Subaru forester 2.5i 2021 towing a camper trailer

Submitted: Friday, May 03, 2024 at 16:35
ThreadID: 147637 Views:1691 Replies:6 FollowUps:13
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Howdy!

Want to be able to take my kids camping without needing partner and the hilux!

Can a Subaru tow a camper if I get the electric brakes fitted?

Need shocks done too?

Thank you!

Ange
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Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Friday, May 03, 2024 at 18:12

Friday, May 03, 2024 at 18:12
Short answer Ange would be Yes.
But of course there are questions .......... how heavy is the camper ?
And yes, tyres brakes and shocks and springs should be in good nick.

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Jim
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Reply By: RMD - Friday, May 03, 2024 at 19:11

Friday, May 03, 2024 at 19:11
Ange B
I endorse what was previously mentioned. The Forester may have self leveling shocks on the rear which will/should maintain ride height of they ARE what it has. My daughter had one and it had those shocks. Probably expensive to replace. Depending on KMs it has travelled already will be the decider. Just because eot sots at a certain height DOES NOT mean they are ok and damp additional trailer mass very well.
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Reply By: Zippo - Friday, May 03, 2024 at 20:46

Friday, May 03, 2024 at 20:46
Saw an SG Forester (2007-2009 model) towing an A-liner out near Gascoyne Junction a few years back. Asked him how it towed and he said "not a problem". Don't recall if it had override brakes, although the current ones are all electric.
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Reply By: qldcamper - Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 14:00

Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 14:00
Is it an auto?
If it is, is it the constant variable drive system.( forgot the proper term), the one that just has D,N&R on the selector no 1st 2nd or 3rd or low range.
If it is have a good talk to a transmission specialist, I would not recomend even owning one let alone towing with one.
Subaru, Nissan and Suzuki formed the company to produce them and all use them and I'm lead to believe other manufacturers are starting to as well.
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Follow Up By: RMD - Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 16:54

Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 16:54
The 2021 Forester has a CVT, and they, like the NISSANs don't have a long life before transmission trouble, Jerking and Shuddering is common. Nissans fail just after 40,000km UNLESS the fluid has been changed, that prolongs the life bit more, not much but a bit! If similar construction in the Forester , then perhaps towing a lot is not a good idea.
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Follow Up By: qldcamper - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 05:43

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 05:43
RMD,
Isn't it pittyful that vehicles are being sold here that are on borrowed time after 40k.
I bought our current vehicle in 2012 and its coming up to 340k next service, how many Xtrails or Subarus would that add up to?
I used to believe Subaru was the second best quality Jap vehicle on our market second only to Honda, just my personal opinion, but hasn't that changed.
I have a close relative that bought an Xtrail for his daughter not knowing about the CVT troubles and we have both learned a lot from it. His transmission specialist recommends an oil change every second service and even then it will come out black, not a cheap operation.
Even worse is that he has been told EVs are using the same transmission, don't know the validity of that but why would they?
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 07:45

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 07:45
qldcamper,

I didn’t think EV’s had a transmission, I thought they were a “direct drive”.

Macca.
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Follow Up By: qldcamper - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 08:07

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 08:07
No idea Macca, I have no interest in electric cars so can't be bothered researching them. However I do have a reasonably good grasp on how electric drive dump trucks work and they do have individule wheel motors on the rear axle housing but I can't see it practical in the near future to replace the dirty big diesel engine, propulsion alternator and fuel tank that drive those motors with batteries. As it is they can be refuled in under 10 minutes, can't see recharging matching that.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 11:04

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 11:04
"Isn't it pittyful that vehicles are being sold here that are on borrowed time after 40k." They are not. Just because you have heard of a few that died prematurely, you assume that most do. There may be a few more than in other vehicles that fail, but the vast majority live on happily.

