Source
r/subaru•
stdlib

Question about towing a motorcycle with an Outback

Hi all, I'm picking up a 2022 Outback Wilderness (2.4L Turbo) in a few days and I'm planning to take it on a cottage trip soon where I would like to tow my motorcycle with me. Looking at the manual online it says the Outback can tow up to 3500lbs if the trailer has brakes but only 1000lbs if it doesn't. U-Haul's motorcycle trailer that I'm hoping to rent says it weighs 800lbs empty (and has no brakes) and my bike weighs 408lbs. Based on this info, I'm gathering that it will not be safe to tow my bike but I reached out to the dealership and they simply told me "The outback can tow up to 3500 lbs - it will be fine" and despite me pointing out the 1,000 lb limit in the manual they insist it will be ok. That being said, I'm worried if anything does go wrong then it will be entirely on me because I was not following the limit set in the manual by towing 1208lbs when the limit is 1000.

Would really appreciate your guys thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!

Posted Jul 21, 2021, 4:36 PM UTC

15
PacificWonderGlo•

My thought is to not trust the rando at the dealer, because if any issues arise, like you said, you're knowingly towing more than what the manual suggests.

2
stevedoug2032•

Have you looked into a hitch mounted motorcycle carrier?

1
stdlibOP•

Didn't even know this is a thing but my bike's manual says under no circumstances should you ever tow it with either wheel touching the ground so I think this will not work for me. Neat idea though.

1
stevedoug2032•

I think you misunderstand, a hitch carrier looks like this:

Hitch Carrier

If one of the motorcycle wheels is touching the road when you tow like this I'd say you have bigger problems.

1
stdlibOP•

Definitely misunderstood - I googled it and this was one of the first hits so I thought that's the kind of thing you were talking about? In the pic looks like rear wheel is touching the ground https://www.amazon.ca/Ampersand-800-lb-Capacity-Motorcycle-Receiver/dp/B07DNQNQMB/ref=asc_df_B07DNQNQMB/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459589512615&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5147844763228681110&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000820&hvtargid=pla-816608105890&psc=1

For the thing you mentioned - does that mean that the "tongue weight" becomes just the weight of the carrier plus the weight of the bike? In that case I'd be over capacity for the tongue weight in the Subaru manual as it says tongue weight is max 350lbs and again my bike on its own is 408 (not counting the carrier). Plus, since I guess this kind of qualifies as "trailer without brakes" then the tongue weight in the manual is even lower at 100 lbs...? Maybe I'm misunderstanding how this works though.

1