Toading a Subaru, Jeep, or your favorite?

[Nancyc7]

Our Sunseeker 2400W MBS needs a buddy. I got my heart set on a Subaru Crosstrek and now it seems they can't be flat
towed? I think the Jeep Renegade is a nice vehicle but my husband says the consumer reports for Jeep are dismal. Honda HRV is nice but can they be towed?
We need something very light, ~3000lbs, high ground clearance and can carry 2 bicycles and 90lbs of kayaks. Looking for suggestions? Ideas?

[grumpy0374]

Wife and I have owned 6 Subi's since 1996. One of our current Subi's is a 2013 Crosstrek with manual tranny, that is my daily driver, and that we tow behind our Lexington, and have since new in 2013, with over 20,000 trouble free miles.
That being sais, Subaru has never "designed" the manual Subi's to be towed 4 down for rv use. But in the owners manuals for older AND newer Subi's with the MANUAL trannys, it gives instructions that if needed to be towed, it must be towed with all 4 wheels down. There is no mileage/distance restrictions, and the procedure for towing older and new Subi's has not changed.
Subaru's policy changed in 2016 as far as warranty claims resulting from improper towing of the manual tranny equipped Subi's. The procedure is basically trans in neutral, ignition switch to first position to unlock steering, and emergency brake off. But some owners could not/did not follow even this simple procedure, and in doing so damaged the trans/all wheel drive system.
If you read the owners manual for the new 2017 Subi Crosstrek, it is the same as my 2013 as far as towing procedure. But if there's damage due to improper towing, Subi may not cover it under warranty.
For myself, if I needed a new toad tomorrow, I would buy a new Subi and take my chances.
If you are worried about warranty problems, I would advise you to look for a gently used 2015 Subaru Crosstrek or Forrester, with a manual tranny, set it up for towing, and not worry about it.
Grumpy

[Nancyc7]

Well, that makes sense. I love the clearance of the Crosstrek and it's the lightest vehicle with biggest GVWR. Subarus aren't listed at all in the 2016 Motor Home Approved Dinghy List but Hondas aren't either. Newer Hondas being towed are a dime a dozen around here.
This would be my daily driver. I love driving a standard but where we live has become one of the top 3 bad traffic towns in the USA, it would get annoying but just another reason to get out of here sooner rather than later.
I'm going shopping!!! Thank you.

[Oscarvan]

http://webcontent.goodsam.com/motorh...inghyGuide.pdf

[Nancyc7]

Grumpy, you're right. I went by the Subaru place today and talked to a woman in the service department

She said it very clearly, slowly and loudly, as if she had said it several times before: "a Subaru AWD manual transmission can be towed 4 down behind a RV".

So, very good news because I have decided I like the Crosstrek quite a bit, even the price is reasonable.

[Sandiegodoug]

I would highly recommend you call Subaru USA to confirm. We got miss information at Mini Cooper dealership, and want till they called corporate that truth was found out.
Ended up with a 2 door soft top Jeep Wrangler to tow behind our Mercedes sprinter based
Motorhome

[Oaklevel]

Sorry just our experience Subaru's are junk over 100000 we had to sell ours as Subaru told us it was common for the head gaskets of any car to need replacing at 100K.......... The dealer said you should have replaced your head gaskets at 100K with the timing belt.............. Recommended service cost at 100K is $3800.

Lost the head gaskets at 118K like I mentioned Subaru customer service said that was normal. We traded it, a new customer bought it and the engine went again just over 120K........... not being able to change transmission fluid (ever) was a turn off as well.

Just Our 2 cents.

[grumpy0374]

Nancyc7, I would also recommend you contact Subaru USA. They will give you the stright scoop on flat towing a newer (2016-2017) manual trans Crosstrek.
Even though we tow a 2013 Crosstrek, and have for over 20,000 miles, I cannot vouch as to weather or not Subaru will back a new one if you flat tow it.
That being said, I have looked at a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek Owners Manual, and the procedure for towing is the same as my 2013. It states that if being towed, your Automatic XV MUST be flatbedded--no wheels on ground.
A MANUAL trans equipped XV can be towed on a flatbed, OR 4 wheels down, as in flat towing it.
Also, in reading the warranty for a new 2017 XV, there is no mention of voiding your warranty, manual trans equipped XV, if you flat tow it.
You can pull up a 2017 Subaru Owners Manual online, and read through it. Under the "emergency" problems, it lists what to do if it has to be towed.
Again, just do your homework prior to buying. When I first looked into buying my XV in 2013, I knew it could be flat towed, but 3 different dealers around me gave conflicting statements. I finally contacted Subaru America, talked with a tech who gave me the correct info (it could be flat towed).
So, before you shell out bucks, just verify.
.
Grumpy

[conceptumator]

Definitely not the only good toad out there, but we love our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It's about 4,000 lbs, but soooooo easy to tow!

