If you are towing the trailer empty and the tongue weight is 30lb over I highly doubt you will have an issue. When loading and adding weight you can distribute the weight to lighten the tongue load. IMHO
I actually really like the livinglite products. You need to keep in mind that their weights are based on various options included. They will build you a custom trailer per your needs and address your weight concerns also. But to be realistic the 13 is more or less within the go anywhere while packed with some level of fairly normal gear for the trip etc.Subiesailor,
Here are a few of the potential options:
LivinLite 14XLP. Dry weight of only 1500# but a hitch weight of 250#. It does have a rear storage deck so maybe if I load most of my gear on that it would alleviate some of the hitch weight. This is my main contender right now.
LivinLite 13BHB- this one falls within the specs but it is so small!
LivinLIte 16BHB. This one is at 230# tongue weight and 2700 lbs dry weight which I understand is basically already maxed out so probably not an option.
Jayco Jay 1006- This is the second runner up. Only 205# tongue but add a battery and propane and it will get to 230# easily I would imagine.
These are just a few of the ones I have found so far. Thanks for all the replies!
Clearly he doesn't tow squat given he is stating details from Euro spec towing laws which are Dramatically different than US laws not to mention their trailers run very different axle set ups over there than we do. Much lower and very strict towing speeds - mandatory licensing needed for trailer towing - etc etc etc.Mcbrew, what trailer do you tow?
WTF??? Did I not make that clear in my post? Read it again.Clearly he doesn't tow squat given he is stating details from Euro spec towing laws which are Dramatically different than US laws not to mention their trailers run very different axle set ups over there than we do. Much lower and very strict towing speeds - mandatory licensing needed for trailer towing - etc etc etc.
I've ordered a Jayco 1207. It's actually the same travel length as the 1006, but it's laid out differently. You get a queen bed in the back, the kitchen in the middle (better weight distribution and fridge access with the top down), so the base tongue weight is actually 35# lighter. If you add a fridge & furnace to the 1006 (furnace up front rather than behind the axle), along with propane and battery, then fill that front compartment, you'd probably be over 300# on the tongue.Subiesailor,
Here are a few of the potential options:
LivinLite 14XLP. Dry weight of only 1500# but a hitch weight of 250#. It does have a rear storage deck so maybe if I load most of my gear on that it would alleviate some of the hitch weight. This is my main contender right now.
LivinLite 13BHB- this one falls within the specs but it is so small!
LivinLIte 16BHB. This one is at 230# tongue weight and 2700 lbs dry weight which I understand is basically already maxed out so probably not an option.
Jayco Jay 1006- This is the second runner up. Only 205# tongue but add a battery and propane and it will get to 230# easily I would imagine.
These are just a few of the ones I have found so far. Thanks for all the replies!
Like you my TV is a ’14 Outback with the 2.5 and CVT and I’m looking at the Trillium 4500 Classic CR with the Legend Package. I was hoping you would've had a reply by now so perhaps this will help get somebody’s attention.I have a 2014 Subaru OB with the 2.5 CVT combination. I had a 2013, which was demolished by my ex wife, so have a total combined of about 20,000 miles on this year model, and this is my fifth Subaru, fourth new.
Factory spec is 2700 lbs tow capacity with 200 lb hitch weight.
That said, I've pretty well decided on a 16 foot Casita which weighs at 1970-2185 dry weight, and 215 to 255 lbs "approximate" hitch weight, or a Trillium 4500 FS, with a 1700 dry weight, tongue weight unknown. I'm guessing the hitch weight can be lightened by shifting the propane to the back bumper and rear-loading any provisions, waiting till arrival at the campground to fill the water tank, etc. I will be traveling light, with one companion, one or two bicycles and weekend provisions, and intend to remain within a couple of hundred miles of home for the most part. I may travel longer distances alone. So, all totaled, laden weight for the car and trailer combined might go up by 500-600 lbs including the two people, belongings and provisions. That 500-600 lbs can be distributed either in the car or the trailer or both.
The Casita factory rep has told me they have had plenty of experience with the OB without difficulty towing the 16 foot models. I can't, however, find much if any information from owners about their direct experience using 2013 or 14 OB's to tow a Casita or a Trillium 4500. LivinLite is just too expensive, and other models I've found are not suitable for a variety of reasons. The Casita Spirit 16 has a perfect layout, and it looks like the Trillium 4500 could be modified to make it work.
If anyone out there has direct experience with the 2013 or 14 model OB and a 16 foot Casita or Trillium 4500 would you please post a reply to this? I'd like to find out if the OB really is suitable, how stable it is, fuel economy, how the CVT does, etc. Lots of opinions so far on fiberglassrv.com and elsewhere, especially about older Subarus but no direct experience posted with the newer models.
Thanks
Speed vs stability US trailer specs are based on higher speeds, longer trips, longer climbs and hotter temps.Anyone know why the U.S. spec for towing is 1000lbs less (3000lbs vs 4000lbs) than the rest of the entire world? Also, why do U.S. spec cars get half the tongue weight rating (200lbs vs 400lbs) as well? I have searched the specs on UK, AU, ES and other countries and they all get the higher ratings. Is it purely a US legal/DOT issue?