Towing...OK or not?

[CJ_2014]

Hi all. Tried first posting in General but couldn't since I'm new here, so I hope this is the right forum. Can anyone please clarify for me whether or not towing a light trailer is OK for a Sport model with the regular 2.0 engine (mine is a 2014 Sport)? My manual for some reason references the Cross Trek rather than Imprezza. Think I read somewhere that towing was outright not recommended (CVT can't handle it), and that the warranty would be void in the event of damage as a result of towing. I can only find trailer ratings for Outbacks, etc, nothing listed for Imprezzas. eTrailer sells hitches for Imprezzas with user pics, so clearly people are towing. But I checked out the towing thread here and most (if not all) pics are WRX's towing trailers, with normal Imprezzas just carrying a bike rack. I would just like to tow a light trailer with a motorcycle. Would this be ok? And if anyone has any general advice, I'd definitely appreciate it. Thanks all.

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[Sour_K]

http://imgur.com/a/8ABkPjr

I found that with a 4 second google search. I dont say that to be rude either, just trying to show my work.

If the weight of the trailer and bike are over that, I wouldn't risk it. the issue isnt getting it moving, its stopping. food for thought.

[CJ_2014]

Originally Posted by Sour_K

http://imgur.com/a/8ABkPjr

I found that with a 4 second google search. I dont say that to be rude either, just trying to show my work.

If the weight of the trailer and bike are over that, I wouldn't risk it. the issue isnt getting it moving, its stopping. food for thought.

Thanks, yeah I've found the occasional tow rating, but overall I'm seeing info implying it's ok and info saying it's not. As far as trailer weight, I just would not have exceeded what was recommended by the hitch itself, which is 2000lbs and tongue weight 200lbs. It's perfectly fine towing using other small cars with 2.0 L engines as many have claimed, but I've seen so many negatives regarding towing with an Impreza. I was hoping someone from here could say definitively that they tow and have no problems.

[bdubblu]

Originally Posted by CJ_2014

Thanks, yeah I've found the occasional tow rating, but overall I'm seeing info implying it's ok and info saying it's not. As far as trailer weight, I just would not have exceeded what was recommended by the hitch itself, which is 2000lbs and tongue weight 200lbs. It's perfectly fine towing using other small cars with 2.0 L engines as many have claimed, but I've seen so many negatives regarding towing with an Impreza. I was hoping someone from here could say definitively that they tow and have no problems.

Towing a car with a car is just silly if they are anywhere close in weight. Not only is stopping a potential problem as Sour indicated, but there's also the influence of the car in tow upon the towing car. The car in tow can quite possibly overcome the towing car in certain situations.

[KatieB]

Originally Posted by CJ_2014

Thanks, yeah I've found the occasional tow rating, but overall I'm seeing info implying it's ok and info saying it's not. As far as trailer weight, I just would not have exceeded what was recommended by the hitch itself, which is 2000lbs and tongue weight 200lbs. ... but I've seen so many negatives regarding towing with an Impreza. I was hoping someone from here could say definitively that they tow and have no problems.

I'm with you on this question! When I was looking for a used car last year, I googled for facts about the cars I was looking at before buying. A search reveals to me that the car I ended up buying, a 2010 Subaru Impreza Hatchback (manual), can tow up to 2,000 lbs. (2600 if I click through and find the entry or my specific model) It's getting that info from towcap.com. I have no idea where towcap.com get's it's authority on that information, but like others here have mentioned, once I'd taken possession of my Impreza, I decided I really really wanted to buy a small trailer for camping. I looked in the owner's manual for a tow rating and saw the <sad trombone> This vehicle is not rated for towing...." passage. :-( I've gone back and forth. This is a BAD idea... Or maybe they are being overly cautious and don't want to be responsible. Warranty is not relevant to me, the car is already 13 years old. Maybe it CAN tow up to 2,000 lbs (2,600?), but also, Subaru the company doesn't want to condone it. So that's why I'm here, trying to sus out if it's safe, if I keep the trailer under, maybe 1500 lbs (and 200 for the tongue weight of course) and drive slowly and carefully.

So far I don't feel any further along in figuring out after reading as much as I could of one very long forum post.
I understand the official answer is no, but this is a forum of experienced users. Could the practical answer be maybe? if light and careful??

[19std]

If you keep it under gvwr there will be no damage. All wear increased with stress but gwvr number could be used as a quick and dirty number to show, "hey this is well within the capabilities of the vehichle".

I did a google and gvwr is 4300 for this car, the car ways 3100 give or take, so you got 1200 lbs to play with.

This 1200 also needs to account passengers and luggage.

Bike and bike trailer sounds within this.

Beyond that, idk, ive seen all kinds of passenger cars towing all kinds of things, but just be aware towing is definitely "severe" service for this car, so you gotta increase your trans and diff oil changes etc.

Also as someone else already pointed out, those brakes will cook with weight over official capcities and you are a road hazard.

[rtv900]

Originally Posted by KatieB

This vehicle is not rated for towing...."

of course they are gonig to say that because it isn't marketed, nor does it's general customer base buy it for towing, so nobody is going to open themselves up to liability just to say you can in fact tow.

anything can tow, it's just how much.
IMO a small car that doesn't weigh much can tow around 1000 give or take a little with no risk of damage if you drive normally.
Certainly more if you drive very conservatively and plan ahead for your braking so as to minimize that load.

[KatieB]

Originally Posted by 19std

If you keep it under gvwr there will be no damage. All wear increased with stress but gwvr number could be used as a quick and dirty number to show, "hey this is well within the capabilities of the vehichle".

I did a google and gvwr is 4300 for this car, the car ways 3100 give or take, so you got 1200 lbs to play with.

This 1200 also needs to account passengers and luggage.

Bike and bike trailer sounds within this.

Beyond that, idk, ive seen all kinds of passenger cars towing all kinds of things, but just be aware towing is definitely "severe" service for this car, so you gotta increase your trans and diff oil changes etc.

Also as someone else already pointed out, those brakes will cook with weight over official capcities and you are a road hazard.

Okay, but, I've read that it's tongue weight that gets added into the gross wt. For GVWR, not the trailer weight. So this still doesn't help determine a realistic tow capacity.

[19std]

No your not understanding what im saying. If you are towing something reasonably close to or within gvwr, your good. Forget the tongue and trailer load thing, this is a vehichle drivetrain and brakes thing.

Anything much over gvwr your gambling without an official tow rating.

Definitely in a down hill scenario with an imprezza, with significant wight behind, your a failed brake or jacknife hazard.

[KatieB]

Originally Posted by 19std

No your not understanding what im saying. If you are towing something reasonably close to or within gvwr, your good. Forget the tongue and trailer load thing, this is a vehichle drivetrain and brakes thing.

Anything much over gvwr your gambling without an official tow rating.

Definitely in a down hill scenario with an imprezza, with significant wight behind, your a failed brake or jacknife hazard.

Got it. you're right. Thank you

[19std]

No worries, enjoy your subi.