How Much Can a 2015 Subaru Forester Tow

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Question:

how much can I tow ? I am thinking of purchasing a 1200 lb camper .

asked by: Craig

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The towing capacity of your 2015 Subaru Forester is 1,000 lbs if the trailer doesn't have brakes and 1,500 lbs if it does have brakes according to the owner's manual. Therefore, as long as the camper you are looking at has brakes or you add them then yes you can safely tow the trailer with this vehicle.

In order to tow a trailer with your Forester you will need a trailer hitch, wiring harness, and ball mount/hitch ball. For a trailer hitch I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13144 which installs using pre existing holes in your frame rail. In order to add a 4-way wiring harness I recommend the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector part # C56040 which is a completely plug and play option. Then for the 7-way which will be needed if the trailer has brakes I recommend the Curt Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller part # C57186. For a brake controller I always recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller part # 90885.

Though I do not know exactly which ball mount you need as it will vary depending on the trailer, the Ball Mount Kit part # 989900 should have anything you need to hit the road. I have attached several other review/install videos for you as well. Let me know if there's anything else you need.

expert reply by: Conner L

1

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Answer 1

Yes, radial tires are much preferred over bias ply tires for a number of reasons. The main difference between a radial ply and a bias ply tire is how the tire is constructed. The cords inside a bias ply tire run at a 32 degree angle to the…

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Answer 2

Good morning Brenda. We do offer a trailer hitch for your 2016 Subaru Forester PZEV. The Draw-Tite #DT82MR is not the correct hitch though. That one is only for a 2010 or 2011 Volkswagen Amarok. Instead I recommend the Curt Class 3 Hitch #C13144…

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Answer 3

To install the Curt hitch part #C13144 on your 2015 Subaru Forester you will need to permanently remove the rear heat shield. I attached the install video you referenced as well as instructions that detail how this is done. Heat shields like what…

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Answer 4

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 5

You are correct that there is a bit of a difference in the trailer hitch. The Curt Class III Trailer Hitch #C13144 for your 2016 Subaru Forester has undergone a change in the length of the receiver tube. This is the difference you noted in the…

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Answer 6

Curt and Draw Tite are separate companies that came up with their own ways to install their hitches independently of each other. A lot of times there are some variances that don't really make huge differences either way. Specifically with heat…

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Answer 7

You will need to take one measurement on your spouses Mercedes ML350 to determine if the Swagman XTC4 part #S64665 would fold up and clear the bumper of the vehicle. You will need to measure from the center of the hitch pin hole out to the furthest…

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Answer 8

You could do that if you wish, you'll just want to make sure that the heat shield is NOT sandwiched between the hitch and the chassis of the vehicle at any point. We frequently hear from folks with concerns about the vehicle being harmed because…

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Answer 9

The T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector #118467 is the one I recommend over the other two for your 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i. This brand of harness has less issues than the others. The Hopkins #HM11143885 and the Curt…

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Answer 10

The Curt trailer hitch, part #C13144, is a confirmed fit for the 2015 Subaru Forester and has a capacity of 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight (installation instructions linked below). Gross trailer weight is the total weight of the trailer and its…

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Answer 11

Yes, the Curt hitch would be more difficult to install. On our website we have a installation difficulty rating, from 1 to 10, on hitch receivers. The etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2", part…

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Answer 12

Ouch! $688.00? We can do better than that. Both Class II hitches with the 1-1/4 inch receiver, part #36523 and the Class III with the 2 inch receiver, part #75876 are available for your Forester. Whenever the choice is available, I always recommend…

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How Much Can a 2015 Subaru Forester Tow

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