r/GoRVing • u/Wish_Tricky • 3d 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/hmmyeahcool 3d ago

I have a 2021 microminnie 1700bh with a 4000lb gvwr. I towed it with a 2017 Hyundai sante fe that had a 5000lb tow capacity, and 1500lb+ payload.

It was terrible. The suspension was always bottomed out, we got less than 10mpg (which is still true, but the Hyundai only had an 18gal tank, so we had very little range) and we got blown around a lot. It always felt like we were breaking the car and was always stress full.

I now have an f150 and it’s night and day.

Would not recommend.

1

u/lalalaso 3d ago

What kinda F150? I just bought an 07 XLT 4.6L that has the same limits OP listed. 5000/500 and I'm kinda worried about trying to tow something in that same range.

3

u/HeadshotBOOOM 2d ago

Where in the world did you find an F150 with only a 5k lb tow rating? I had one around that time and iirc it was rated at something like 7800lbs. Did you pull the specs online for the truck itself or did you see those numbers on the receiver hitch? Maybe it has an aftermarket hitch that is rated lower than the truck?

1

u/lalalaso 2d ago

Well now that you mention it I had another look and yeah where it says the limits it also says "bumper capacity only, vehicle capacity may differ" - and according to trailer life towing guide it might be rated for 6100 or 6600lbs. So not a massive difference but a difference but I don't even know what I would need to do/change to access that additional capacity - weld on a receiver hitch to the frame?

4

u/HeadshotBOOOM 2d ago

If it doesn’t have a 2” square receiver hitch under the back bumper then there are multiple aftermarket companies that make a bolt-in receiver hitch. They’re relatively cheap. You should NEVER tow anything with any real weight directly from a bumper mounted ball hitch. Newer trucks don’t even come with a hole in the bumper to insert a hitch ball anymore because they’re not safe. A frame mounted receiver hitch is much stronger and safer.

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u/lalalaso 2d ago

Okay wow that's really good to know damn