Outback Camping: What Trailers Can Your Subaru Pull?

The Subaru Outback is a popular choice for outdoor adventures, thanks to its rugged design and impressive features. With a maximum towing capacity of 2700-3500 pounds, it can tow small campers, trailers, and boats. So, what kind of camper can a Subaru Outback pull? The Outback is ideal for lightweight campers such as teardrop trailers, pop-up campers, and small to medium-sized travel trailers. It can also tow certain airstream travel trailer models like the Bambi and Basecamp, weighing under 3000 pounds.

When choosing a camper for your Outback, it's essential to consider the vehicle's towing capacity and the camper's weight, especially when loaded with gear. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, it's recommended to select a camper well below the maximum towing capacity, allowing for extra cargo and a more comfortable drive.

Teardrop trailers

The Subaru Outback is a versatile vehicle that can tow a variety of small campers and trailers. Its towing capacity ranges from 2,700 to 3,500 pounds, depending on the model year, trim level, and options. This makes it a great option for those who want to tow a small trailer without driving a full-size truck or SUV.

• Liberty Outdoors Camp Rover
• Viking Clipper Express 9.0TD
• Braxton Creek Bushwacker

These teardrop trailers offer a lightweight and easy-to-maneuver option for your camping adventures. Remember to consider the weight of your gear and other necessities when choosing a trailer to ensure safe towing.

Pop-up campers

A pop-up camper is a small camper that has a solid shell bottom and a pop-up top made of canvas, vinyl, or another sturdy fabric. They are usually roomy and large, weighing between 700 and 3,800 pounds. A typical pop-up camper has storage cabinets, two sleeping bunks, a fold-down dinette, a basic kitchen, a water heater, a water tank, air and heating conditioning, gas, and electricity. Essentially, a pop-up camper provides most of the amenities a typical RV offers. They tend to be lightweight because most of the camper shell is made of fabric.

Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD

This pop-up camper has a dry weight of only 1,514 pounds and an average cost of just $11,000, making it one of the most affordable options. It comes with a fully-equipped kitchenette, a four-person dinette booth, and two fold-out bunks for sleeping. It can sleep up to six people, which is impressive considering its compact size.

Timberleaf Pika

The Timberleaf Pika is perfect for those looking for an off-grid and dry camping experience. Its simple and utilitarian design provides everything you need without adding unnecessary weight. It offers a rear outdoor galley kitchen, an onboard 12V and 110 electrical systems, and a cozy interior cabin with a double-size mattress, LED lighting, a 4-speed electric fan, and an optional heater. The rugged exterior and available off-road package make it capable of handling off-road adventures.

Coachmen Clipper 12.0 TD Max

This unique pop-up camper features a single hinge design, allowing for full standing height in the main living area while maintaining a lower height in the sleeping area. It has a dry weight of 2,164 pounds and comes with a three-person sleeping capacity, a small kitchenette, a 20,000 BTU furnace, an optional air conditioner, a 200-watt solar panel, and a roof rack.

Aliner Expedition

The Aliner Expedition is a pop-up camper with hard-sided A-frame design, which provides better insulation and sound-deadening capabilities than traditional canvas tent walls. The fold-out hard-sided walls make it easier to cool in the summer and heat in the winter. It has a dry weight of 1,850 pounds, a sleeping capacity of four, and a cassette toilet.

Happier Camper HC1

The Happier Camper HC1 is an ultra-lightweight camper with a dry weight of only 1,100 pounds. It features a flexible modular interior called the Adaptiv™ system, which allows you to customize the layout with heavy-duty interchangeable molded fiberglass pieces. It has a unique honeycomb floor, a large rear hatch door for easy loading and unloading, and an optional toilet.

Small travel trailers

The Subaru Outback is a great option for small, lightweight campers thanks to its engine, safety ratings, and specifications. The Outback has a maximum towing capacity of 2,700-3,500 pounds, depending on the model year and trim level. This means it cannot tow a full-sized RV but can still tow many small RVs and travel trailers.

Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro

The Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro is a compact and lightweight travel trailer, perfect for the Outback. While some floor plans weigh more, there are options that fall below the 2,700-pound mark. This trailer offers a fully-equipped kitchenette, sleeping space, and even a bathroom, depending on the configuration.

