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Old 10-28-2016, 12:21 PM   #1
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Ready for the road!

My Forester is set for towing, brake controller works (still fine-tuning), cargo rack is on, tongue weight set. Yesterday I took a run up to Fort Casey State Park to test everything out. No problems on hills or at highway speed (55 max) but the only thing very steep also had a lower speed limit so I didn't really test out speed on hills. Everything felt very stable.

Next is packing for a trial campout (hoping for this next week) same location. (I could have stayed yesterday but had an evening commitment and then guests this weekend). I need to figure out the heater and fridge before that trip.

Then I hope to do a short road trip to see the grands sometime in November. Maybe for Thanksgiving. No mountains in the near future as I'm still deciding whether to get a new tow vehicle sooner rather than later.
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Old 10-28-2016, 01:10 PM   #2
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Looks great Bobbie, have fun with your new toy
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Old 10-28-2016, 06:41 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
My Forester is set for towing, brake controller works (still fine-tuning), cargo rack is on, tongue weight set. Yesterday I took a run up to Fort Casey State Park to test everything out. No problems on hills or at highway speed (55 max) but the only thing very steep also had a lower speed limit so I didn't really test out speed on hills. Everything felt very stable.

Next is packing for a trial campout (hoping for this next week) same location. (I could have stayed yesterday but had an evening commitment and then guests this weekend). I need to figure out the heater and fridge before that trip.

Then I hope to do a short road trip to see the grands sometime in November. Maybe for Thanksgiving. No mountains in the near future as I'm still deciding whether to get a new tow vehicle sooner rather than later.
your tug and trailer look like a great combination!
hope you can find some sunshine up there to enjoy the camping.
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Old 10-28-2016, 06:43 PM   #4
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I sure wish I could have gone today- it may be the last sunny day.
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Old 10-28-2016, 07:01 PM   #5
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Looks good Bobbie. Just make sure your cord will not catch on something.
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Old 10-28-2016, 07:22 PM   #6
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Good point. I need to attach it up higher. And adjust the safety chains a little, too.
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Old 12-15-2016, 08:39 PM   #7
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Old 12-15-2016, 09:39 PM   #8
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Very nice, looks like the trailer is pretty level best as i can tell from the pics. Do you have your mind set on a particular tow vehicle or are you just in the comparing/looking phase? Enjoy your trip.
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Old 12-16-2016, 10:20 AM   #9
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Huh? I have no idea what you mean to say here.
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Old 12-16-2016, 10:28 AM   #10
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Very nice, looks like the trailer is pretty level best as i can tell from the pics. Do you have your mind set on a particular tow vehicle or are you just in the comparing/looking phase? Enjoy your trip.
Still deciding. I took the trailer to N. Cal (Humboldt) and back over Thanksgiving and did fine. I've moved the cargo rack closer to the back of the trailer. The main reason I still want to look at new TVs is that it is a little confining to have to worry about exactly how to pack- I had to take the xpens on my trip despite knowing I wouldn't use them because they balance the front weight. I also have to think about what all I take and it would be nice to take whatever I want and not worry about that.

In the running right now are Honda Pilot, Kia Sorrento, maybe Toyota Highlander but I don't like how the back seats fold down, maybe Honda Ridgeline, maybe a 2012 Rav4 V6 if I can find a good one. I'm in no hurry since this setup works just fine as long as I consider the limitations. I came back from the trip sick (germy grandkids!) so haven't had a chance to go test drive anything yet.
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Old 12-16-2016, 11:45 AM   #11
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Hi Bobbie54. Sweet looking combination!! Are you sure you want to separate those two?
Maybe you can find room to add ETI's- or your own storage box on the front, and keep this handsome looking couple together?
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Old 12-16-2016, 12:41 PM   #12
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Hi Bobbie54. Sweet looking combination!! Are you sure you want to separate those two?
Maybe you can find room to add ETI's- or your own storage box on the front, and keep this handsome looking couple together?
The issue is that the Forester only takes a 200 lb tongue weight and 2400 lbs total. To get the tongue weight down to 200 lbs I need the cargo rack in back. Then if I want 10% of the weight on the tongue I need to keep overall weight to about 2000 lbs (Subaru says 8-11% or some such number but I don't like to go below 10%) and that means always having to watch the weight. (Though technically I could still carry about 400 lbs more in the back of the Subaru, I don't think I'd want to.) So it works- but it's not ideal, and ultimately I'll probably move up to something that doesn't have the limitations the Forester does.
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Old 12-16-2016, 12:45 PM   #13
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Here we are on the Thanksgiving trip along the Oregon coast. Cargo rack is as close to the back bumper as it goes now.
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Old 02-14-2017, 09:29 AM   #14
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Stiffer Rear Springs

I installed racing springs (20-30% stiffer) in the rear to eliminate the rear end sag in my 2009 Forester since my camper has a tongue weight of 215 pounds. Yes, my tongue weight is over the limit, but this bought me some extra time to save up for a different tow vehicle. I found them at Primitive Racing.
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