"As it is they can be refuled in under 10 minutes, can't see recharging matching that." Again, you have limited knowledge, but you are making profound statements. There are trucks currently running in Britain that pick up a recharge from a few kilometres of overhead wire. You also have no knowledge of what is around the corner and you again issue your pronouncements of gloom.
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Follow Up By: qldcamper - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 11:42

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 11:42
What mines would that be Peter?
I'll be there next month and would love to have a look. Can you post a link or two?
Australian companies have looked at it and it still isn't cost efficient.
Theory was the energy being wasted by the dynamics of empty trucks going into the pits could be used to assist the full ones hauling up. If there was a saving in it they would be using it already.
It would only be viable on limited haul roads with high traffic and if that existed a conveyer belt is more efficient.
Another draw back in most iron ore mines in AU there is no grid power and they produce their own electricity using diesel power stations so no savings there either.

What knowlege am I limited in with regards to refuling dump trucks or charging of batteries? How many dump trucks have you personally refuelled Peter?

Your right about me having limited knowlege as has everyone but having worked for the last 12 years as a HME sparky on various mine sites I consider my knowlege in the mining field better than most on this forum yet you take it upon yourself to tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.

With regards to CVTs try talking to a specialist repairer to gain knowlege rather than sitting home and reading forums.
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FollowupID: 926180

Follow Up By: RMD - Tuesday, May 07, 2024 at 17:56

Tuesday, May 07, 2024 at 17:56
Mclaren 3030
EV's DO HAVE TRANSMISSIONS. A Tesla gearbox drive unit is SO COMPLICATED you need a 3 year uni degree in Mechanical engineering to fix one. They are DO NEED SERVICING. Servicing cost for EV's is prohibitively expensive. Psssst. Don't tell anyone! They wear out tyres faster and weight heaps more than comparable vehicles. The latest KIA people mover thing weighs 2.6 T 600KG battery. Why so large? to cart the battery around of course! I suspect the gearbox units are there so the electric motor/s don't have to be near STALL and VERY high current drain everytime they take off.

I have rebuilt many 4 speed Autos. both straight and Front wheel drive units. I never want to see a CVT or a Tesla box. It has TWO of them in some models, ie, TWO LOTS OF SERVICING.
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Reply By: Gbc.. - Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 17:16

Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 17:16
Plenty of SG (2019 onward) foresters towing no problem. They are all CVT boxes and again, no problem. Take note of the tow limits etc. Better rear springs or airbags may be required - that plush ride doesn’t leand itself to big towball weight. We have one. Love it.
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Follow Up By: Zippo - Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 18:57

Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 18:57
?? "SG (2019 onward)"

SG series was (MY) 2003-2008.

Shirley you mean SK.
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Follow Up By: Gbc.. - Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 19:10

Saturday, May 04, 2024 at 19:10
Correct! Buggered up my own car model. I’ll blame the scotch. Thankyou.
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Follow Up By: Member - William B - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 14:52

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 14:52
To quote the line in the movie,
Don't call me Shirley.
lol.
William
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Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 16:57

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 16:57
Have towed small campers around Aus with both a Forester and an Outback in years gone by - including over the Gibb. No problems with either, but obviously there are limits in regards to camper weight and towball weight.
Wildmax
2018 Hilux and Black Wolf 210 tent - for the outback tracks less travelled
Formerly an AOR Eclipse and a TVan

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Follow Up By: RMD - Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 17:17

Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 17:17
But did yours have a CVT transmission?????
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Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Monday, May 06, 2024 at 14:10

Monday, May 06, 2024 at 14:10
Just gave my 2016 Nissan XTrail with 180,000klms to my step son. Not an ounce of trouble and has often towed a 1 tonne 13 boat trailer outfit. Car presented as new and probably had 3 oil changes for the transmission..every 50,000klms. Serviced by myself.
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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Tuesday, May 07, 2024 at 22:23

Tuesday, May 07, 2024 at 22:23
But did yours have a CVT transmission?????

Not back in the day - the Forester was a manual, and the Outback a 5sp automatic.
Wildmax
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