Tongue weight on almost every trailer built today, when used with the Ascent, must be 10-11% of the trailer’s GVW (what it weighs loaded how you will be using it).
FOUR steps to determine if it’s safe to tow:
- You start with the sticker on your driver’s B-Pillar. Look for the max cargo weight. You say you have a Limited. Let’s assume it’s one with a 1,158 pound cargo limit (otherwise use your actual number).
. - Figure out your cargo weight. In your case, if you are having all 6 adults along for the trip, let’s use 175 pounds a piece. That’s 1,050 pounds. Include gear weight. I am using zero gear just to make this simple.
. - Subtract the figure in #2 from your cargo weight.
1,158-1,050=108 pounds.
That means max hitch tongue weight is 108 pounds. ⬅🔆
. - Take that and divide by 0.1 to figure out your max trailer weight. In the example above, it is 1,080 pounds with a 10% tongue weight of 108 pounds.
For a little more stability, you can have a 981.8 pound trailer with 11% tongue weight of 108 pounds.
In the example above, the more you exceed 108 pounds tongue weight, the more it will cause sway and control issues.
That is how the math should be done. Use the spreadsheets to help calculate your Ascent’s cargo weight (people and gear) and your trailer’s weight (trailer and equipment and gear and water, etc). But that’s it – don’t use them for figuring out if tongue weight OR trailer weight is ok. There’s no spreadsheet or other method posted that I have seen that does the math right to determine if it’s safe to tow a trailer based on tongue weights and trailer weights.
Following steps 1-4 above, are the only way to do the math for that purpose properly, for any Subaru.
I tow this trailer below, at usually 4,100 to 4,300 pounds, often with all three tanks full (such as in the picture). It’s super stable, even on long drives through the mountains at 80 mph.
But, to do so, I keep the Ascent near empty of all but me and my 135 pound passenger, and maybe 30 pounds of clothing and snacks.
Sadly, that’s also the solution to towing something in that weight class – keep the in-car weight down enough to allow for higher tongue weights.
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