New to travel trailer and RV life, advice on purchase?

[DanandMindi]

Hi everyone.

New here to both travel trailers and RV in general. I have always wanted to get one and travel around, exploring with my wife and two dogs.

We recently purchased a 2020 Subaru Ascent and we are looking for a quality, modern travel trailer we can tow Looking around the 3,500 lbs range.

Can anyone please offer suggestions, provide advice from their experiences, recommendations of resources to learn more, etc?

Thanks everyone! The wife, dogs and I are very excited and appreciate your help.

Dan

 

[cpaharley2008]

Welcome Dan and Mindi, to our little Escape world. Check your owners manual for trailer towing weight. The Ascent may go up to 5,000 lbs. but if it is 3500 lbs, an Escape 17 would be perfect. Contact he factory to put you in touch with an owner near you, we love to show off our Escapes.

 

[DanandMindi]

Thanks for the welcome and the recommendation.

The dealer and owner manual says up to 5000 lbs, but I am worried that if I get a trailer that is say 4500 lbs that it will be too heavy, especially with gear.

Anyone pull a trailer 4000+ lbs with an Ascent?

 

[cpaharley2008]

Here is a recent discussion https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f10/subaru-ascent-towing-14689.html
and Escape 19 weight is about 3200# w/o options from the factory and the Escape 21 is about 300# heavier. Option loaded with liquids and your stuff will add close to 1,000 lbs. Some people watch carefully what they add so it can be done. I believe there are also other Ascent threads off forum also.

 

[steve dunham]

You will also need to know the payload / tongue weight limit of your tow vehicle
There is a large difference in tongue weight between a 17 ft Escape and a 17 ft Casita
Our 17 ft Casita had an average tongue weight of 425 to 430 lbs which is too high for a tow vehicle with a 3500 lb tow rating unless you deploy a WDH

 

[fudge_brownie]

As I own an Ascent I have followed any discussion on this forum about towing with an Ascent. My conclusion is, because this is such a new vehicle (2019 introduction), there is a very limited amount of experience. Especially on this forum.

My suggestion would be to follow the Ascent on a forum dedicated to owners.

However, for information on Escape trailers you are at the right spot.

 

[Bobbie54]

I'd say stick to a 17 or if you are a light packer, a 19, but what you don't want is to have to decide whether to take this or that because you are worried about weight.