Hitch Tongue Weight: 500 lb Ascent, vs traditional 200 lb Outback (2000-2019)

KansasMatthew said:

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

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eagleeye said:

yep, that trailer is out of the question.

what subarus tow usually is things described as "ultralights"

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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.

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KansasMatthew said:

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

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KansasMatthew said:

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.
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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.

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sdwindansea said:

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

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Carl Abrams said:

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

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eagleeye said:

pic or scan on that?

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Christopher,

I'm sending this email to follow up on the tongue weight of the 2019 Subaru Ascent. The tongue weight on the Ascent is 500lbs.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Sincerely,

Brandon Perkins

Sales & Leasing Consultant

Austin Subaru

512.323.2837

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2017Outback256 said:

I'm going with the Pursue w/o the kitchen. I'm likely going to scrap the shelving in front in exchange for something lighter/smaller also. Things like a generator and a 12v refrigerator will go on the rear. I've found that the Outback is rated with a tongue weight of 330lbs in Australia. I also found that the hitch that's equiped there is more in line with the aftermarket types (DrawTite and Curt) that bolt further in on the chassis as opposed to the factory class 2 (undersized for just about any trailer) or the EcoHitch that mount to the bumper. I can't see Subaru producing wildly different chassis across markets. My trailer is coming with brakes to help ease the work on the car's brakes and I may look at the Rallitek springs to keep the suspension/tires good if there's too much squat. There was guy on the inTech owners Facebook group that has a fully loaded Pursue (close to 350) that he tows with a 2017 Outback 2.5. He claims no issues.

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