Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Toads and Motorhome Related Towing
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-11-2016, 03:27 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
2010 Subaru Legacy GT as toad

We are going to need a toad. The motor home will probably be a Bay Star so the towed needs to be lighter than our Sierra which is easy to set up.

Roadmaster (but not Blue Ox) makes a baseplate. There are two possible problems I can see:

1) Ground clearance on the GT is less than the stock Legacy. According to roadmaster this will not be a problem with the base plate installation.

2) At 130,000 miles is it worth spending the money on the baseplate and towing setup?

If we replace the Subaru our ideal vehicle would be a lightweight AWD with automatic transmission but it's hard to find one under 4,000lbs.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-11-2016, 03:31 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
You didn't mention it, but it is a manual transmission? Subaru automatics can't be towed.

How long will you use the car as a toad? 130,000 mi is pretty common for a Subbie, they can go much further if maintained.
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 03:47 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
It's a six speed manual, and I didn't have to make any expensive repairs on our WRX until 210,000 miles so I know how long these can last.

We'd run the Legacy for a few more years or until something major (car or left leg) breaks. DW is already running on plate and screws, so any replacement would be an automatic.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 03:59 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
My Beetle has about 4" ground clearance. Other than replacing the plastic belly pan with an aluminum plate, I've not had any issues with towing behind our RV. (The plastic pan was broken long before I started towing it)
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 04:43 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 173
I have a 2009 outback XT as a toad ... More ground clearance so I can't talk from there. ... But at 140k miles i don't hesitate to tow it or put money into it. It's a great toad and fun to drive when I get there

Base plate install isn't bad if you are mechanically inclined. I did it by myself one Saturday afternoon at home. I did the blue ox.
trs80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 06:35 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
2010 Subaru Legacy GT as toad

4" ground clearance is about what I have on the Legacy GT.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 06:50 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Snowbird - Waterford Mi and Citrus Springs Fl.
Posts: 3,609
If you're looking to replace it, the older CR-V's w/automatic and AWD work out great. Decent road clearance (easy to climb in and out!) and they last forever as well. Just avoid the newest series which has the constant speed tranny. Those are not towable.
__________________
1997 37' HR Endeavor, 275hp Cat, Freightliner
03 CR-V Blue Ox, Ready Brake
ahicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 06:52 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 173
Are you worried about the angle for the towbar?

If not, the only reason I have more is for the of chance I do a forest service road or something ambitious. When towing, if you don't scrape driving it you won't scrape towing it.

I use a dual hitch receiver with a drop for the car and a top one for the bike rack. It helps get my tow bar level. I did have to flip it when I went from my gas a to the dp because I didn't need so much drop.
trs80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 07:25 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 173
now that I think about it ..I think mine is a 2006

not that is matters
trs80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2016, 07:39 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
At this point I know enough to try to identify problems before they happen if possible. The motorhome hasn't been ordered yet so we have some time.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2016, 02:34 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
We just ordered the coach and need to get back to the toad.

Given that the baseplate will be roadmaster, should I stick to roadmaster for the tow bar?

There are very few roadmaster dealers in the area - it seems they all use blue ox.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2016, 03:04 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 173
I went with the blue ox .... Sorry
trs80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2016, 08:08 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
knightstorm's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,152
I've been in touch with roadmaster and blue ox.

At this time I'm looking at the crossbar style roadmaster baseplate.

This was recommended because the crossbar has a higher connection point, the Legacy GT is lower that the Legacy and Outback, and I will need a drop hitch in any case.

I'll probably go with the falcon all-terrain towbar if go all roadmaster.
__________________
2017 Newmar Bay Star 3113.

Former owner of a Morgan powered Bennington
knightstorm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
toad



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Towing a 2010 Subaru Outback Hermosa Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 8 11-06-2012 06:13 PM
2001 Subaru Legacy Manual Transmission kady101 Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 2 01-12-2011 08:17 PM
Subaru Outback as a TOAD ImagineIF Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 13 09-24-2010 12:07 PM
Subaru as a TOAD CaptPat Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 10 02-06-2010 09:41 AM
Towing a '96 Subaru Legacy SW--5 speed billbale Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 1 11-04-2009 08:28 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.