RVs all on their own open up a world of freedom and transportation that just isn’t possible with anything else – but they still aren’t the most convenient things to maneuver around highly populated urban areas.
Truth be told, most folks don’t like the idea of driving their whole “home on wheels” to the grocery store every time they need to run some errands, either.
That’s why lots of folks end up choosing to tow a vehicle behind their RV.
These monster sized vehicles have plenty of room (plenty of power) to tow everything from a compact car to a midsized trunk and most things in between.
But can you tow Subaru vehicles, vehicles that use (maybe the best) all-wheel-drive system in the automotive industry today?
Let’s find out right now!
Can You Tow a Subaru Behind an RV?
RV owners that want to tow their Subaru on the back won’t have any problems!
Subarus (just like any other make and model) can be towed along by an RV just the same as any other vehicle, though there are a couple of specific things you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes time to hook up your Subaru.
You see, Subarus that have a manual transmission are recommended to be towed behind RVs with all four wheels on the ground and the transmission in neutral. This is the best, safest, and most reliable way to move Subaru vehicles that have a manual (or stick) transmission.
If you have a Subaru with an automatic transmission, though, the last thing you’d want to do is tow it with all four wheels on the ground – regardless of whether or not it was stuck in neutral beforehand!
No, Subarus with automatic transmissions need to be towed (behind RVs or through any other means) with all four wheels up off over the ground and the transmission locked in “parked” – ideally with the emergency brake engaged, too.
That come straight manufacturer!
Equipment You Need to Tow You
If you do decide to tow your vehicle behind your RV it’s important to make sure that you are fully outfitted for the project before you hook anything up.
Here’s a quick rundown of the bare-bones amount of equipment you’ll absolutely need to tow your Subaru behind your RV.
Trailer Hitch
The overwhelming majority of RVs sold today include a high quality trailer hitch that has been permanently mounted directly to the frame of the vehicle itself.
There are a couple of different types of trailer hitch you might end up with, but the overwhelming majority of trailer hitches are going to be designed with two core components – the receiver and the “ball hitch”.
The receiver has a hollow pocket and is the part that is permanently attached to your RV frame. You’ll be able to stick different kinds of hitch balls into that frame receiver, locking them into place (usually with a hitch pin) which then allows you to attach your car carrier or vehicle directly.
Different size trailer balls are available, different shape trailer balls are available, and all different kinds of hitches are going to be rated by the amount of “tongue weight” more towing capacity they can handle.
Make sure all of that is good to go with the rest of the equipment you’re using to move your Subaru and you’ll have a lot less to worry about.
Electrical Connections
Modern car carrying setups in trailer hitch systems are going to require you to connect wiring from your RV to the trailer itself.
This is usually done through a quick connect wiring harness, enabling brake lights, turn signals, license plate lights, and (sometimes) electric brake mechanisms in the car carrying setup.
You definitely – DEFINITELY – need to make sure that your wiring harness is connected, that all your lights are lighting, and that the electrical breaks are working the way you expected before you start your towing journey.
If you don’t the odds are very good that you’ll be pulled over sooner rather than later. And that’s a pretty steep ticket (or worse).
Safety Straps and Redundancy
Finally, it’s a good idea to invest in high-quality safety straps, redundancy hookups, and other manual attachments between your RV and your car carrying configuration.
It would be nice to know with 100% certainty that your trailer hitch and ball system is always going to work. But every now and again something goes sideways, a part breaks down, and before you know it your RV and your Subaru are separated unintentionally.
Manual redundancies like safety straps, chains, and hookups guarantee that your Subaru and your RV stay connected no matter what. You’ll be able to pullover, address the issue, and get things rocking and rolling again without worrying about a runaway car on your hands!
Contact Your Subaru Dealership for More Specific Info About Towing Your Vehicle
As we highlighted a moment ago, the folks at Subaru recommend two different approaches for carrying and towing your vehicle with your RV depending on the type of transmission you are running.
Manual transmission Subaru vehicles can be towed with all four tires on the ground running free to match the speed of the RV that is towing it, so long as the transmission has been put in neutral ahead of time.
Automatic transmission Subaru vehicles, though, need to have all four wheels – not just two of them, but all four wheels – lifted up off of the ground before a vehicle is towed.
If you don’t get all four wheels up off the ground you run the risk of doing significant amounts of damage to your automatic transmission, to your all-wheel-drive system, and to the rest of your Subaru drivetrain as well.
For more information about how you should be towing your Subaru behind RV don’t be shy about contacting your local Subaru dealership.
They’ll know exactly how you should tackle this kind of project, how you can safely tow your Subaru, and can even give you more specific advice about setting everything up correctly and securing your vehicle during transport.