Scamp Travel Trailer

The Scamp Travel Trailer is a popular choice for Outback owners. With a dry weight ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, it's well within the towing capacity of the Outback. The Scamp trailer is highly customizable, allowing you to configure it according to your needs. You can choose to include a kitchenette, sleeping space for two or four people, and even a 3-piece wet bath.

Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12S

The Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12S is another excellent option for the Outback. With a dry weight of 1,903 pounds, it offers a full outdoor kitchenette, gaucho couch that converts into a bed, air conditioning, furnace, and even solar power capabilities. This trailer provides a balance of features and lightweight design, making it a great choice for Outback owners.

Little Guy Trailers Meerkat

The Little Guy Trailers Meerkat is a unique trailer that combines the features of a stand-up camper and a pop-up camper. With a dry weight of only 1,180 pounds, it's one of the lightest options on this list. The Meerkat offers standing room height when in camp mode and reduces trailer height while in travel mode, making it easy to store and maneuver.

Happier Camper HC1

The Happier Camper HC1 is an ultra-lightweight trailer with a dry weight of just 1,100 pounds. It features a flexible modular interior system that allows you to customize the layout to suit your needs. The HC1 offers a unique honeycomb floor and interchangeable molded fiberglass pieces to create benches, beds, countertops, and more. It also has a large rear hatch door for easy loading and unloading.

These small travel trailers are perfect for the Subaru Outback, allowing you to explore the great outdoors without compromising on comfort and functionality. Remember to consider the total weight of the trailer, your gear, and other cargo to ensure safe towing within the Outback's capacity limits.

Airstream travel trailers

The Basecamp has a convertible rear space that can be adapted for eating, sleeping, lounging, or storing gear. It also has a large rear cargo hatch, a bathroom with a toilet and shower, a kitchen with a cooktop, a stainless steel sink, and a refrigerator. It sleeps two people comfortably, with two long benches and one short bench that convert into a full-size bed.

Optional additions include an enclosed patio and a rear tent that attaches seamlessly to the Basecamp's roof track for extra outside storage. The camper has panoramic windows and an earth-tone theme.

The Airstream Basecamp is priced at $34,900.

Other Airstream models that can be towed by a Subaru Outback include the Bambi and the smaller, lighter models that weigh under 3,000 pounds.

Rooftop tents

If you're looking to buy a roof tent for your Subaru Outback, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, check your owner's manual to see if your model can support the weight of a roof tent. Some Subaru Outback models with crossbars that swing out and retract may not be able to handle the weight of a roof tent, but you can install an after-market roof rack to solve this issue. It's important to ensure that the dynamic weight capacity (weight while the vehicle is moving) and static weight capacity (weight while the vehicle is stationary) of your roof rack are greater than the weight of the tent, occupants, and any other gear.

Hard Shell Roof Top Tents

• Condor 2 by Roofnest: Features a spacious interior, durable construction, and optional crossbars for extra gear. Weighs 155 lbs.
• Tuff Stuff Alpha 2: Quick setup, all-weather protection, and optional annex. Perfect for smaller SUVs like the Outback. Weighs 155 lbs.
• Freespirit Recreation Evolution V2: Available in three sizes to fit any Subaru Outback. Quick setup, comfortable mattresses, and optional crossbars.
• FSR Odyssey: Aerodynamic design, fits a wide range of vehicles, integrated LED lights, and a weight capacity of 750 lbs. Weighs 154 lbs.

Soft Shell Roof Top Tents

• OVS Nomadic 2 Extended: Accommodates 2 people comfortably, features a 3" memory foam mattress, skylight window, and optional annex. Easy setup and takedown. Weighs 155 lbs.
• Overland Junction Golden: Offers 360-degree views, flexible setup options, a comfortable 2.75" mattress, and excellent waterproofing. Super-fast setup.
• Roofnest Meadowlark: Weighing only 90 lbs, this tent is perfect for adventurers who want a high-quality, lightweight option. Features a comfortable 2.5" mattress and quick setup.
• Freespirit Recreation Aspen Lite: Features a comfortable 3" AirCore mattress, integrated LEDs, and a lightweight, low-profile design. Super-fast setup. Weighs 100 lbs.

Frequently asked questions