[grumpy0374]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Sorry just our experience Subaru's are junk over 100000 we had to sell ours as Subaru told us it was common for the head gaskets of any car to need replacing at 100K.......... The dealer said you should have replaced your head gaskets at 100K with the timing belt.............. Recommended service cost at 100K is $3800.

Lost the head gaskets at 118K like I mentioned Subaru customer service said that was normal. We traded it, a new customer bought it and the engine went again just over 120K........... not being able to change transmission fluid (ever) was a turn off as well.

Just Our 2 cents.

It's possible for any vehicle to blow a head gasket, 10 miles or 100,000 miles. We've owned 6 Subi's since 1996, with a total mileage of around 500,000 miles on them, and the worst problem we ever had was a bad water pump that was replaced under warranty, on my wife's previous 2003 Outback.
You obviously had a bad experience with a Subi, but it can happen with any vehicle, from any manufacturer.
Grumpy

[Knuke]

I have a 2017 2401S and tow my ''12 CRV. It's about 3400 pounds and it tows easily.
CRV's up to 2014 can be towed 4 down with AWD and Automatic. Blue Ox has a baseplate that is almost invisible for the CRV.

[Oaklevel]

We have owned numerous vehicles over the years. For us 200K plus is normal before selling and have never had a head gasket go, have never have the factory service reps lie to us, have never had the total bull given us from any auto manufacturer or dealer other than Subaru.

Somethings not right when used motors or used heads for 2011 Subaru;'s can not be found anywhere up and down the East coast. Well we are at the 120K point on our 2014 CRV no issues (Our second CRV and not our last)

[Sandiegodoug]

My son has an awd Subaru Impreza
Wrx, stick, and when it broke down , had to be flat-bedded to the repair shop.

[Vince and Charlette]

I tow a 2010 Jeep liberty with my 2015 GT 364 and hardly know it's back there. Very popular toad. However, I was as surprised as you may be that the GVW is around 5,000 pounds! (That's the max tow weight on the GT.)

[Royston]

Originally Posted by Nancyc7

Our Sunseeker 2400W MBS needs a buddy. I got my heart set on a Subaru Crosstrek and now it seems they can't be flat
towed? I think the Jeep Renegade is a nice vehicle but my husband says the consumer reports for Jeep are dismal. Honda HRV is nice but can they be towed?
We need something very light, ~3000lbs, high ground clearance and can carry 2 bicycles and 90lbs of kayaks. Looking for suggestions? Ideas?

Honda CRV can be flat towed but not the new ones with Continuous Variable Transmission (I think Honda made a big mistake here as most toads I see are Honda CRV).

Minor mods like installing a switch in-line with the accessory fuse so you don't have to be a contortionist to remove and replace each time you go from tow to drive - if you don't remove the fuse the battery will go dead in about 6 hours, rust me I know . Just one other point to note, max flat towing speed on my 2014 AWD is 65 mph which is fine by me as 60 is around where I drive for better fuel consumption.

[Sandiegodoug]

Jeep Wranglers real easy
No steering wheel lock
Just put transfer case in neutral
And auto tranny in park
Could tow 2 days straight and battery still at full charge
I had an electric brake booster installed too, Jeep brakes never fade.

[Nancyc7]

Oh ok I will call all these manufacturers if I have to or buy an olderish vehicle. Really LOVE my 2003 Honda CRV. I have no interest in a new car, I would just tow it. Runs perfectly. But it has 194,000 miles and my dear husband doesn't want to invest in the towing setup on it. It's a perfect car. I want to keep it till it dies. The new ones get a little heavier than what we want.
. Still shopping. I want to look at HRVs soon.

[Jmsx2]

We flat tow a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Love the way it tracks behind the Coach.

John & Janine
Pazzo the Maltese
2014 Georgetown 328 TSF
2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

[Hoglou]

A jeep is not a car, but putting the top down in the hills, and the ease of towing places it near the top as a toad.... With rock sliders we can go over everything but a fire hydrant during a tight turn. We have not yet tested that hypothesis....

[Jmsx2]

Originally Posted by Hoglou

A jeep is not a car, but putting the top down in the hills, and the ease of towing places it near the top as a toad.... With rock sliders we can go over everything but a fire hydrant during a tight turn. We have not yet tested that hypothesis....

I would put the Jeep Wrangler (not a car) at the top. Hit the beach in the OBX or a Jeep event like Bantum Jeep Fest. Some day we hope to hit MOAB.

Have Jeep will travel behind our Coach.