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05-01-2008, 07:41 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 159495
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: San Antonio, TX
Vehicle:2002 WRX Wagon WRBP |
Towing a small trailer with a 2.0L WRX
I have an o2 wagon. Stage 1.5. Uppipe, downpipe, midpipe, with stock catback. Everything else is stock on the car. I would like to know if anyone has used their wrx to tow a small trailer with a motorcycle or similar. I have recently aquired a small formula racecar (about 650lbs) and I would like to tow it with the wrx on a small trailer (200-300) to local autocrosses and things on occasion. I can make a trailer hitch reciever, so no worries there, mainly wondering how the suspension and drivetrain would handle it. Anyone done similar and what were your results? Thanks.
-Hank
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05-01-2008, 07:47 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 79596
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:04 WRX Wagon JBP |
Have not done it myself but I see guys out here trailering their carts to and from the track with their wagons
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05-01-2008, 07:51 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 94024
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Raleigh, NC
Vehicle:05 WRX CGM 95 YJ Flat black |
ive seen sti's towing stuff, i would think you could get away w/ it as long as you drive it carefully
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05-01-2008, 07:56 PM | #4 |
Sammo Hung
Moderator Member#: 10613
Join Date: Sep 2001
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: N Fla / S Ga
Vehicle:2002 USDM WRX WRB |
there are plenty of owners that have had trailer hitches
bolted to rear frame. usually for towing wheel trailer. but you should be fine. try to find a bolt on trailer hitch frame. |
05-01-2008, 07:57 PM | #5 |
Big Ron
Super Moderator Member#: 18062
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: I can save you a ton of cash
Vehicle:on car parts so PM me b4 j00 buy |
Your owner's manual called...it wants you to open and read it. Power mods have zippo to do with what you can and can't tow, it's more of chassis design, driveline, and brakes.
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05-01-2008, 08:54 PM | #6 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 159682
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Maine
Vehicle:1995 WRX 2015 F150 |
Quote:
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05-01-2008, 09:47 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 118209
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: North Dakota
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limitec |
Quote:
that is actually one of the weaknesses of towing with a subaru, there really isn't a true frame in a unibody car, especially behind the rear wheels. The mount points are the weak point of any bolt on hitch for a subaru. anyway, to the OP, i put MANY miles on my wrx in the summer towing a jet ski or two, it handles it fine. use common sense, and wire up your car for trailer lights. Even if you don't legally need them in your state, it will protect you from a ticket and possible lawsuit should someone rear end you. |
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05-01-2008, 10:28 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 158006
Join Date: Aug 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: San Antonio
Vehicle:2003 WRX IdleWagon 1992 GVR4 379/1000 |
I towed a 2005 Honda Shadow Areo 750 in the back of a 12(Maybe 14) foot enclose Uhaul from Denver to DC. I bought a bolt in hitch from Uhaul and I got 24 MPG average for the trip.
I had as much as 3400 pounds(GVW) in the trailer at one point and it still made it down the road. It didn't like it, but I only went a few, slow miles. I have also towed my wifes car (VW Bug) on a flatbed for a few miles with it. The towing was done before I did any suspension mods at all. /Brox |
05-01-2008, 10:35 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 49526
Join Date: Nov 2003
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Killeen, TX
Vehicle:2006 20GXTR 6spd Wgn SGM |
I towed my a small utility trailer with 1000lbs of my stuff when I moved from Alaska to Florida. The only adverce effect I had was accelerated wear on the rear struts.
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05-01-2008, 10:53 PM | #10 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 98961
Join Date: Oct 2005
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NOVA
Vehicle:2003 WRX Black |
Your clutch will wear much faster too.
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05-01-2008, 11:21 PM | #11 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 113698
Join Date: Apr 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Locktucky, IL
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Quote:
I probably would have shipped it. What did that take you? 4 days? 5 days? Not worth the time or money to drive that IMO. |
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05-02-2008, 03:04 AM | #12 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 159495
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: San Antonio, TX
Vehicle:2002 WRX Wagon WRBP |
Quote:
I just think it's funny that anytime someone asks for advice or opinions they get jumped on to read the stickies or use the search button. I understand getting frustrated when the same question comes up repeatedly, but seriously thats the point of a discussion forum. Sharing experiences and ideas and learning from others. That said, thank you everyone for the help. Hearing people tell what they have towed, what type of fuel mileage they got, potential accelerated wear items, etc. is EXACTLY what I was trying to obtain by starting this thread in the first place. |
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05-02-2008, 04:36 AM | #13 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 87067
Join Date: May 2005
Chapter/Region:
AKIC
Location: Oregon Coast/AK
Vehicle:02 Old but tasty SRP |
Quote:
I live in Ak and have driven out on the ALCAN (albeit only to the northwest) but it is worthwhile to see parts of the country (and Canada) that you otherwise really wouldn't. It sounds like an awesome trip successfully executed. Then again on the other hand holy hell thats allot of seat time!!!. |
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05-02-2008, 06:33 AM | #14 |
Big Ron
Super Moderator Member#: 18062
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: I can save you a ton of cash
Vehicle:on car parts so PM me b4 j00 buy |
1. Welcome to the internet, enjoy yourself and don't be serious.
2. Your question has zippo to do with 2.0l TECHNICAL as this question should be in general. 3. I'm allowing it to stay here as the 2.0l is a little slow this past day. 4. Remember...it's the internet...if you want Christian replies, you may freely post in the Newbies forum where Christian replies are mandatory. In the 2.0l forum, hating to a degree is allowed, my reply was decidedly mild. |
05-02-2008, 10:00 AM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 16373
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Halifax, NS
Vehicle:2002 WRX WRB |
I drove my Stage 2 WRX from northern Alberta to Halifax, Nova Scotia towing a U haul with about 1000 lbs in it. The brakes & fuel economy were the worst part.
