Towing with Gen 3 2.5L Outback

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:36 pm

I may be about to inherit a ski boat my grandfather built, it's a 40 year old wooden clinker with a cast iron 350 chev, dry the whole lot including trailer weighs about 1500kg, wet it could be as much as 1800kg.

I'm just looking to confirm my doubts here but this is beyond the abilities of my Outback isn't it?

While we're on the topic my brother is a 4th year apprentice at the Illawarra Star subaru dealership, he has been told they've had a lot of trouble with centre diff's in subaru's when used for towing biggish loads (no idea of exactly what biggish is), apparently they've been failing, locking, stripping and even liquifying

Has anyone heard of or seen any of these dramas?

Jordan.

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:01 pm

1800 kilograms behind an outback might make for some tricky times on a steep or low traction boat ramp...
Although the current outback (with the 3L) is rated at 1800kg towing capacity, I reckon your car would struggle and chew up its transmission components. Take out the cast iron heifer and put in a REAL

motor and your problem is solvered.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:08 pm

My opinion is that it'd be a bit too much weight for an Outback to handle comfortably. You'd be slipping the clutch pretty bad trying to get a heavy boat and trailer up the ramp, and the EJ25 would groan a bit when climbing hills. My Outback tows a 750kg 6x4 trailer okay, and would probably be okay with a 1 tonne pop-top camper, but I reckon a boat like you've described would be pushing the limits.

From memory, the tow ball rating on my 50x50mm hayman hitch is only 90kg - might be slightly more if you use a weight distribution set-up. My Outback's currently out with the missus so I can't check the towbar placard, but I'm pretty sure the tow ball rating isn't very high.

Haven't heard anything about centre diffs clagging themselves like you described. Did you brother mention if it happens on both manual and auto, or is only the auto affected?

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:20 am

Thanks fella's thats basically what I was thinking, forgot to mention the trailer isn't braked either.

I've towed a my brothers boat, same engine but fibreglass hull, comes in at about 1000kg, had now worries with that up or down macquarie pass but yeah an extra 500-800kg is probably just too much for it.

The outback is rated at 1600kg and the ball weight of the towbar is 90kg, you can fairly easily lift the hitch on either trailer yourself but I think I'll pass for the sake of not killing my Outback.

Jordan.

daza · Post by **daza** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:44 pm

Hey BVCP,
check your post count out

Daza.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:48 pm

Mate, don't. My mate had an very bad accident with his outback, he was towing 1983 VC 4.2 V8 Commodore on a trailer, we estimated it was about 1.8 - 2 ton in total... end of it wrote off the outback. It went ok, drove well but lost control due downhill.
Cheers
AP

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:36 pm

You can tow more weight if the trailer has own brakes.............yes?
usually they are electric brakes.

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:37 pm

Thanks AP that settles it, no stupidly heavy towing with Outback.

That must of hurt, destorying the outback for the sack of a ****ty old commodore.

Daza I hadn't noticed, I nearly didn't want to make another post, I definitely spend far too much time on here

Jordan.

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:42 pm

Yeah fred a braked trailer does increase you're towing (or more so stopping) ability but the problem is the cost of building a braked trailer, getting it engineered, registered and so on and so forth not to mention the yearly inspections.

You can also buy something like an easytow trailer already built, engineered, etc but they start at roughly $10k for a boat this size.

Damn my expensive hobbies.

Most boat trailers I've seen have either cable or hydrualic brakes, electric brakes generally don't like being submerged for some reason, pfft.

Jordan.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:34 pm

In Victoria, any types of Trailers can be once off checked by RTA if it requires registration. Normal size box trailers are exempt..
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:35 pm

BaronVonChickenPants wrote:
Most boat trailers I've seen have either cable or hydrualic brakes, electric brakes generally don't like being submerged for some reason, pfft.

Jordan.

Electric Brakes - Thats because of water issues. Drum brakes have better ability to brake while being in wet or damp.
Cheers
AP

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:39 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:In Victoria, any types of Trailers can be once off checked by RTA if it requires registration. Normal size box trailers are exempt..
Cheers
AP

Damn you guys get it easy, up here any unbraked trailer requires yearly registration, about $80, a braked trailer requires yearly inspections plus registration.

Jordan.

Brumby Boy · Post by **Brumby Boy** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:51 pm

Yea 1800kg is for a braked trailer on a heavy duty tow bar on a 3.0L liberty/outback 1200 i think is max non braked

Xtreme_RX · Post by **Xtreme_RX** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:19 am

ANY trailer over 750Kg GVM requires by law in Queensland to be braked.