Which car to tow with?

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:16 am

Hi folks.
Doing an interstate trip next week.
Have a new steel 6x4 trailer that will be coming with me, empty on the way there and loaded on return. No trailer brakes.
MY04 EJ25 forester with 230,000km, and MY04 EZ30R outback with 180,000km are the choices. Both have factory tow bar kits.

The outback drinks premium in my care, but forester takes whatever she is given.

Round trip of just under 3000km.

What would you take?

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:59 am

Forgot to add, forester is manual, outback is automatic.

Wooster · Post by **Wooster** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:00 am

Intended location, remoteness & terrain would influence my decision mate

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:55 am

Outback - Flat 6 and auto would make for an effortless trip.

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:26 pm

Orange NSW to Adelaide. All bitumen.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:51 pm

much of a muchness really, both cars are more than capable of the task at hand, the Outback probably a bit more comfortable. Comes down to personal preference just the same as which one to take down to do the grocery shopping. If it were me, I'd take the Forester to save the petrol money.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:36 pm

H6 outback would be my choice because of the extra grunt, bigger brakes and more comfortable over long distances

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:42 pm

Does anyone know the towing capacity of the respective cars?

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:21 pm

Be guessing around 1.5 - 1.7K kgs

But it is your unbraked that is the limiting factor - in SA you cannot exceed 750kg GMT

Sven

PS safe travels - Outback for increased comfort

julian · Post by **julian** » Wed Nov 19, 2014 4:23 pm

Well ladies and gents, I can report back.
I took the Outback, and she performed beautifully.
Economy was about 11L/100km with an (almost) empty trailer, and about 11.5/100km on the way back quite heavily loaded. I got cooler weather and a tail wind for most of the return leg.
I also broke my own personal best for a single day driving- 1160km. Had to backtrack because of a wrong turn and added 20km right on dusk which was the most excruciating additional time at the end of a day.
The automatic and extra power made it effortless. I'm glad I didn't take the forester.