I just purchased a 2026 Forrester hybrid limited. got 35 MPG on the first trip. Seats are comfortable rides great. Really enjoy it but have a question about towing. I have a very low-profile trailer that weighs 800 pounds with cargo and everything I'll probably be at 1100 pounds. (with cargo in car total). I'm going on a 900-mile round trip and hoping to do at least 75 miles an hour Should I slow to 70. any advice? This will be on flat hills or am I pushing it too hard? Thanks
2026 Forester hybrid towing
- Thread starter millerbl00
- Start date
Car is rated for 1500 # FYI
There are those here who would say that all manufacturers make all recommendations merely to enable their vehicles to make it through warranty and then die shortly thereafter.
I would say that if Subaru says that 1500 lbs is okay to tow then it is. Not much weight after all.
70 mph seems plenty fast with a trailer to me but I'd doubt that 75 mph would cause any harm, just higher fuel consumption.
Congrats on the new Forester. We've been happy with our current one and liked the one we had prior to it as well.
I would say that if Subaru says that 1500 lbs is okay to tow then it is. Not much weight after all.
70 mph seems plenty fast with a trailer to me but I'd doubt that 75 mph would cause any harm, just higher fuel consumption.
Congrats on the new Forester. We've been happy with our current one and liked the one we had prior to it as well.
The hydrid is awesome. Trailer tires are rated for 80mph but since its such a long trip all keep under 74 - 72.. This is only a once-a-year trip. the others are 300 miles maybe 4 times a year and Ill slow those down to 72 at least.
thanks!
thanks!
What are the trailer tires rated for?
I am assuming that your trailer will just be hooked up to a standard hitch with ball. I also am assuming you will be sharing the roads with semi trucks. Because they create a "vortex" as they drive-you could get pushed around a bit. I would sick to 70mph in the right hand lanes-JMHO based on experience. Since your tires are rated at 80mph I am also assuming that they are at least 14". Anything smaller is not good.
Air up your tires to maximum inflation for the trip.
Air up your tires to maximum inflation for the trip.
81 mph, done serval 900 mile trips with it no problems.
Bold move to tow with anything that has a CVT.
This is a Hybrid with the Toyota system. It's an ECVT with a plantery gearset. Nothing like a regular cvt.
thanks
thanks
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2022
- Messages
- 588
I would just manage total combined weight. If you dont have any rear seat passengers and a fully load cabin you probably have some headroom that makes a 1500lb trailer manageable.
And again trailer is only 800Lb
I think you should be good to go. MPG's will be better down around 60-65, but if your trailer tires are rated to 81 then go for whatever feels right to you.
Im going to try to keep to 73 max and monitor ECVT and hybrid battery temps.
thanks
thanks
Like CKN said, the air currents from trucks may cause sway and trailer movement. I'm a little more concerned that the trailer is that light. Make sure you are balanced well and keep plenty of tongue weight. Remember too that the coefficient of drag is not linear, so going a little faster is not a little more stress. So I would take it easy, especially in a new car. The arrival time difference between 70 and 80 could be lost in one poorly timed road-side burrito.
Ill have about 5000 miles on it before the long trip. thanks!
Most states have a lower speed limit for trucks and towing. There is a good reason for this. Taking a little longer to get there at 65 mph may be worth it. Also, a lot easier on the engine and transmission.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
This trailer has no brakes ?
No brakes its only 800 pounds. Towed it hundreds of miles no problems. But I admit not a Forrester.
With no real hills then you are only worried about aero drag and if that is low, then you aren't stressing anything much at all. Just watch your instantaneous mileage gauge and if you are using more than double the fuel you normally would for minutes at a time, (a crosswind can really increase drag) then probably you are working it near the limits of cooling on some system. Can you see oil temps, or especially transmission temps? In any case I think you won't be stressing it much at all.
On our Outback, we can display engine oil temp and it will climb a bit with higher sustained rpms needed for adding a big aero load, but that's better than lugging it.
We have a roof rack, with a couple kayaks and a canoe, and consumption can go up 50% if we go fast enough, then we add the trailer with the bikes on top, so it we can increase fuel used by 75% some times. I just do 65 max as I don't need to test the load limits of my racks, and trucks here are governed to that, so following them at a few hundred yards is a pretty relaxing drive.
Also you need to run some rpms, on a long shallow hill probably something above 2500 would be good, but I guess the electric motor should boost torque too, so maybe that doesn't apply?
I believe this drivetrain is essentially the geared planetary system that toyota uses, so it shouldn't mind sustained high torque as much as belt/chain CVT does, but I guess that depends on the electrics side too. I imagine Subaru was a bit conservative on the tow rating for this as well, and I see in Australia this drivetrain is rated for dragging around 2700 lbs, so I think you are good to go.
On our Outback, we can display engine oil temp and it will climb a bit with higher sustained rpms needed for adding a big aero load, but that's better than lugging it.
We have a roof rack, with a couple kayaks and a canoe, and consumption can go up 50% if we go fast enough, then we add the trailer with the bikes on top, so it we can increase fuel used by 75% some times. I just do 65 max as I don't need to test the load limits of my racks, and trucks here are governed to that, so following them at a few hundred yards is a pretty relaxing drive.
Also you need to run some rpms, on a long shallow hill probably something above 2500 would be good, but I guess the electric motor should boost torque too, so maybe that doesn't apply?
I believe this drivetrain is essentially the geared planetary system that toyota uses, so it shouldn't mind sustained high torque as much as belt/chain CVT does, but I guess that depends on the electrics side too. I imagine Subaru was a bit conservative on the tow rating for this as well, and I see in Australia this drivetrain is rated for dragging around 2700 lbs, so I think you are good to go.
Last edited:
Similar threads
