The Subaru Ascent, known for its versatility and family-friendly features, also boasts a commendable towing capacity. Understanding this capacity is crucial when selecting the Best Travel Trailer for your adventurous getaways. This guide breaks down the essentials to ensure you choose a trailer that’s not only compatible but also optimizes your towing experience with your Subaru Ascent.
The heaviest Ascent model weighs 4,602 pounds, with all trims sharing a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 6,000 pounds and a tongue weight limit of 500 pounds. Subaru’s own tests, showcasing the Ascent towing a 4,300-pound Airstream with passengers, provide real-world context. This setup resulted in a tongue weight of approximately 405-410 pounds for the Touring trim used, leaving around 1,000 pounds for additional cargo in the vehicle.
For optimal performance and safety, particularly for Premium trim levels and above, it’s generally recommended to aim for a travel trailer weight of 4,000-4,300 pounds or less. This range represents about 80-85% of the Ascent’s towing capability, a guideline favored by experienced towers for comfortable and controlled handling.
However, remember that these figures are starting points. Several factors influence the final equation, including your Ascent’s trim level, the weight of cargo and passengers in the vehicle, and the specific characteristics of the travel trailer itself. For example, the Premium trim, being 125 pounds lighter than the Touring model, allows for slightly more cargo weight within the Ascent while maintaining the same towing capacity.
Let’s illustrate with the provided calculations:
Touring Trim Example:
- 6,000 lbs (GVWR)
-
- 4,602 lbs (Ascent “empty” weight)
-
- 500 lbs (Maximum tongue weight)
- = 898 lbs (Available for car cargo and passengers)
Premium Trim Example:
- 6,000 lbs (GVWR)
-
- 4,477 lbs (Ascent “empty” weight)
-
- 500 lbs (Maximum tongue weight)
- = 1,023 lbs (Available for car cargo and passengers)
These calculations highlight a critical point: exceeding cargo weight in your Ascent will necessitate choosing a lighter travel trailer to stay within the GVWR and tongue weight limits. It’s also crucial to consider the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the trailer itself, which represents the maximum permissible weight of the loaded trailer, not just its dry or unloaded weight.
For those planning regular or long-distance towing, adhering to a conservative limit is even more important. Many towing experts recommend staying at or below 80% to 85% of the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity for sustained and frequent towing. Aiming for a travel trailer around the 4,000-pound GVWR mark provides a comfortable buffer and contributes to a safer, more enjoyable towing experience over time. Choosing the best travel trailer for your Subaru Ascent means prioritizing safety and ensuring a balanced and manageable towing setup for all your adventures.
