I was looking for a tow vehicle for a friend a couple of years back. We had to bypass the forester because of the low towball down weight. (We were told 80kg, going by Johns chart it's lower) She had around 150 kg. Pity because there was some nice 2nd hand foresters around. She ended up with an Xtrail.
Cheers Pete
rockylizard said
09:39 AM Oct 16, 2014
wasn_me wrote:
I was looking for a tow vehicle for a friend a couple of years back. We had to bypass the forester because of the low towball down weight. (We were told 80kg, going by Johns chart it's lower) She had around 150 kg. Pity because there was some nice 2nd hand foresters around. She ended up with an Xtrail.
Cheers Pete
Gday...
The chart above does show the ball weight can be as high as 180Kg - read the chart fully and note the '# notes'
Cheers - John
wasn_me said
03:06 PM Oct 16, 2014
See what you are saying John. It was actually the subaru dealer that told us that. They had 2 not very old 2nd hand foresters in the yard at the time. They probably did their self out of a sale.
Cheers Pete
ShortNorth said
10:50 PM Oct 16, 2014
rockylizard wrote:
wasn_me wrote:
I was looking for a tow vehicle for a friend a couple of years back. We had to bypass the forester because of the low towball down weight. (We were told 80kg, going by Johns chart it's lower) She had around 150 kg. Pity because there was some nice 2nd hand foresters around. She ended up with an Xtrail.
Cheers Pete
Gday...
The chart above does show the ball weight can be as high as 180Kg - read the chart fully and note the '# notes'
Cheers - John
That 180kg towball d/f (1800kg ATM) is ONLY for the XT Turbo manual - it is 160kg d/f (1600kg ATM) for the XT Turbo automatic.
The normal 2.5 Forester is only rated for 1400kg ATM with 75kg towball d/f, or upped to 140kg towball d/f if the genuine Subaru towbar is fitted and has load levellers. Also if it is an auto, a transmission cooler is MANDATORY.
The 140kg towball d/f does NOT apply if you use a third-party towbar, like a HR.
I looked into this a couple of years ago at the time of buying my Aliner, as I was contemplating a Forester (many members of the Avan Club drive Foresters) - the 75kg d/f restriction can handle the Aliner, but for the heavier Cruiser and Cruiseliner (around 100-110kg d/f), you need to get the subbie uprated to the 140kg version. My brother-in-law had a normal 2.5 Forester for a few years, but had to sell it to be able to tow his 'new' 1800ATM Jayco with a 160kg towball d/f - he ended up buying a s/h Prado.
Regards, Brian
rockylizard said
08:47 AM Oct 17, 2014
Gday...
Thanks for explaining/expanding the chart Brian. That will help others who may not have read its content.
I am looking to find out what my Forester can legally pull its a Forester 2006 2.5 manual
has the heavy duty 50x50 draw bar with the sway bars on it or weight distribution bars what ever the right name is
i have asked 2 Subaru agents and thy say 2 things
have had a look on Subaru site and thy start at 2013 and have been told thy can pull more
its just would like to know what is legal
also have electric brakes
Any help would be great or pointed to a reliable site
Gday...
Does this help in some way?
Cheers - John
I was looking for a tow vehicle for a friend a couple of years back. We had to bypass the forester because of the low towball down weight. (We were told 80kg, going by Johns chart it's lower) She had around 150 kg. Pity because there was some nice 2nd hand foresters around. She ended up with an Xtrail.
Cheers Pete
Gday...
The chart above does show the ball weight can be as high as 180Kg - read the chart fully and note the '# notes'
Cheers - John
See what you are saying John. It was actually the subaru dealer that told us that. They had 2 not very old 2nd hand foresters in the yard at the time. They probably did their self out of a sale.
Cheers Pete
That 180kg towball d/f (1800kg ATM) is ONLY for the XT Turbo manual - it is 160kg d/f (1600kg ATM) for the XT Turbo automatic.
The normal 2.5 Forester is only rated for 1400kg ATM with 75kg towball d/f, or upped to 140kg towball d/f if the genuine Subaru towbar is fitted and has load levellers. Also if it is an auto, a transmission cooler is MANDATORY.
The 140kg towball d/f does NOT apply if you use a third-party towbar, like a HR.
I looked into this a couple of years ago at the time of buying my Aliner, as I was contemplating a Forester (many members of the Avan Club drive Foresters) - the 75kg d/f restriction can handle the Aliner, but for the heavier Cruiser and Cruiseliner (around 100-110kg d/f), you need to get the subbie uprated to the 140kg version. My brother-in-law had a normal 2.5 Forester for a few years, but had to sell it to be able to tow his 'new' 1800ATM Jayco with a 160kg towball d/f - he ended up buying a s/h Prado.
Regards, Brian
Gday...
Thanks for explaining/expanding the chart Brian.
That will help others who may not have read its content. 
Cheers - John