...

 

3.6R 2016, trailer brakes, rear camera on camper, bike rack and sway stabilizer. Don’t usually tow over 60 mph but it is stable over that speed. Trailer load Weighs in at 200 lbs +/- on the hitch and 2750 lbs +/- on the two trailer tires when fully loaded. Within 3,000 towing spec as provided by Subaru dealer when I bought it. Never had a transmission temp alarm come on, but I slow on grades. Handles great. Aliner expedition camper. Ps, I believe trailer towing in Europe is limited to about 50 mph. Americans still want to tow at 80 mph, so the vehicles are derated. Just a hunch.

 

The higher allowable weight.... I think the European laws keep the speed limit down to about 50 MPH..... Slower is always safer and easier on a tow vehicle, which a Subaru Outback is marginal.
Motorways‎: ‎60 mph
Single Carriageways‎: ‎50 mph
Dual Carriageways‎: ‎60 mph
Built-up Areas‎: ‎30 mph

 

Maxed out !

 

I discovered my 2016 3.6R limited Outback has a factory installed, additional CVT fluid cooler in front of the radiator on the left side. This cooler is not supplied on the 3.6R Legacy. I will monitor temperature of the fluid with my new ScanGauge ll once I start towing again.

 

Towing the Aliner Expedition at 2900 lbs. Ambient was 80F. CVT fluid temp max was 210F going up a steep grade, about three miles at 40-45 MPH. Plenty of engine power, but did not push it. On the highway with no grade, at 60-65MPH, the CVT fluid levels out at 185F. I also noticed the engine coolant temp goes down to 195F From a normal of about 200F if the oil temp approaches 210 when going up a grade. I assume the ECU calls for a more open thermostat, because the coolant passes through the oil cooler, which is right at the oil filter, helping to control the oil temperature entering the engine. All in all the 3.6R handles the load very well, although I have the sway control up tight. With the 200lb hitch limit on the outback, sway was real issue before installing the anti sway device. I also beefed up the factory hitch to counteract the bending moment applied when using the anti sway device. Also, I have had up to 300 lbs on the hitch, and the car still rides level, and it’s more stable, so I hope the new 3500 lb. rating for the 2020 outback 2.4 turbo has a higher allowable weight rating. It would also be a help if Subaru installs a 7 pin factory plug n play harness, like comes in trucks. It’s a ton of work to properly install your own. The Ascent model is just to big for us to consider.

 

OST for info

 

Are Factory hitches preferred to aftermarket?

 

Only choice w/"factory hitch" is 1 1/4 in. receiver. I'd venture to say 99.9% of aftermarket installs are 2 in receivers.