Ruperts Trooper

My experience in Europe has been that the system there is far stricter and better enforced than here. I have no ambitions of towing an Airstream with a VW Golf, but if it's allowed in Germany, then I've got to believe that it's safe.

Of course German driver training is also far better, and a load like that is limited to 55 or 60mph (even on the Autobahn).

 

Ben

The Airstreams sold in Europe are entirely different in construction and weight to real Airstreams although the styling and ethos are the same.

The lightest European Airstream is 1700kg (3,748 lb), far too heavy for a VW Golf and too heavy really for an Outback - it's just within the Outback's towing limit but would be limited to 50mph in Germany as it would be too heavy to qualify for Tempo 100 which permits 62mph.

I can only speak as I find.

I'm very comfortable towing 2,756 lb with an automatic with no low range - in Europe.

If I came to the US, I'd expect 2,700 lb behind a manual or automatic Outback, with no low range in either case, to tow slightly better than my outfit - the total weight would be marginally less and the tongue weight would be substantially more.

Because he and many of the Legacy GT owners have manual transmissions? I note the 3.0R is rated for 2,000 KG (4,400 lbs) but I'm not going there....that's what the Chevrolet is for!

For the UK, Outback maximum braked towing weights are :-

2.5 manual dual range 3,969 lb

2.5 automatic single range 3,969 lb

3.0 automatic single range 4,409 lb

Self-levelling suspension - yes - but the same towing limits / noseweight limits apply here to Legacy Tourer which doesn't have self-levelling.

Low range transfer case - no - that's only on manual transmission cars in UK.

The 2.5 automatic Outback has a towing limit in Europe of 1,800kg for a braked trailer - that's 3,969 lb in old money. Although the towbars are different between US and Europe, there aren't any other mechanical differences.

I tow a 1,250kg single-axle caravan (2,756 lb travel trailer) which handles fine cruising at 60 and not phased by overtakling at 70+. This is despite the low European noseweight limit of 82 kg (182 lb).

I don't understand why the idea of 2,700 lbs behind an Outback is even questioned.