Towing with Outback

[oldnew_guy]

I'm contemplating a cross country move towing a small uhaul trailer (4x8 or 5x8) with my 2017 2.5 Outback (CVT transmission).

I'd need to get a hitch and wiring installed. Should I have the transmission serviced?

Does this car actually have enough power and capacity to do this? I know on paper it should, but my guess is that this is going to not a ton of fun to pull.

[fastfred]

no and no and not
but you can try and you will probably be ok but your car will hate you
I've owed about 6 different lezbarus ranging from 1984 - 2018
they are not made to tow or be loaded down

[Gepeto]

no and no and not
but you can try and you will probably be ok but your car will hate you...

Mmm... I agree. Maybe with the 3.6 or the turbo, but the cvt is gonna get punished no matter what. If the alternatives are nil, then I would not go to much past half the recommended tow weight.

Rebuilt trans swap - 2500$ Indie / $4500 oem

The car is out of warranty? Install a bigger trans cooler

[El Chupacabra]

Is it cheaper to rebuild the transmission or to rent a U Haul van and U Haul car trailer?

Or sell everything that doesn't fit in the Subaru / ship whatever is cheap to palletize and freight.

[adrenalated]

Uhaul truck + car trailer and tow the Subaru FTW.

[snowaddict91]

I'd skip towing with the Subie, the CVT in those is not known for being robust.

[oldnew_guy]

Is it cheaper to rebuild the transmission or to rent a U Haul van and U Haul car trailer?

Or sell everything that doesn't fit in the Subaru / ship whatever is cheap to palletize and freight.

I'm going to do this move twice in the span of 13 months (W-E and then E-W), so most of our stuff is going to sit in storage or be sold, this would mostly be lightweight stuff, I'm not moving furniture.

So, with PODS running north of $2k to ship one way, a 15' truck w/o trailer over $3k one way, this hypothetical transmission rebuild might actually be cheaper than Uhauling twice.

Interested in the palletize and ship option, any info on how that works? I was looking into shipping boxes via Amtrack, but apparently that stopped being available during the pandemic.

[m2711c]

Do it. Ain’t gonna be no problem. If it were, Subaru wouldn’t have built in a receptacle for your towing wiring harness. it’s rated to tow 2700 pounds. Read yer manual.






fact.

[Gepeto]

...Interested in the palletize and ship option, any info on how that works?...

Easy enough, just call your local LTL Shipper (not named Yellow) and give them a factitious load to get you a quote.

Typical pallet dimensions 48"x40"x54h" and your guesstimated weight will get you a competitive rate. Oversized = moe$

eta: Or, you could try one of like what seem to be hundreds of these

https://www.freightrun.com/rate/freight-quote

[RShea]

You could do a few things.

Read your owners manual for towing details- hitch class 1 or exactly what and then total weight. If that does not seem to be a viable option. Then move on to alternatives:

First is if it would fit in a U Haul Trailer, would it also fit in a Van (instead of a moving truck?) If so price out a $19.95 per day U Haul Van (of course plus fuel fill ups) and fill the Subaru with some stuff that may not fit in the van and price out shipping the car (just like purchasing a vehicle and having someone transport it on their trailer...)

Or as stated pack in boxes, stick it on pallet(s) and shrink wrap or strap the pallet and price out a TLT shipment. If you have flexibility on pickup and delivery times that may be a bit cheaper. Many web sites for TLT to get an idea of the pricing. Otherwise you are doing UPS, USPS or FedEx with each box and something like one of the shipping web sites like Pirate Ship for estimates or calculate the box dimensions, weight and insured values for each box.

[PNWbrit]

You could do a few things.

Read your owners manual for towing details- hitch class 1 or exactly what and then total weight. If that does not seem to be a viable option. Then move on to alternatives:

First is if it would fit in a U Haul Trailer, would it also fit in a Van (instead of a moving truck?) If so price out a $19.95 per day U Haul Van (of course plus fuel fill ups) and fill the Subaru with some stuff that may not fit in the van and price out shipping the car (just like purchasing a vehicle and having someone transport it on their trailer...)

Or as stated pack in boxes, stick it on pallet(s) and shrink wrap or strap the pallet and price out a TLT shipment. If you have flexibility on pickup and delivery times that may be a bit cheaper. Many web sites for TLT to get an idea of the pricing. Otherwise you are doing UPS, USPS or FedEx with each box and something like one of the shipping web sites like Pirate Ship for estimates or calculate the box dimensions, weight and insured values for each box.

