Hi - I own a 2013 Subaru Forester with an automatic transmission.  I need to know if the vehicle is flat-towable (all 4 wheels on the ground @ 65 mph +/-) behind a Class C motorhome and what, if any, restrictions there are.  Thank you for your assistance.

No you will destroy the auto in your forester. You shouldn't tow with a dolly either. All four tires need to be off the ground. I tow my Baja on a car trailer

there MAY be a way to do it (doubtful though - fluid may not be circulating?) with the driveshaft disconnected somehow - but even that may not be as practical as a trailer in the long run.

 

info; http://www.cars101.com/towing.html

 

maybe trade the car in for a manual?

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Yea, the 2013 should be a CVT, which is a little better than the older automatics, but still will not sufficiently lubricate themselves for anything more than very short and slow tows (like, emergency flat tow to the next freeway exit, etc.)

there MAY be a way to do it (doubtful though - fluid may not be circulating?) with the driveshaft disconnected somehow - but even that may not be as practical as a trailer in the long run.

 

info; http://www.cars101.com/towing.html

 

maybe trade the car in for a manual?

AWD: even if you pull the rear driveshaft, the front axles are still connected.

 

Best plan: get a car trailer.

Yes, it is flat towable! continue reading to see how/disclaimers. read your owners manual first to familiarize yourself with Subaru's recommendations.

can probably google it - other RV owners have Subarus.

options (with a variety of seriousness, humorousness, or riskiness):

one for sure option not requiring a trailer - remove front axles and disconnect rear driveshaft. (that's only 2 axle nuts (32mm) and 6 bolts (2 19mm strut bolts and 4 12mm driveshaft bolts), and front two wheels. then figure out a way to keep the front diff fluid in the car or drain/refill when you get there.  fluid containment issue also exists from the AT if you remove the entire driveshaft rather than just disconnect it. 

or remove all 4 axles and also deal with rear diff fluid containment in the same way as the front.

tow dolly with rear driveshaft disconnected
trailer
roll the dice - post 2003 i think the 4WD functions the opposite of older trans - meaning the transmission is "unlocked 4WD" when it's off/unpowered. so newer Subarus may be "less at risk" - but still might blow up after 100 miles.
drive with the car turned on so fluid is circulating (i've done it for short trips - but still a humorus recommendation for long trip drives an RV implicates)

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by grossgary

Yes, it is flat towable! continue reading to see how/disclaimers. read your owners manual first to familiarize yourself with Subaru's recommendations.

 

can probably google it - other RV owners have Subarus.

 

options (with a variety of seriousness, humorousness, or riskiness):

 

one for sure option not requiring a trailer - remove front axles and disconnect rear driveshaft. (that's only 2 axle nuts (32mm) and 6 bolts (2 19mm strut bolts and 4 12mm driveshaft bolts), and front two wheels. then figure out a way to keep the front diff fluid in the car or drain/refill when you get there.  fluid containment issue also exists from the AT if you remove the entire driveshaft rather than just disconnect it. 

 

or remove all 4 axles and also deal with rear diff fluid containment in the same way as the front.

 

tow dolly with rear driveshaft disconnected

trailer

roll the dice - post 2003 i think the 4WD functions the opposite of older trans - meaning the transmission is "unlocked 4WD" when it's off/unpowered. so newer Subarus may be "less at risk" - but still might blow up after 100 miles.

drive with the car turned on so fluid is circulating (i've done it for short trips - but still a humorus recommendation for long trip drives an RV implicates)

 

Pulling CV axles every time you want to tow the car seems like a massive headache. Also, you'd have to carry the outer stubs around, as that's what holds the bearings together.

What about a low pressure fuel pump connected to a trans cooler line to circulate the fluid through the trans. I have no idea if it would work, just shooting out an Idea.

Per cars101.com, 2013 was still the 4EAT - No CVT>>2014.

 

From the 2013 OM - section 9-18:

 

 

For models with automatic transmission,
the traveling speed
must be limited to less than 20
mph (30 km/h) and the traveling
distance to less than 31 miles (50
km). For greater speeds and
distances, transport your vehicle
on a flat-bed truck.

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by wtdash

Pulling CV axles every time you want to tow the car seems like a massive headache. Also, you'd have to carry the outer stubs around, as that's what holds the bearings together.

 

oh yeah - crazy indeed - that's why i said "humorous" options!!  lol  i was just having fun. 

Is this unique to the 4 wheel drive Subarus, or does every other one have the same issue?

 

And does that fuse in the front to turn the vehicle into a 2 wheel drive car ever work for that?

Is this unique to the 4 wheel drive Subarus, or does every other one have the same issue?

you need to qualify that question and why you're asking.  do you mean as opposed to FWD Subaru's or are you trying to differentiate 4WD and AWD (goodness hopefully not that dead horse http://www.subaru.com.au/car-advice/awd-vs-4wd)?

 

on (2003 and earlier) Subaru's the FWD fuse you're thinking of only works when the car is on.  so unless you do some work arounds simply installing the fuse doesn't do anything. 

Is this unique to the 4 wheel drive Subarus, or does every other one have the same issue?

 

And does that fuse in the front to turn the vehicle into a 2 wheel drive car ever work for that?

 

FWD cars can be towed on a dolly with the rear on the ground. Otherwise, on all 4 wheels, yes: Manual transmission is OK, Auto is not.

 

The FWD fuse disables the AWD system, and should be used with a spare tire. As far as using it to tow on 2 wheels? No. It requires both electrical power and hydraulic pressure to function, and is DEFINITELY not intended for that big of a speed difference. No way would I be involved in that (my car, or my tow vehicle....).

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by Numbchux

Just get a manual transmission Subie. 

 

 

I have towed my '00 OBW many thousands of miles with no problems.