Need Tow Vehicle Advice

[Becky B]

Just got a 13' 1985 Uhaul. Currently we have a 1/2 ton pickup to pull it but would like something that uses less fuel and is still safe w/enough power.

Is an Outback in the ballpark? I have read a little and understand them to pull better than some mini SUVs like RAV 4, etc...

Can we have brakes put on it and should we? Thanks.

[Robin G]

My suggestion would be to get your trailer all set up to go, then go weight it and all you plan to travel with.


Then when you got a rough idea of the weight, it will be easier to figure out what tow vehicle would be best for your daily and your camping/towing needs. Good Luck!

[Daniel A.]

Best guess would be your no more than 1500-1600 pounds loaded that's total weight, tongue and trailer giving 200 for the tongue and 1300 for the trailer.
There are many options for you the Outback being one.

I'd be looking for something better in fuel consumption than the truck as well.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Robin G

My suggestion would be to get your trailer all set up to go, then go weight it and all you plan to travel with.


Then when you got a rough idea of the weight, it will be easier to figure out what tow vehicle would be best for your daily and your camping/towing needs. Good Luck!

Don't forget to add the weight of passengers and added stuff you haul in your tow vehicle for camping such as food , beverages ,screen room, clothing ,chairs, tools , water, etc etc . All of it adds in to your GCVW . I haul my 16 ft Scamp with a 1/2 ton pickup but sometimes when I'm hauling all the things my wife takes along I think I should have a 3/4 ton truck

[Donna D.]

I'm absolutely WITH Robin. If I was looking to replace my tug (and I'm not), I would want to know precisely what MY trailer weighed... not someone elses. I would be the one making the buy (and possible tug payment) and I couldn't afford to make a financial mistake.

THAT said, think about this... how often will you ACTUALLY go camping? I see you're in Oregon... we have great parks all over the state. How far will you drive each trip? How many trips with your current tug (and higher fuel costs) will it take to EQUAL the expense of a new tug? Somewhere in the future, it makes sense. But unless you're going camping frequently, you may want to reconsider a new purchase.... especially if your truck is paid for. To me, there are always better reasons than just fuel... like needing a daily commuter and only want to have one vehicle, passenger capacity, etc.

[DMAC1]

We sometimes forget that a bit of extra fuel can be cheaper than changing vehicles, if you are needing or wanting to change tow vehicle anyway its a moot point, but vehicles are expensive and replacing them is ushaualy very expensive. We just sold our old stick trailer and are downsizing to a 19 ft escape and i do plan to down size my tow but it will have to wait for the budget to acomidate it. so we will have a much bigger tow vehicle than we need for a couple of years.

[honda03842]

I think the economics of the tow vehicle is in some measure dependent on your trailer use and your wallet.

If you rarely travel and/or need an uneconomical vehicle for farm or work, than a big tow vehicle may be acceptable.

In our case we travel most of the year and an economical tow vehicle pays for itself. For this year we have also travelled well over 20,000 miles and getting 23 mpg is 'wallet significant'.

Our tow vehicle is our only vehicle, another economic advantage. When we're home we just can't justify a an efficient vehicle for everyday driving.

For us the secondary consideration is vehicle reliability. We desire reliability not just because of the cost advantage but because we travel to many truly out of the way places and it's nice not to have to worry about the reliability.

Being retired, the wallet is a consideration. (I'm not crying poverty because we've been on the road for 11 years and spent a considerable sum of money however we are careful and try to be as efficiant as possible.)

[Mike Magee]

Most Subaru models would make a good tug for your trailer. Plenty of people use them to tow little eggs. A Rav4 would also be good, and with the v6 it would have more power but still very good fuel economy.

About brakes, if your axle has brackets on either side where the brakes can be mounted, then yes you can add them. If not, a new axle with brakes could be your answer (figure maybe $700 roughly for that).

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Most Subaru models would make a good tug for your trailer.

I agree with Mike as someone who has towed with an Outback for 5 years. You will not be disappointed with its ability not only at towing but as an everyday ride. As others have said though it is *really* important to confirm what your actual trailer ways before making decisions as to any tug.

[Charlie H. Tubbs]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Most Subaru models would make a good tug for your trailer. Plenty of people use them to tow little eggs. A Rav4 would also be good, and with the v6 it would have more power but still very good fuel economy.

About brakes, if your axle has brackets on either side where the brakes can be mounted, then yes you can add them. If not, a new axle with brakes could be your answer (figure maybe $700 roughly for that).

Mike could you tell me if you have transmission cooler on your Outback
I have a 2012 Outback overdrive and manual.
Thanks, Charlie

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by Daniel A.

Best guess

Why guess? Weight it! Then you know exactly!

[spotcatbug]

Where do you go to get trailers weighed?

[glamourpets]

Our '06 Subaru Forester is rated for 2400lbs with trailer brakes. This is pretty good for a crossover. The 2009 Forester is now a mid-sized SUV.

Some of the truck diesel fuel stops have scales. In some places, the highway truck scales are left on when there is nobody there to enforce the rules.

[Radar1]

Our 08 4 cyl Outback with automatic and extra trans cooler (don't know if the trans cooler is needed but it's extra insurance for my mind) is rated at 2700 lbs and pulls our 16' Scamp nicely. The only issue is that the tongue weight limit imposed by Subaru is 200 lbs and you have to be creative to keep the tongue that light.
I read that the 2013 Ford Escape with the 2.0 litre Ecotec 4 cyl engine is rated to pull 3500 lbs so that might be a good TV also.
I weighed mine at a CAT scale and the first weigh costs about $12, and a reweigh is only $1, so you can weigh everything empty, and then weigh again loaded to see the difference.

[Daniel A.]

Originally Posted by Robin G

Why guess? Weight it! Then you know exactly!

Yes you know exactly for one trip !!!!!!

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by Charlie H. Tubbs

Mike could you tell me if you have transmission cooler on your Outback
I have a 2012 Outback overdrive and manual.
Thanks, Charlie

I don't have an Outback, sorry. Mine is a '08 Highlander... same V6 as the Rav.

[SherryNPaul]

Originally Posted by Robin G

My suggestion would be to get your trailer all set up to go, then go weight it and all you plan to travel with.


Then when you got a rough idea of the weight, it will be easier to figure out what tow vehicle would be best for your daily and your camping/towing needs. Good Luck!

I wish we had a "like" button here, as we do on facebook.
Good advice, Robin.
Sherry

[Daniel A.]

Trailer weights in the real world thread.
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1260_____180_____1440
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____150_____1550
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____160_____1560



Now of course if the 100 pounds will put you over the top then a smart car is not the way to go.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Daniel A.

Trailer weights in the real world thread.
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1260_____180_____1440
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____150_____1550
_13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____160_____1560

Now of course if the 100 pounds will put you over the top then a smart car is not the way to go.

LOL based on the numbers above it looks like the Outback depending on which model was purchased would give them between 1200lbs and 1500lbs of extra wiggle room.

[Daniel A.]

Clearly they will need a bigger trailer. LOL