[smitopher]

I got a factory hitch for my 2017 3.6 OB from the dealer when I b

I'm looking at something like the attached picture. I was just at the rv dealer and we put the the trailer hitch on a scale and it came in at 350 lbs.

The factory hitch max tongue is 200 lbs?

This is empty. I'll likely add 50 to 80 lbs of battery which goes in the front.

So is this out of the question?

 

[eagleeye]

yep, that trailer is out of the question.

what subarus tow usually is things described as "ultralights"

_______

that looks like a rather large and heavy thing on the end of the scale, for those looking for single axle things like tear drops.

and what you got there is something made to tow by a light body on frame truck or SUV.



and in that particular one I would think there is no way to shift enough weight onto the ass end to lighten 150# on the front. (it is just made to be towed by things that can take its load there....and do it well,.

..so if you got a chevy tahoe, with a 500# tongue limit, this is a beast for you,...and you can really load it up.
______

if you want to see pics of trailers on this forum click here. most of them are the right kind. (although a few odd monsters in the bunch).

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...0i30k1j0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.rOm28pdNRS0

 

[KansasMatthew]

The towing capacity is listed as 200# tongue wt. Factory hitch or not, that's the limitation based on the frame of the vehicle.

 

[smitopher]

The towing capacity is listed as 200# tongue wt. Factory hitch or not, that's the limitation based on the frame of the vehicle.

So all of the discussion here about ecohitch or drawtight does not make a difference? Whether I had a hitch that was "rated" at 350 or 600 lbs, that much tongue weight is out of spec for the vehicle?

At first I was bummed that I spent over $500 on the OEM setup. Now I'm bummed that it doesn't matter.

 

[KansasMatthew]

So all of the discussion here about ecohitch or drawtight does not make a difference? Whether I had a hitch that was "rated" at 350 or 600 lbs, that much tongue weight is out of spec for the vehicle?

At first I was bummed that I spent over $500 on the OEM setup. Now I'm bummed that it doesn't matter.

Yeah, be satisfied with what you have, and have fun with it. It will be OK.

Hitch classifications fit various towing capacities, but they can outperform the vehicle they are mounted to. In the case of Subaru, and probably many other car manufacturers, the frame strength is less than the full capacity of the hitch. Just because the hitch can take a 600lb load, doesn't mean the frame of the vehicle that supports the hitch can take it. For a truck or full size SUV with solid beams on the frame that's one thing, on a Subaru or other vehicle with thin, lightweight, box-beams that's a totally different story.

The discussion about ecohitch or drawtite DOES make a difference, just not in towing capacity or tongue wt capacity because they both out-spec the Outback. The differences are how they are mounted, how much ground clearance they provide, looks, ease of installation, price, and probably others.

The 200lb tongue weight is pretty light, I think, but that's just the way it is, and it's a limitation of the frame and not necessarily the hitch.

 

[smitopher]

yep, that trailer is out of the question.

what subarus tow usually is things described as "ultralights"

_______

that looks like a rather large and heavy thing on the end of the scale, for those looking for single axle things like tear drops.

and what you got there is something made to tow by a light body on frame truck or SUV.



and in that particular one I would think there is no way to shift enough weight onto the ass end to lighten 150# on the front. (it is just made to be towed by things that can take its load there....and do it well,.

..so if you got a chevy tahoe, with a 500# tongue limit, this is a beast for you,...and you can really load it up.

Yeah, be satisfied with what you have, and have fun with it. It will be OK.

Bitter medicine :crying:

I was looking at teardrops and I got concerned about feeling claustrophobic. I sat in a Max Flyer+, saw that it was in range of towing capacity, got excited.

Then the salesman looked at my hitch and threw the cold water on my face.

Oh well... Be happy with what I can have and have fun.

 

[eagleeye]

the little trailers that subarus typically pull have the axle right under the middle of the body. so as to be able to balance the load off the tongue.


claustrophobia:

things like pop ups / crank outs / crank ups ("high /low") give more room for little space, tent sided pop ups really do it with little weight.


plenty of small tear drops also running around with multiple awnings and extra tents.

 

[smitopher]

Hitch classifications fit various towing capacities, but they can outperform the vehicle they are mounted to. In the case of Subaru, and probably many other car manufacturers, the frame strength is less than the full capacity of the hitch. Just because the hitch can take a 600lb load, doesn't mean the frame of the vehicle that supports the hitch can take it. For a truck or full size SUV with solid beams on the frame that's one thing, on a Subaru or other vehicle with thin, lightweight, box-beams that's a totally different story.
...
The 200lb tongue weight is pretty light, I think, but that's just the way it is, and it's a limitation of the frame and not necessarily the hitch.

I went to my dealer (Austin Subaru). I spoke with a "design consultant" and she got back to me with the suggestion that she can get me a hitch with a tongue weight rating of 600 lbs.

OK, how much faith would y'all put in what she has told me?

The you say about the frame of an OB being the limiting factor makes sense to me.

And maybe I should just consider an Assent.

 

[eagleeye]

I went to my dealer (Austin Subaru). I spoke with a "design consultant" and she got back to me with the suggestion that she can get me a hitch with a tongue weight rating of 600 lbs.

OK, how much faith would y'all put in what she has told me?

