Advice needed for towing vehicle: I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#. My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe...

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

MoJoe wrote:

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

Your main concern is to only the towing capacity, but also the braking capacity. Perhaps even more important. If you can't stop that puppy, you are in deep dodo. I would do a lot of research, and get rid of that Forester. (MHO)

Jeremy Loc: America

MoJoe wrote:

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

Usually it’s close to impossible to get both. Great mileage and ok towing capacity. Toyota Tacoma with v6 gets about 20MPG and can tow over 6000 lbs with 4 wheel antilock brakes

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

flyguy wrote:

Your main concern is to only the towing capacity, but also the braking capacity. Perhaps even more important. If you can't stop that puppy, you are in deep dodo. I would do a lot of research, and get rid of that Forester. (MHO)

You have that right Leo. Barking comes before going.
I'd rather go up hill slow than down hill too fast 👍🤣

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

MoJoe wrote:

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

Check out about installing electric brakes would help on slowing down 👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Jeremy Loc: America

Billycrap2 wrote:

Check out about installing electric brakes would help on slowing down 👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Surge brakes are the best if properly maintained. If the boat is heavier and larger than the Suburu it’s still a BAD idea.

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

MoJoe wrote:

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

Been towing my Tracker 40th Anniversary (16'8") with my Hyundai Santa Fe Sport for six years now, no problems.

Pyro166 Loc: Tullahoma, TN

Jeremy wrote:

Usually it’s close to impossible to get both. Great mileage and ok towing capacity. Toyota Tacoma with v6 gets about 20MPG and can tow over 6000 lbs with 4 wheel antilock brakes

I've got a 2022 Tacoma which gets about 22 MPG normal driving but that drops to about 16 when towing my 2000# boat - same route.

Jeremy Loc: America

Pyro166 wrote:

I've got a 2022 Tacoma which gets about 22 MPG normal driving but that drops to about 16 when towing my 2000# boat - same route.

2012 here. I’m really happy with it. Never checked mileage towing. Always figure the fun outweighs the cost.

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

All of my life I've owned full sized 4WD pickup trucks or large SUVs. Won't do a truck again, wife likes a bit more style. It's me and/or her 99% of the time, so the next vehicle will be a 4 or AWD SUV. I'm 75, really miss my truck....... But not ready to give up my boat yet. She says "just rent one", but it's not the same. Built my first boat by age 15.

Fg Loc: NE OHIO

Try a Honda ridgeline,,not an suv but 4 doors and a trunk and u still have a truck

harleypiker Loc: WA

I have a Subaru Forester and its a GREAT transportation vehicle but definitely not a towing vehicle for basically
anything. Great cruising MPG with 2 or 3 people with minor luggage but load it down, pull hills, or headwinds and it starts shifting down.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

MoJoe wrote:

I have a 16' Tracker, total weight (per scale) 1860#, tongue weight 250#.
My 2015 Subaru Forester with 100K miles labors when towing, with a safe trailer weight of 1,500#, so I'm overweight.
Ideally, I'd like to replace the Forester with a similar (good mpg) SUV but with a better tow capacity. Any recommendations or bad experiences? Perhaps a Kia Sorento or Jeep Latitude... or ?

Have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. 4WD. Great mid size SUV. Beautiful interior with all the amenities. Great road feel. Powerful V-6. Great in the snow. About average gas mileage. Tows my 2500lb boat easily. Factory braking with the boat is excellent.

UncleRob Loc: NE Maryland

Toyota Tacoma if you're fishing that much hands down. Keep the Forester for daily commute, the Taco for towing. I have a Crosstrek that we towed with until the Taco came in and it was miserable

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

Unfortunately, no more trucks for me. But the Grand Cherokee sounds perfect!