Can You Flat Tow A Subaru Forester? Find Out Here!

Yes, a Subaru Forester can be flat towed. However, the manufacturers recommend that it is not safe to flat tow any of the vehicle’s current models due to possible damage to some of its parts during towing. Although older generations of the car can be safely towed.

All the same, you can still flat tow the Subaru Forester if you are careful enough. However, these vehicles can only be flat towed in any of two ways. First, you can safely tow the vehicle with the aid of a trailer or using the flatbed of a tow truck.

Despite this, flat towing is not recommended for this particular vehicle. Nevertheless, if it becomes necessary to tow it, you must first make sure that its parking brake is disengaged, the gear lever is set at Neutral, and also its key is in the ‘ON’ position as well. 

Subaru vehicles that are equipped with manual transmissions can be easily and safely towed with all the wheels on the ground while the transmission is Neutral.

On the contrary, those Subarus with automatic transmission systems can only be towed on the flatbed of a tow truck where all their 4 wheels are off the ground.

This also implies that for Subarus with automatic transmission system and front-wheel drive, the safest way to tow them is with the aid of a tow truck that will raise all its wheels off the ground or with the aid of a tow dolly that will lift only the front wheels off the ground.

So, yes, a Subaru Forester can be flat towed, but you just have to know how you can do so safely, lest you damage some of its important parts.

Deciding on the towing method you should choose for a Subaru Forester will depend on not just whether it is a front-wheel drive, but also whether it is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission system, which is a deciding factor in all towing capacities of the Subaru.

How do you flat tow a Subaru Forester?

Flat towing a Subaru Forester is done through any of several ways that are specially chosen to prevent any needless damage. This brand of vehicle is commonly manufactured with either manual or automatic transmission systems and each type has its specific method of towing.

For example, you have the option of towing a Subaru Forester with a manual transmission system any way you wish. For this reason, you can tow a manual transmission, Subaru Forester, with the aid of a tow dolly, on all its tires, or with the use of the flatbed of a tow trailer, but their transmission system must be in the ‘Neutral’ position throughout the time of towing.

On the contrary, Subarus with automatic transmission can be towed on a tow dolly if it is a front-wheel-drive by raising the front tires off the ground to protect the transmission system of the car.

If it has rear-wheel drive, your best option is to tow it on the bed of a tow trailer or by raising the rear wheels and towing it with the rear wheels, not on the ground.

What do you use to flat-tow a Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester is commonly flat towed using most of the equipment that is applicable in towing other vehicles too with only slight differences.

Therefore, some of the things you require before you tow a Subaru Forester are a tow dolly for front-wheel models, a winch for dragging where necessary, and finally, the flatbed of a tow truck or trailer.

Regardless of everything, you should raise your rear tires if the vehicle is a rear-drive model and the front tires if the car is a front-drive with an automatic transmission system.

On the contrary, you can flat tow a Subaru Forester on all its 4 tires and safely too if it is equipped with manual transmission.

This is because when you tow cars with manual transmissions with all the wheels on the ground, it will rarely develop any fault. In addition, you may also need an electronic weighing machine before towing.

Can all Subaru Forester be flat towed?

Certainly, most, if not all, of the Subaru Forester models can be flat towed as long as you know how to do it without causing any harm to the vehicle.

To further corroborate this assertion, all Subarus with manual transmission systems can be flat towed in any way you wish as long as the transmission is in ‘Neutral.’

While the Subaru Forester with automatic transmission can be towed only with the aid of a flatbed truck or a tow dolly. That is why the front-wheel-drive model of Subarus should be flat towed on a tow dolly which will lift the front wheels off the ground to guard against damage to the transmission.

For a rear-wheel-drive Subaru Forester with automatic transmission, you can only tow it safely on the flatbed of a tow truck or a trailer which will lift all its wheels off the ground to prevent premature damage.

Is it safe to flat-tow a Subaru Forester?

It is very safe to tow a Subaru Forester as long as you adhere strictly or heed the recommendations of the manufacturers. This includes the suggestion to tow Subarus with manual transmission on all their 4 tires.

While for Subarus with automatic transmission systems, you are recommended to tow them on a tow dolly if they are the front-wheel-drive models. For those Subaru cars that have automatic transmissions with rear-wheel drive, about the best way to tow them is with the aid of a tow truck or trailer such that all 4 wheels will be off the ground.

This means that you have eliminated the possibility of damage to the transmission, which also implies that if you go about it exactly as is recommended by the manufacturers, towing a Subaru is as safe and easy as towing any other vehicle too.

FAQs

(1). Can a Subaru be dinghy towed?

Dinghy towing involves towing a vehicle with all its wheels on the ground, which is sometimes referred to simply as flat towing. Dinghy towing is possible and safe mostly with cars that have manual transmission.

Subaru specifically recommends that the best way to tow their cars is through the use of the flatbed of a tow truck or trailer. However, in some special cases, if you are dealing with a Subaru that has a manual transmission, you can dinghy tow it as long as the transmission is in the ‘Neutral’ position.

Unless the car is fitted with a manual transmission, you must not attempt to dinghy tow it for whatever reason. Doing so is likely going to damage not only the transmission system but also the drivetrain.

(2). Can Subarus be flat towed?

Not all Subarus can be flat towed, especially the newer models. Specifically speaking, Subaru models with automatic transmissions cannot be flat towed, but those with manual transmissions can, as long as you adhere strictly to all other recommendations governing safe towing.

Before you flat tow a Subaru with a manual transmission, you must make sure that you engage it in the ‘Neutral’ position. Otherwise, you may damage other important components of the car such as the transmission system itself or the drivetrain as well.

(3). Can a 2021 Subaru Outback be flat towed?

Subaru specifically mentioned that its newer models should not be flat towed but the older models can and safely at that. Fortunately, the 2021 Subaru Outback can be towed without any of its components suffering any damage.

In addition, you have the option of towing this vehicle either with all its wheels off the ground or you flat tow it with all the wheels on the ground. It must not be forgotten that flat towing cars with manual transmissions are a lot easier than flat towing those with automatic transmissions.

Notably, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek and Crosstrek Premium, which are very closely related to the Subaru 2021 Outback, can also be flat towed provided they are not part of the options with Lineartronic CVT.

However, when flat towing a vehicle, make sure that it is engaged in the Neutral position. Also, the ignition should be switched on, or else the steering wheel may lock up, which portends grave danger to you and other motorists. Therefore, for any CVT models, you should avoid traveling more than about 31 miles at most.

Conclusion – Can You Flat Tow A Subaru Forester?

It is more difficult to tow a car with automatic transmission than one with manual transmission. Also, if your vehicle is a front-wheel-drive model, you should tow it on the flatbed of a tow trailer or a tow dolly that will raise its front tires off the road thereby protecting its transmission system.

If it is a rear-wheel drive, you can tow it on the flatbed of a tow trailer or by raising its rear wheels off the ground. In a nutshell, if you adhere strictly to the recommendations of the manufacturers, towing can be quite an exciting experience and very safe too.