Do you want to flat tow your Subaru? However, are you wondering whether or not any damages can happen by flat towing your Subaru? Is it difficult to flat tow your Subaru to your motorhome?
Flat towed Subaru
It is not really a good idea to flat tow all the models of Subaru. However, there are a number of models of Subaru such as Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Outback, Subaru Impreza, and so on that can be flat towed especially if they contain manual transmission.
Flat towing your Subaru is not always the best thing for your vehicle as it can lead to potential damages that are irreplaceable.
To understand why it can be bad for some models of Subaru to be flat towed, you first need to understand what flat towing means.
Flat towing is when you with the help of a coupling hitch attach your car to a motorhome. This exposes your car to be on its four wheels instead of being totally off the ground.
Deteriorating the wheels, suspending miles, and damaging your Subaru car’s transmission are some of the significant problems that can be caused by flat towing.
When you are flat towing your car to a motorhome, your Subaru isn’t working its engine which is why the essential parts are working without getting lubricated properly and this can damage the car too.
Subaru Outback:
It is feasible for your Subaru Outback to be flat towed especially if you cover a very limited amount of distance with it.
Additionally, to make sure that your Subaru Outback is properly flat towed, you have to leave your Subaru’s key in its ignition and you also have to put the transmission in a neutral position.
Moreover, you should also keep in mind that when you flat tow a Subaru Outback, you can only flat tow it when it is operated by manual transmission otherwise you risk damaging your Subaru Outback’s AWD system or the transmission itself.
| Subaru Outback | Can it be flat towed? |
|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Outback | can be flat towed |
| 2020 Subaru Outback | can be flat towed |
| 2019 Subaru Outback | can be flat towed |
| 2018 Subaru Outback | can be flat towed |
| 2017 Subaru Outback | can be flat towed |
Subaru Crosstrek:
It is plausible for your Subaru Crosstrek to be flat towed. The ease of coupling or decoupling, reduction of fuel money, and simplicity of using the flat towed vehicles on narrow roads on road trips are some of the advantages that can derive from having your Subaru Crosstrek flat towed.
| Subaru Crosstrek | Can it be flat towed? |
|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Crosstrek | can be flat towed |
| 2020 Subaru Crosstrek | can be flat towed |
| 2019 Subaru Crosstrek | can be flat towed |
| 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | can be flat towed |
| 2017 Subaru Crosstrek | can be flat towed |
Subaru Impreza:
Subaru Impreza can be very effectively flat towed and you can profit from a very easy flat towing process.
Moreover, the ease of the method of attaching or detaching only requires you to position your Subaru Impreza behind your motorhome or RV and connect the coupling hitch and these are enough for Subaru Impreza to get up and running.
Subaru ascent:
Most of the Subaru model vehicles are not flat towable and the Subaru ascent is nothing different. Accordingly, you cannot flat tow your Subaru ascent as the positioning of the four wheels on the ground can cause tearing to the wheels.
Moreover, the overall flat towing situation can cause the drive shaft, transmission, and AWD system to go overboard which can cause internal problems too.
Subaru Baja:
Subaru Baja can be flat towed because its manufacturer offers quick stick shift models that help to couple your Subaru Baja with your motorhome however, you need to make sure to be aware of the towing capacity of your motorhome and act accordingly to that.
Subaru WRX:
By having the parking brake disengaged, you can successfully flat-tow your Subaru WRX.
The positioning of the Subaru WRX behind your motorhome is very convenient as the hitching and unhitching process is very easy and doable without any mechanical assistance.
Subaru BRZ:
If your Subaru BRZ contains automatic transmission, then it is not feasible for this type to be flat towed rather it is the manual transmission-related Subaru BRZ that can be flat towed very effectively.
Additionally, by flat towing your Subaru BRZ, you will be getting extra fuel mileage and you also have the likability to evenly wear out the tires.
Can a Subaru be towed behind a motorhome?
Subaru can be towed behind a motorhome. However, it is not the ideal thing for your Subaru to go through.
This is because flat towing a Subaru behind a motorhome can severely damage the transmission, driveshaft, and AWD system of your vehicle.
Nevertheless, some models of Subaru can be flat towed behind a motorhome which comes in handy when you are going on a road trip because a flat towing process for Subaru is very fuel effective, cost-effective, and has an easy setup process.
Can you flat tow a manual Subaru?
You can flat tow a manual Subaru which will help you to get as much mileage as possible in your Subaru.
But you have to make sure that you disconnect the transmission of your car while flat towing. In addition, you also need to make sure that you put your vehicle in a neutral position.
Moreover, due to the manual transmission of Subaru, it can have all of its wheels on the ground which is not possible in the case of automatic transmission where it is required for all the wheels to be off the ground.
What Subaru models can be flat towed?
Not all Subaru models can be flat towed effectively. This is why you need to know what type of Subaru models can be flat towed so that any kinds of damages can not occur.
Subaru Forester:
Subaru Forester is one of the models of Subaru that can be flat towed without any damage to your car. However, this will only be possible if your Subaru Forester has a manual transmission.
Moreover, such a flat towing process will be beneficial for your Subaru Forester because it offers a very fastest way for you to connect your Subaru Forester effectively with your motorhome, truck, or RV.
Subaru Impreza:
Subaru Impreza is another type of Subaru model that is compatible with the flat towing process especially if the Subaru Impreza has a manual transmission, not an auto transmission.
Additionally, this flat towing process of Subaru Impreza makes it possible for this type of Subaru model to be on its four wheels on the ground without any severe damage.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Manual SUV:
It is possible to flat tow your 2021 Subaru crosstrek manual SUV. Regardless, not all Subaru Crosstrek are equipped for the flat towing process.
This is why you have to avoid flat towing your Subaru crosstrek which has a new lineartronic CVT transmission.
Moreover, you also have to make sure that you put the transmission in a neutral position while flat towing your 2021 Subaru crosstrek manual SUV.
How to flat tow a Subaru?
Flat towing your Subaru will result in versatility especially if you follow the precautions and steps that are needed for effectively flat towing your Subaru.
Take Necessary Precautions:
You must be aware of all the important guidelines before flat towing your Subaru to your motorhome, truck, RV, and so on.
Additionally, you first have to look at your car’s owner’s manual to know whether or not your car’s model is appropriate for flat towing.
Moreover, you also need to make sure to look at the laws of your state regarding flat towing which is important for you to avoid any legal exchange.
Safely Attach the Coupling Hitch:
Flat towing your Subaru is very easy as all you have to do is to make sure that your motorhome has a coupling hitch attached to it.
If you can find the coupling hitch, you just have to position your vehicle at the back of the motorhome and then you just need to attach your Subaru with the coupling hitch.
Disconnect the Transmission:
Attaching or flat towing your Subaru to your motorhome isn’t the only thing that you need to do.
Instead, you also need to make sure you drive your host car or motorhome at 25 miles per hour with no more than 31 miles in distance.
Moreover, it is also necessary for you to only flat tow your manual transmission Subaru, not the automatic transmission one.
Turning off your ignition and inserting the key into the ignition are also part of the process of flat towing a Subaru.
Final Thoughts
Although it is really convenient for you to flat tow your Subaru car, it nevertheless can be dangerous for your Subaru’s engine, transmission, drive shaft, and so on especially if you do not follow the limited mileage and maintain the towing capacity.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
Read more about the author here.
