Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight?

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 19:05
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Jetsam1

Hi all!

Going to look at a petrol Subaru Forester to use as a working vehicle in, well, a forest!

2008 2 ltr with a tow bar already fitted and I will see exactly how it looks like tomorrow morning but looks very clean on the pictures. Long MOT and apparently a service history. We can buy it outright and take our time selling either the big van or the family car.

I just want to ask about towing. We have a 750kg unbraked trailer that we will be using for bee keeping and general moving about of equipment. The current vehicle is a 2005 LWB VW Transporter double cab with the 1.9 TDI engine that is alright but is a bit unweildly at times at we may have a new location from next year which in any dodgy weather is going to be at the tougher end of green lane. The VW can handle dirt tracks ok but I this last summer I have got it stuck a couple of times and with the trailer that can mean all kinds of fun (begging a local farmer to pull me out!). At our main location we have a tractor so that is ok but if I am on my own a bit further afield....

Hence looking at the Subaru as I want petrol. Most of the journeys will be relatively short and stop start so anything diesel is going to struggle a bit. I destroy cars as well so tough and hard to kill is a requirement.

I know these do have a good reputation but I am looking for reassurance that the 2 ltr will handle the trailer. Oh, I don`t care about being slow! Along the roads I drive down everyday you don`t want to go fast! The van is huge though and is useful having a vehicle that size so I am in a quandary over what is the best thing to do. We do need two vehicles but not hot on running three! Family car is an Astra estate that struggles for ground clearance so it is sell that or the van for the Forester long term. Obviously the Forester is older so...... But, we are in the middle of nowhere.

Ta for listening to my babble!

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 19:55
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Manatee

Should have enough grunt to pull it, with a towing limit of 2 tonnes.

You might feel it when braking if your trailer gets near full load. What weight will you actually run it at?

Also the unbraked trailer can't be more than half the car kerbweight (is in the back of my mind somewhere). I would think that should be OK but best check.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 20:10
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Jetsam1

Much of what we will be carrying is likely to be more bulky than heavy, think hay bales equipment for small tractors (grass cutter, plough etc). I can only tow a maximum of a 750kg trailer as I passed my test later in life so that would be the limit. The trailer weighs in at 350 kg so 300 to 350 kg max depending. In bee hive terms that`s it full! Probably enough for us and as the Van is actually registered as a passenger car it may be closer in capacity than I think.

I don`t mind more trips as it is getting out to the bees in all weathers that`s the key. Honey extraction time is crazy anyway!

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 20:22
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - RT

You can tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg on a B-only licence - the restriction is that the sum of the plated weights of car and trailer must not exceed 3500 kg.

As an example since I don't know the exact weights of a Forester, if the gross weight is 2000 kg and trailer gross is 1500 kg then you would be legal.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 20:30
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - badbusdriver

You can tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg on a B-only licence - the restriction is that the sum of the plated weights of car and trailer must not exceed 3500 kg.

As an example since I don't know the exact weights of a Forester, if the gross weight is 2000 kg and trailer gross is 1500 kg then you would be legal.

That only applies if you passed your test after 1/1/1997. If you passed before that, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8250kg.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 20:53
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - RT

You can tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg on a B-only licence - the restriction is that the sum of the plated weights of car and trailer must not exceed 3500 kg.

As an example since I don't know the exact weights of a Forester, if the gross weight is 2000 kg and trailer gross is 1500 kg then you would be legal.

That only applies if you passed your test after 1/1/1997. If you passed before that, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8250kg.

If you passed the test before 1/1/97 you won't have a B-only licence, you'll have a BE.

The OP implied that a 750 kg unbraked trailer was the maximum they could tow - it's higher than that but dependent on the gross weight of the towing car.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 22:00
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Manatee

You can tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg on a B-only licence - the restriction is that the sum of the plated weights of car and trailer must not exceed 3500 kg.

As an example since I don't know the exact weights of a Forester, if the gross weight is 2000 kg and trailer gross is 1500 kg then you would be legal.

