Still toad hunting

[Jlaz]

Hi Folks, Have been on a "toad" search for a while now. Have decided to 100% go flat tow. Family are HUGE Subaru users and in fact have a new 2017 Forester for Mama. I have been offered a million opinions but am wanting to now throw it out. Several Subby dealers have said absolutely no to an auto or CVT tranny Subby flat tow, but absolutely, to a conventional manual. Thinking a traditional Outback or Forester (2012/13) for the cargo space and all wheel drive as we will need to return to Canada a few times each winter from wherever we go to find the sun. Who flat tows a Subaru...or other than a jeep who tows an all wheel or four wheel drive UNDER 3500 pounds on all four? Thanks! (Coach is a V10 Gas Thor Citation 29TB)

[Miramar Owner]

I flat tow a 2015 Jeep Wrangler 2 Door with an automatic transmission. Tows great.

[KC8RXQ]

I have a 2014 Honda CR-V AWD set up to flat tow. Family Motor Coach Assoc. (FMCA) publishes an annual dingy towing guide that may be a starting point.

[SuperD]

I have seen numerous Subaru's being towed, don't know if they were auto or manual. Check with dealer and look in the manual before you buy to make SURE the one you choose can be flat towed. If the manual says no don't do it.

[TyCreek]

A couple years ago, the only new vehicle with automatic I found 4 down towable under 3500lb was the Ford Focus.

[Parks0412]

Check out "Remco" towing. You can type in the model of car you want to tow and it will tell you what you need. Even if you've been told no, chances are you can still tow it flat with an added oil pump. Check them out!

[TurnerFam]

my '14 Fiesta is 2,500lbs, pulls like a dream, you don't even know it's there...

[mrw]

I flat tow a 2015 Kia Sol with 5sp transmission. Tows great only prob is the steering wheel needs to stay unlocked which means you need key in which puts draw on battery of toad. I use a small solar charger that does the job. I will never go back to dolly

[Baddad53]

FMCA just put out their annual tow vehicle manual. The number reduces every year.

[Jegdrum5050]

Mrw, I have a Soul as well, I just turn key to on position then off, leave key in and wheel is free. Haven't experienced any battery drain.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by SuperD

I have seen numerous Subaru's being towed, don't know if they were auto or manual. Check with dealer and look in the manual before you buy to make SURE the one you choose can be flat towed. If the manual says no don't do it.

Late last year Subaru announced they do not recommend flat towing any of their vehicles regardless of transmission. They have all been removed from the 2017 FMCA towing guide. Subaru now recommends all wheels off the ground for towing.

[Double R]

I tow a Chevrolet Malibu, 4 down, weights 3200. Large trunk seats 5.

[SemperFi]

Did you choose a vehicle to flat tow? I am considering a 2018 Subaru Forester manual shift.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

my '14 Fiesta is 2,500lbs, pulls like a dream, you don't even know it's there...

Does your Fiesta have a manual transmission; or the automatic?

[TurnerFam]

my previous Fiesta, yes, was an automatic, as they and the Focus automatic models are 4-down towable, with no other requirements other than to put it into neutral. I also, do, though, have a 12v cutoff under the hood, which allows you to remove the key.

towed 50,000 + miles on the Focus now...

the old adage that an automatic cannot be towed is not longer true, and hasn't been for many years, though many of us of a certain 'age' might be falling back on our experiences when we were young - a manual 'anything' can probably be towed, though that itself is also now no longer true, as 4-wheel drive and AWD come into the picture.

[Bob Denman]

Thanks!
They're a pretty light vehicle that can get some pretty great fuel mileage (when it's pedaling for itself! )
My kid had one, and put 100,000 miles on it: no problems whatsoever!

[TurnerFam]

45+ mpg average

[TurnerFam]

as with any conversation revolving around the question of whether a vehicle can be 'toad', the owner's manual is the final piece of information to look at...as model year changes can affect whether a vehicle continues to be flat-towable ... ask all of the Honda CRV owners, as they may now be surprised that the very popular CRV is no longer towable in it's current models - apparently Honda has changed the transmission design : /

[jabrabu]

Originally Posted by KC8RXQ

I have a 2014 Honda CR-V AWD set up to flat tow. Family Motor Coach Assoc. (FMCA) publishes an annual dingy towing guide that may be a starting point.

This sounds like it would meet the original poster's requirements for cargo space and AWD. 2014 was the last year that the CR-V was flat-towable since they switched to the CVT transmission in 2015. I tow a 2012 CR-V AWD and it's been great.



For a new vehicle, the Jeep Cherokee with certain AWD/4WD options is flat-towable and would also meet your requirements for cargo room and AWD.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

45+ mpg average

Yup! He would tell me about getting 49 mpg with it...
I thought he was full of crap; until I drove it, and got 48 mpg.