I don't think U-Haul allow cross-country van rentals? And the $19.95 a day also comes with 69 cents a mile so another ~$2k

[fleaches]

Uhaul also does u-boxes, which are sort of a cheaper version of pods

https://www.uhaul.com/UBox/

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[jackattack]

When I moved from UT to PA in 2012 I bought a 4x8 utility trailer off Craigslist for $300 and towed it with a 2008 Outback. I'm sure I was overcapacity with the car packed to the gills and an xxl thule on the roof. It was fine if I kept it under 75mph on the flats and followed the big rigs over the passes. It did the job and I sold it for what I paid when I got to PA. I did a transmission service soon after that, but it was the old 4spd slushbox.

Uhaul equipment is overbuilt and very heavy. It will probably exceed your towing capacity long before you fill it. This particularly applies to the enclosed trailers.

I used to recommend ABF Upack for these types of moves, but I'm sure prices on shipping have increased astronomically in the last decade, so I see the appeal of a DIY approach.

[oldnew_guy]

When I moved from UT to PA in 2012 I bought a 4x8 utility trailer off Craigslist for $300 and towed it with a 2008 Outback. I'm sure I was overcapacity with the car packed to the gills and an xxl thule on the roof. It was fine if I kept it under 75mph on the flats and followed the big rigs over the passes. It did the job and I sold it for what I paid when I got to PA. I did a transmission service soon after that, but it was the old 4spd slushbox.

Uhaul equipment is overbuilt and very heavy. It will probably exceed your towing capacity long before you fill it. This particularly applies to the enclosed trailers.

I used to recommend ABF Upack for these types of moves, but I'm sure prices on shipping have increased astronomically in the last decade, so I see the appeal of a DIY approach.

I've been debating the buy a enclosed trailer and sell it on the other end approach as well. Or just store it somewhere for a year.

Trailer weight and balance will be key as I'll have a full car, maybe doing some sight seeing on the way. I'm not going to Cannonball it.

[schuss]

What type of sightseeing? Having a trailer is a PITA if you're planning on extended off route excursions. As someone that's done every flavor of xc move - do you really need all that stuff for the 13 months or can you do without some things?
We POD'd to SF and threw out/gave away a third of our stuff in the ensuing 6 months.

[johnnyg82]

Have you looked into uShip?

Guys with space in their trucks will bid on your stuff to fill the space in their trucks. You pack it, they pick up and move it.

[tenB]

It’s not just the transmission that takes a beating towing. If you’re going to keep the car I wouldn’t tow a trailer across the country, especially a heavy ass uhaul trailer.

[LHutz Esq]

Ya - gotta do the the ol' football in the springs trick to diy air suspension that bad boy.

[Rideski]

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Uhaul truck + car trailer and tow the Subaru FTW.

I did this from Brooklyn to Colorado. Worked just fine.

[Danno]

Don't just look at tow capacity, think about the total weight (payload, GVWR). If you're filling the car with stuff, plus you, plus whatever the tongue weight of the loaded trailer is, you may exceed that number. And that will also lead to problems other than just the transmission.

[MakersTeleMark]

Downsize for a short time and pm the guy who moved with his family to Singapore and enjoy your light life.

[skaredshtles]

Downsize for a short time and pm the guy who moved with his family to Singapore and enjoy your light life.

This. Storage shed would have to be less expensive for the time period. And even if it isn't... the extra cost would be worth the reduced hassle, I'd think.

[HHTELE]

Towed from Maine to Truckee in a 96 outback pulling a 4 x 8 trailer fully loaded with outdoor gear- bikes, boats, skis......
Made it back, no problem.
Can't address the durability of the cvt, but I towed today with a 2017 OB 4 cyl with CVT. It towed fine.

[muted reborn]

Is there any actual proof Subarus get ruined from towing? I towed a snowmobile with my Subaru to AK once and Whistler multiple times. And to Utah from Montana a bunch, Cooke City, etc. I realize one snowmobile is much lighter than a fully loaded Uhaul but there was a ton of passes, dirt roads, potholes and more - I can't imagine a Subaru would fall apart from a few days of towing on the open highway taking it slow on passes and just cruising otherwise. And if it will ruin it while under the recommended towing capacity - why the fuck would you by that brand?