That only applies if you passed your test after 1/1/1997. If you passed before that, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8250kg.

If you passed the test before 1/1/97 you won't have a B-only licence, you'll have a BE.

The OP implied that a 750 kg unbraked trailer was the maximum they could tow - it's higher than that but dependent on the gross weight of the towing car.

Nobody can tow a trailer >750Kg if it is unbraked.

The rules on towing changed (again) in 2013 by the looks of it. 1997 is relevant basically because if you passed before then, you will automatically have B+E.

www.gov.uk/towing-rules/y/car-or-light-vehicle/no

I can't see a problem with a Forester and a 750Kg MAM trailer, braked or unbraked, B+E or just B -(EDIT) subject of course to the car towing limit.

Edited by Manatee on 05/11/2018 at 22:03

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 20:59
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - corax

If it's a 2008, then it should come with low range option. All non turbo petrols of this age have this, not sure about later models. First gear is short on these, good for getting going with a load. They are tough, but be kind to the clutch, as they have been known to fail early, although this could be down to owner abuse. Self levelling rear suspension is also standard.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 21:07
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - corax

According to this you are just above the limit with a 750kg unbraked trailer, unless you go for a turbo version.

www.towingcapacity.co.uk/car-make-model/subaru/sub.../

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 21:32
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - madf

WATCH FOR RUST near the rear suspension mountings to the floor.

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Mon 5 Nov 2018 22:08
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Manatee

For what it's worth, should VOSA (or whatever it's called now) or the police take you to a weighbridge they will be principally interested in whether the car and/or trailer are overloaded, and whether the gross train weight has been exceeded.

Impossible to be certain of course, but I would be amazed if they went beyond that. Or if you were ever stopped, unless the outfit looks dodgy or overloaded.

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Tue 6 Nov 2018 05:51
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Jetsam1

I am under strict instructions not to break the trailer! I want it to last so am going to be careful with loading and stay well under the maximum weight anyway as dirt tracks will put much more strain on the axle and suspension. Bee hives are bulky too so you get less packed up than you might expect.

I have loads of straps and the trailer has plenty of securing points so will look the part. I did my test in 2010 and I knew I have a limit to what I can tow but as rules change........

All cars as in life are a compromise and a balance of what is the overall best package and to be honest I am destroying the Transporter as it is not really meant for the usage it`s getting. We only really have one time of year when we really need to carry heavier loads regularly and outside of that it is mainly equipment or firewood/hay etc.

I will check for rust everywhere.

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Tue 6 Nov 2018 11:29
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - Jetsam1

Well, went to see the car. Got a big surprise, full service history including fresh MOT alongside receipts for a new clutch last year and the car itself in really nice condition overall. Just what you would expect on a 10 year old car. Reasonable mileage too and drove really nicely. Miss a turbo but maybe that is for the best in the longer term.

Owned by the same family of accountants from new and used as a company work car, little towing done and negotiated a reasonable bit off the asking price and got a set of winter tyres with Subaru alloys and snow chains thrown in.

Same price as one we looked at a few weeks ago that has since sold at a dealer and it was no where near as well documented as this one. About the same size as our Astra but a much more practical boot space and a real spare wheel.

So, we did the deal and sort out the payment and paperwork on Thursday. Wife is happy which is a bonus Hopefully will be easier to live with than the van.

Sadly I now have to clean the van to get it up advertised. Oh.......

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Tue 6 Nov 2018 08:39
Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? - RT

For what it's worth, should VOSA (or whatever it's called now) or the police take you to a weighbridge they will be principally interested in whether the car and/or trailer are overloaded, and whether the gross train weight has been exceeded.

Impossible to be certain of course, but I would be amazed if they went beyond that. Or if you were ever stopped, unless the outfit looks dodgy or overloaded.

If the driver has a B-only licence, no weighbridge is needed - just add together the two gross figures as that's what matters for licence purposes.

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