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05-02-2008, 11:14 AM | #16 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 159495
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: San Antonio, TX
Vehicle:2002 WRX Wagon WRBP |
Quote:
Ahhh yes, the internet. Welcome to life's great little equalizer. Where everyone makes six figure salaries, has chiseled abs, dates supermodels, drives exotic cars, and is an undeniable expert on all matters of life. A place where no one gets picked last in gym class. A place where the biggest losers in life are all self proclaimed rockstars. I spend a good amount of time on several other (mainly miata) forums for work and subaru guys are way more fun. Just don't tell anyone I said so or I might lose my job. I love it that people feel so proud and think they are so freakin rad because they have nothing better to do than sit on their computers all day and further demonstrate the depths of their vast knowledge and understanding to us other lesser beings. Kidding aside, I apologize for putting this in the wrong section. I was mainly curious about how the 2.0l drivetrain wrx handles towing about 1000 lbs so I figured this would be an appropriate place. I imagine an N/A suby or STI respond quite differently to towing. The general section seems to get too general sometimes and I imagined it would turn into a "well my ford truck can tow more than your chevy truck and your sti combined" "no way yo, my sti has a stage 6.379er protune from Ricky Bobby motorsports and a ssautochrome carbon fiber intercooler and a K&N decal and a custom ported blow off valve and those little bullet hole stickers so it could even tow your mom AND your girlfriend up a hill in the snow" type of thread. Please feel free to move it or whatever if that is in fact the correct location. Thanks again for the help unabomber......and of course all you regular guys too. Haha. Please get started on the "unabomber, what your wrx/sti can and cant tow manifesto." If that was available, then I wouldn't have had to ask all this to start with. From what you guys have said, It sounds like I will be all set to do what I need as far as towing my little car goes and I now know what to keep an eye on while driving and maintaining the vehicle. I love the utility and versatility the wrx (especially the wagon) offers. Take care guys. -Hank |
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05-02-2008, 01:06 PM | #17 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 107740
Join Date: Feb 2006
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Reno, NV
Vehicle:05 STI - WRB 01 GSX-R 750 |
less typing more towing, and god help you if your little race car has the engine from my stolen R1
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05-02-2008, 01:14 PM | #18 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
Towed a 2000lbs uhaul box with my NA. Balancing and tongue weight is the key, once that was set, no problem cruising at 70mph on the highway. Backing up was both hell and fun, braking got significantly worse, and so did gas mileage. No dramatic moments whatsoever. Enjoy!
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07-29-2009, 11:18 AM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4817
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Albanyish, NY
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Giving this a bump as I've been thinking about picking up a small 5x8 enclosed trailer, something like this:
http://albany.craigslist.org/mcy/1286397343.html I'm not sure of the weight of this one, but they seem to average 800 - 900 lbs. I'd then be putting in ~300lbs of stuff in there (racing kart). I know the max rated on the WRX is 1,000lbs without brakes... would this be pushing things too much? Also, any hitch recommendations? I'm running the stock exhaust. |
07-29-2009, 12:17 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 151045
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
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Rated for 2,000 lbs towing capacity for the 2002's: http://www.cars101.com/subwarr.html#capacity
It's not really recommended nor is it discouraged. As long as trailer brakes are used it's 2,000 lbs. |
07-29-2009, 12:29 PM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4817
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Albanyish, NY
|
I'm not sure that this trailer has brakes, though... would all enclosed trailers of this size have them? Also, how difficult is it to wire a car up to control electric brakes?
<--- towing n00b |
07-29-2009, 01:11 PM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 151045
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
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I think as long as you took it easy on the transmission you won't have a problem either way. As for the wiring I'm not sure either....that would be a topic for the electrical forum.
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07-29-2009, 01:39 PM | #23 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 118209
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: North Dakota
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limitec |
wiring up is easy... Trailer brakes, although technically required, are tough to find on light duty trailers. I personally pull around 1700 pounds of jetboat 2-4 times a week, and have done 300+ mile road trips with it behind my wrx.
Common sense, and drive like a grandma. Extreme defensive driving, as a heavy trailer will slide a vehicle if you nail the brakes. And keep your revs up, small displacement engines, especially ones with turbos, suck at low end torque. |
07-29-2009, 06:51 PM | #24 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 159682
Join Date: Sep 2007
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Maine
Vehicle:1995 WRX 2015 F150 |
I've done 1100-1200 lbs without trailer brakes. No problems at all, barely even knew the trailer was there. I do have EBC redstuff pads and powerslot rotors so that does help a bit with stopping. I also have coilovers and big swaybars so the trailer really doesn't sway around much.
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07-29-2009, 07:06 PM | #25 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 122043
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: RomeoVille
Vehicle:n/a n/a n/a |
i do a single place wave runner and i have done my own 5plug harness w/ modulite.
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