Join CruisersForum Today
Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Subaru Outback as dinghy
Old 09-04-2011, 11:36 AM   #1
Band Aid 06 is offline
Junior Member
Band Aid 06's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 24
I tow a 2011 Subaru with a manual transmission four down with a BrakeBuddy behind a 2012 Phaeton. No problems except that the battery will be found to be discharged after a day’s towing. I had a toad-charger installed two days ago. I towed the Outback to the shop where the charger was installed (90 miles round trip) and when I unhooked after returning home, the battery was discharged. Any thoughts re the cause and solution to this problem ? Thanks.

__________________
  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 09-04-2011, 12:45 PM   #2
frankdamp is offline
Senior Member


Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA (Stick & Brick)
Posts: 1,087
According to all the lists i've looked at, NO Subaru can be towed, except in an emergency breakdawn for a short distance. They can't be dolly towed either, snce the 4WD can't be disconnected and so must be trailered. As far as I understood, the restricyion apples to both auto and stick transmissions.

__________________
Frank and Eileen Damp -Anacortes, WA.
One Lab (a rescued yellow male) - Bailey 9 in July
02 Georgetown 325, Ford F53 with V10
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 01:05 PM   #3
ka6bud is offline
Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 66
I have towed a 04 forester manual for years 4 down no problems at all Can not speak for 2011


Joe(Ka6bud)
__________________
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 01:53 PM   #4
Band Aid 06 is offline
Junior Member
Band Aid 06's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 24
According to Subaru, the Outback AWD with manual transmission can be towed flat and I have done so since Jan11 for more 6,000 miles without issue except for discharging the battery.

From Subaru
3. Can I tow a Subaru behind my motorhome?
AWD Subaru vehicles with manual transmissions can be towed with all four wheels on the ground and the transmission in neutral.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 01:54 PM   #5
wirelessenab is online now
Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 85
Manual transmission Subarus can be towed 4 down, see

https://www.subaru.com/my-subaru/faq.html

I have towed my 00 Outback manual for the last 3 years and about 15,000 miles with no ill effect.

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankdamp View Post
According to all the lists i've looked at, NO Subaru can be towed, except in an emergency breakdawn for a short distance. They can't be dolly towed either, snce the 4WD can't be disconnected and so must be trailered. As far as I understood, the restricyion apples to both auto and stick transmissions.
__________________
97 Discovery 36RS
00 Subaru
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 04:37 PM   #6
sandpiper is offline
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: oregon
Posts: 52
Manual tranny Subarus are flat towable. I towed 1999 and 2008 Outback wagons with absolutely no problems and no restrictions. As for why the battery discharges, especially with a Toad Charger, I have no idea. Make sure you aren't in the accessory position. As I recall I went to accessory then lightly pushed in and backed off with the key until it sort of found a "notch" at which point the radio or whatever was powered up, turned off. You can also lock the doors with the key in the ignition so if you are having any trouble with that, let me know.
__________________
John
2007 Fleetwood Fiesta LX W22/Banks
Towing 2011 Ford Edge
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 06:47 PM   #7
SRT is offline
SRT
Senior Member
SRT's Avatar
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Head of the Lakes, Minnesota
Posts: 500
I found with our '98 Outback that with the key in the accessory position (so the steering would turn) that the backlight for the radio display stayed on, Even with the time display and radio turned off, the battery would drain after 2 days travel, even after pulling the radio fuse. There has to be a current draw some where other than the Brake Buddy I use. I've ended up running the engine for 10-15 min every day to keep the battery up.

I've also put the largest battery in that will fit the space. Several times in the past I've cranked up the MH generator and used the battery charger to recharge the toad battery.
__________________
FMCA# 266040 HRRVC# 84109
2000 32' HR Vacationer w/Banks
'98 Subaru Outback 5 spd toad
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-04-2011, 08:47 PM   #8
sandpiper is offline
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: oregon
Posts: 52
SRT,

You need to go one more notch so that the radio backlight goes out. The steering will still be unlocked.
__________________
John
2007 Fleetwood Fiesta LX W22/Banks
Towing 2011 Ford Edge
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 05:14 AM   #9
Band Aid 06 is offline
Junior Member
Band Aid 06's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 24
Sandpiper, I will give that a try when we go out this week. I have been carrying a charger with me for occasional use and have also beening rujnning the care or hooking up the charger at the end of the day. Hope to avoid both.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 06:13 AM   #10
CaptPat is offline
Senior Member
CaptPat's Avatar
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 158
Why not just run the charging line from the MH to the Subaru? After I did that I never had an issue with the Subaru battering being discharged.
__________________
2009 Monaco Camelot - PressurePro TPMS
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Blue Ox Aventa LX/Unified Tow Brake
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 08:07 AM   #11
sandpiper is offline
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: oregon
Posts: 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptPat View Post
Why not just run the charging line from the MH to the Subaru? After I did that I never had an issue with the Subaru battering being discharged.
I would do that, too, just to have peace of mind.
__________________
John
2007 Fleetwood Fiesta LX W22/Banks
Towing 2011 Ford Edge
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 08:23 AM   #12
Wayne M is online now
Senior Member
Wayne M's Avatar


Winnebago Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,562
Myself, I would consider putting in a quick disconnect switch like on the motorhomes. Any braking system could be run directly off the battery.

What ever decision, good luck.
__________________
Wayne MSgt USMC (Ret)
2008 Destination 39W
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 09:22 AM   #13
BigV is offline
Senior Member
BigV's Avatar


Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Lakebay, WA
Posts: 174
Why not just remove the locking pin on the steering wheel?
__________________
  Reply With Quote
   
Old 09-05-2011, 10:06 AM   #14
Band Aid 06 is offline
Junior Member
Band Aid 06's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 24
How does one remove the pin ?

__________________
  Reply With Quote
   
Reply


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
Lexus ES/Toyota Camry as a Dinghy howelljh Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 8 08-07-2011 10:35 AM
Subaru Outback as a TOAD ImagineIF Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 13 09-24-2010 12:07 PM
Outback 210 RS VS. Jayco 213 RS GRodriguez Expandables, Hybrids, & Lightweights Discussion 1 10-28-2009 10:06 PM
Can a Subaru Outback be towed 4-down? jasonm Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 6 04-29-2008 02:50 PM
Subaru Outback Rick Coleman Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 7 04-08-2008 01:26 PM

Download our Mobile App






1% for the Planet
» Upcoming Rallies
No events scheduled in
the next 365 days.
» iRV2 on facebook

Our Communities

Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.

» More about our Communities

Automotive Communities

Our Automotive communities encompass many different makes and models. From U.S. domestics to European Saloons.

» More about our Automotive Communities

RV & Travel Trailer Communities

Our RV & Travel Trailer sites encompasses virtually all types of Recreational Vehicles, from brand-specific to general RV communities.

» More about our RV Communities

Marine Communities

Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.

» More about our Marine Communities


Copyright 2002-2012 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:53 PM.