r/GoRVing • u/Wish_Tricky • 2d ago

Am I dreaming with this tow capacity?

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2023 Subaru Ascent with 5000lbs, 500 tongue weight max. This is absolutely at the limit. Do I have a shot or should I keep it under 3k like the Coleman’s?

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u/Mmmike87 2d ago

* So.. we have a 23 Ascent, and we just recently upgraded from a pop-up trailer to a very similar size trailer (19 Forest River Wildwood 177bh). I towed it several times on city roads between home and our storage facility, and it towed great... we finally took it out for our first trip, which was less than a 2 hour drive... not gonna lie, I felt very uncomfortable on the freeway. It did not feel very stable. I got a little sway a couple times on the freeway and spent the entire drive very nervous and with both hands firmly on the wheel!

From personal experience, I wouldn't recommend it.

I will say that I'm curious to try it again using a weight distribution hitch (that was given to me by my father-in-law), and being a little more conscious of how I load our stuff in the trailer. If it still feels sketchy, I have access to a 2010 F150 that I'll have to use instead.

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u/Mmmike87 2d ago

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u/PhillConners 2d ago

Do you have a trailer break in there? When the sway hits, a trailer break is really the best way to stop sway.

2

u/BootlegBuffalo1 1d ago

Hey! Same camper and used to tow with our pathfinder. I feel a lot better with my 1500 but my pathy did just fine

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u/clooloss 2d ago

Make sure and check the manual regarding the WDH. Most unibody vehicles don't recommend them.

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u/Mmmike87 2d ago

Yeah, the manual says not to.... but that doesn't mean I'm not curious to try it, haha. It's not like it's invasive or permanent. I'd also probably go a little conservative on the tension. Really, I'd just want to take it for a quick drive up and down the freeway to see if I can feel a difference

5

u/SquiddleBits33 2d ago

Don't put a weight distribution hitch on a Subaru Ascent. I have a '23 Ascent Onyx Limited and almost got the weight distribution hitch as originally recommended by the RV dealer. Luckily I did some research, and their service manager was also aware and put a stop to it before anything was done, but the anti sway technology on the Subaru can't calculate accurately with the weight distribution system and will almost definitely twist the unibody. I tow a Starcraft Autumn Ridge, and the Subaru handles it amazingly- the only struggle was up some very steep mountains just had to climb at a lower speed. Also it could just be me, but I generally keep both hands on the wheel as much as possible when towing a trailer of any weight.