The you say about the frame of an OB being the limiting factor makes sense to me.

And maybe I should just consider an Assent.

the "person" appears to be a outside contractor selling bigger tougher hitches. however the tongue weight is the car, with its wimpy 200lb max tongue weight unibody. (over load the car even with a huge hitch, and it will still bend the car).

people put aftermarket 2" hitches on subarus all the time though. (so they don't need adapters for things that are 2")

the only way to get around that is to custom weld extra steal on the car underneath. people have done it
$$$ unless your inlaws are custom welders that work for beer.
(like going from triple layers to 4 or 5 layers).

I have yet to see what the Ascent's tongue weight is coming up to,
...but the hitch is massive and the listed max weight tow limit is 5000lbs. which brings it in line with other similar sized SUVs.

(lots of typing on here about the Ascent and its jump in towing over the outback here. ....maybe more will come out in april.....

people are ordering Ascents now, ...maybe get them in the end of June. @Carl Abrams may be able to suggest better. (and I would buy a car from him)

 

[jasonojordan]

As previously stated. You can go with aftermarket receivers that have a higher tongue weight like a class III receiver. But its still limited to 200lbs by how it is attached to the vehicle. So going with a class III receiver with a higher weight capacity is just throwing money away.

 

[sdwindansea]

I'm also thinking that anything with a tongue weight of 350 lbs plus will probably exceed the overall towing weight of the Outback.

 

[KansasMatthew]

I went to my dealer (Austin Subaru). I spoke with a "design consultant" and she got back to me with the suggestion that she can get me a hitch with a tongue weight rating of 600 lbs.

OK, how much faith would y'all put in what she has told me?

The you say about the frame of an OB being the limiting factor makes sense to me.

And maybe I should just consider an Assent.

My own hitch (aftermarket) has a hefty tounge wt rating, too. So, yeah, technically she's telling the truth.

But the Outback limit is still #200 because of the frame.

 

[smitopher]

heh... it appears that if I want anything bigger than a teardrop... and I want solar/batteries which seem to go in front... and I'll be dragging this trailer down back roads...

It ain't gonna be no Outback doing the dragging.

I can't find ANYTHING about the tongue weight spec for the Assent. Anyone seen a spec anywhere?

Modding my 2017 Outback sounds like it would be more expensive than trading it for an Assent.

 

[smitopher]

I'm also thinking that anything with a tongue weight of 350 lbs plus will probably exceed the overall towing weight of the Outback.

What I want: Explore Flyer Mini Camper

Weight Range: 1400 - 2050 lbs
Tongue Weight Range: 290 - 390 lbs

What my OB supports

Weight: 3000 lbs
Tongue Weight: 200 lbs

So total weight is ok. Just out of spec on the tongue weight.

 

[Carl Abrams]

What I want: Explore Flyer Mini Camper

Weight Range: 1400 - 2050 lbs
Tongue Weight Range: 290 - 390 lbs

What my OB supports

Weight: 3000 lbs
Tongue Weight: 200 lbs

So total weight is ok. Just out of spec on the tongue weight.

Let me fix that for you:

What my OB supports

Weight: 2700 lbs
Tongue Weight: 200 lbs

Subaru changed the specs on what is acceptable towing weight. And tongue weight literally means the downward force at the tongue. While it's potentially possible, though creative loading, to change the tongue weight, what can happen is you hit a bump, things move, and then you've bent your car.

 

[smitopher]

Let me fix that for you:
..., and then you've bent your car.

:surprise:
You say that like it's a bad thing >

Any official word on the Assent tongue weight spec?

 

[smitopher]

Well well well... I brought in my ob for a service, asked about the assent tongue weight... and...

277 lbs.

So... that is rather a... unfortunate limit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[subiesailor]

I got a factory hitch for my 2017 3.6 OB from the dealer when I b

I'm looking at something like the attached picture. I was just at the rv dealer and we put the the trailer hitch on a scale and it came in at 350 lbs.

The factory hitch max tongue is 200 lbs?

This is empty. I'll likely add 50 to 80 lbs of battery which goes in the front.

So is this out of the question?

Intec trailers are great but you need to go with the one size down trailer. Or wait and trade your OB in for a bigger OB called an Ascent. 5000lb tow rating and should have a 500lb toung weight rating

 

[subiesailor]

Its called the chase.

Chase Flyer Mini Camper

If your solo or just two up the chase is a nice option. 4 up with family I would trade to the Ascent and get the Persue. Flip out bunk for mom and dad and a disc-o-bunk bed cot for the kids. Yep been thinking about these!

We camp a bunch currently use a Lifetime tent/Utility trailer which is awesome but set up time and tear down is way too long. I also need to retain junk/gear hauling ability. The Intec idea with slide out kitchen, awning, and rear loading double doors would make for a perfect rig for us.

The Disc-o-bunk bed is a heavy built bunk system that can double as a couch with the top bunk fillped down creating a back to the bottom bunk aka bunk couch etc.

 

[subiesailor]

Well well well... I brought in my ob for a service, asked about the assent tongue weight... and...

277 lbs.

So... that is rather a... unfortunate limit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No wrong

277 is the engine max FT LB output at 2000rpm. To be rated for 5000lbs and 3across 3rd row seating the Ascent will have a max tongue weight around 500lbs or more.