Who is towing a Subaru Forester 4 down?

[GeoBoy]

Who is towing a 2018 Subaru Forester with a manual transmission 4 down? What base plate and brake system are you using? How easy is the Forester to tow?

[LetsRV]

Newer models (I think since 2014 or 15) have gone to the CVT trans. That is the reason for not being able to tow four down.

Honda did the same thing. If a car has CVT style tranny it is not towable four down.

[loggenrock]

Towing '09 5-speed Forester for over 20k miles without issue. Think 2016 is when Subaru of America changed their policy regarding towing - now don't recommend it at all. Other forums have also had this discussion - no one seems to be aware of any physical changes to prevent this, but you are on your own (no warranty) if you do it... We use NSA ReadyBrute towbar with integrated surge brake - works great - no power drain to toad, lighter, no box to store, less pricey, easy hookup. Blue Ox baseplate. Apparently Blue Ox does make baseplates for 2018 models, too...

[Devocamper]

Nutinelse2do wrote:
I believe the last year they are towable 4 down is 2014, and that was with a manual tranny.
2018 cannot be towed 4 down, neither manual nor auto trans, according to everyone and everything we checked.

X2 - our 2015 standard 6 speed transmission forester was towable with all four wheel on the ground , verified by multiple sources but our 2018 cvt as well as the current standard is no longer approved for flat towing by Subaru, not sure what the reasoning is.

[jarata1]

2018 Subaru cross trek 4 down here

[j-d]

Reason might be a change to electric steering. Check specs

[Nutinelse2do]

I believe the last year they are towable 4 down is 2014, and that was with a manual tranny.
2018 cannot be towed 4 down, neither manual nor auto trans, according to everyone and everything we checked.

[LetsRV]

AS long as you're talking about a Forester that DOES NOT have the CVT tranny then they are great toads.

I had an 09 that I towed for 6 years and it was great. Easy to hook up and go. Used roadmaster tow bar. Never had a problem.

[mat60]

Help on the way.