Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
Expect a loaded-for-camping Trillium 1300 to weigh 1500-1800# with a tongue weight of 160-200#. A tow rating of 2000/200# (trailer/tongue) is the minimum required.
Most recent (pre-2020) Outbacks are rated 2700/200#, which will work nicely as long as you don’t carry too much in the way of extra people or gear in the vehicle.
If you plan frequent towing in the mountains or extra passengers and/or gear, you may find one of many 3500/350# rated mid-sized crossovers to be a better choice.
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Jon nailed it. And if your location "Washington" = Washington State, then I would look for the latter: 3,500 pound rating. Having lived, camped, and towed for 13 years in WA State, my favorite camping was in the Cascade Mtns, near Chinook Pass. My second favorite was a variety of central to eastern WA locations, to
escape the wet weather in western WA. Places like Lincoln Rock State Park for example.
You will be pulling multiple mountain grades, and one of the toughest in WA State in my experience was the Vantage Grade on I-90, west bound, coming out of the Columbia River gorge, in desert heat, up a long grade. My first "properly sized" TV crested that grade at 29MPH, with smoke rolling out under the hood...... Its about 11 miles as I recall. Not super steep, but LONG and HOT (in the summer).
People in flatter areas can assert they have no problems with almost anything. But the mountains and the heat are great equalizers. And going up a freeway grade at 29MPH is not safe, and a hinderance for other vehicles!
Important: many car tow ratings vary by year and how it is equipped for the same model. For example, some RAV 4s have a 1500 pound rating, others have a 3500 pound rating. Sellers will rarely to never know the tow rating of their vehicle, and if they give you a number, it could be wrong. So it is up to you to do the research of the rating.