1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

[bwj75]

Hi all

Just got my first boat. 19' Starcraft center console with a 90 hp Mercury, on a single axle trailer. I will not have a pick up to tow this with for at least six months. I have a 1996 Subaru Outback, which I could have set up with a hitch, these are rated to tow 2000 lb. I will be towing the boat less than 1 mile to the boat ramp. No big hills. I figure boat is 1500-1700 lb, motor 300, trailer I am not sure. So it is going to be right or a bit over the towing rating of the car.

The trailer does not have brakes.

My question, is this a reasonable tow or am I too close to the limits of the car???

Thanks for any help.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

You would be over the limits. You could probably get away with it, but do you really want to take that chance? I would just wait, no use getting someone hurt over it.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

My grandparents were looking at a new subaru outback a few years back and Didn't buy it after the DEALERSHIP told them not to tow anything with it even though it has a 2000# towing capacity. Can you do it, yes. Should you, No. My friend has a 20.5' starcraft CC with a 110 on the back and his S10 blazer has alot of trouble towing it and it has a 4000# tow rating.

 

[JB]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

That is likely to break your Subaru, BWJ, and possibly get someone hurt.

Borrow a suitable tow vehicle for that short trip or buy a beater pickup.

 

[Esox]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Even if it's only a mile it's still not safe. As JB said find a suitable tow vehicle instead.

 

[jtexas]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

the frame has to hold it up.
the engine has to pull it (up the ramp).
the brakes have to stop it.

Wouldn't surprise me if you're closer to 3000. how'd you estimate the hull weight? published hull weights are usually without any rigging at all. add fuel, water toys, batteries, gear.

Still, less than a mile, new boat sitting in the garage, might be too tempting..........don't do it, but if you do, at least understand the risk...........you will need much more pavement to stop that beast - don't underestimate that. And if it is over 2000, how will that affect your insurance and warranty?
.................got a friend or a brother-in-law with a truck?

 

[unixgeek13]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

You should also note that a good rule of thumb is to only tow within 75% of the rated capacity. That gives you room for a fudge factor...

Will the Outback pull it? probably. Would anybody really want to be in that car, or worse... in front of it??!!?? Not me.

 

[Windykid]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Remember better safe than sorry!!!!

 

[92blkl98]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

I tow my 1993 Stratos 285 Pro XL single axle trailer with my 4X4 S10 Blazer. The tow rating according to the MFR is 6000# but the S10 definitely knows it's there. The 4.3l engine is pushing it the truck cruises well on the interstate but braking definitely is taxed. I'm thinking about trailer brakes. Definitely less than operating a full sized truck though. I would not tow with the Subaru, it's way too light.

 

[Rob454]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

My buddy tows two big 3 seater sea doos with his Subaru. Its a station wagon and to tell you the truth he goes pretty well.
Rob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

There are older pickups sitting on virtually every street corner or farm yard for sale cheap. With the rise in gas prices these vehicles become bargains. Buy one to use as a "stuff truck". It doesn't need to be pretty.

 

[jtexas]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

My buddy tows two big 3 seater sea doos with his Subaru. Its a station wagon and to tell you the truth he goes pretty well.
Rob

Not even close.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

It will wreak havoc on your awd system.

 

[bwj75]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Have to reply here. I screwed up with my weights, the new Starcraft is a 21 mine is a 18, the weight from NADA is 745 lb, then with a 90 HP, another 400, with gear, gas, etc. I am thinking under 1500.

What do you think with the Subaru now???? Short trip to the ramp, no hills.

Thanks

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

My starcraft is a 19 and i would never think about towing with a car. My Chevy Tahoe with a 350 engine and 4WD knows its back there. I could not imagine trying to stop it with such a small vehicle.All it takes is someone to pull out in front of you and you are NOT going to get it stopped! Why risk it?
Take everyones advice and buy a old truck to tow with..

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Being safe is much better than being sorry.

 

[Rob454]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Not even close.

? What does that mean. His jet skis are freaking huge. the whole trailer is close to almost 2000 pounds. one of the jet skis is close to 900 pounds and the other is slightly bigger with smaller motor so give or take its close to 900 pounds also. Looked it up on the sea doo website the GTX is 867 pounds the RXP is 815 pounds. now add in 40 gallons of gas tools and stuff well youre at abotu 2000 pounds not including the trailer. He hasnt had any problems towing. When i first saw him do it I made fun of him, but he said it tows easy, no sway. he said you can feel the skis back there but its not intolerable.
Either way I bet his two skis weigh just as much as a 16 foot boat.
Rob

 

[John-Paul]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Hi bwj75

"My question, is this a reasonable tow or am I too close to the limits of the car???"


funny you should ask! I have a 2002 Subaru Forester 2.5l eng manual and have trailered my boat over 30,000 miles with it since Sept' 2005. We found it a bit of a struggle in really hilly country but the brakes held up ok after a change to higher friction pads, in my case Bendix Ultimate. The boat is a custom 16ft grp bass boat with leccy, batteries and all the odds and sods that make up such a thing. The trailer is single axle, unbraked and I took it over the local weighbridge coming in at 2024lbs with 5 1/2 gallons of fuel on board.

The Forester is rated at 1584lbs unbraked and 3084 lbs braked. I did not intentionally go over the stated limits as the intial gross weight of the boat and trailer was 1620lbs but on it's 1st outing it split open and was subsequently strengthened with extra grp and stringers. Well the car handled it well and I always drove sensibly until we could afford a larger car which we purchased recently. A Mazda CX-7 and it tows the boat so much easier.

My suggestion is that you drop the boat on a weighbridge for peace of mind and if you tow over the stated limit and have an accident, even a minor one you may well find that your insurance coy will disown you.

cheers

John-Paul

 

[wildspeed]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

I will never understand why in the USA it is not safe to pull a 16'-19' boat with a car when the same cars are pulling the same boats all over Europe...with of course the proper hitch (manufacter,not aftermarket) and proper "BRAKED trailer".

Here is my father 19'+ behind a mercedes wagon in 2002, we have been travelling over 20 years with this boat behind different sedan without any problems

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 1st boat. Towing with my Subaru

Get yourself a good life insurance policy, tell everyone to get out of the Subaru, & put a life jacket on. Where are you launching? Hopefully, it's nearby me. I want to watch the show when the whole kit & kaboodle slides down the ramp & into the water.