Choosing A Camper For Your Subaru Outback: Weight And Towing

The Subaru Outback is a versatile vehicle that can be used for outdoor adventures and camping trips. With a towing capacity of 2700-3500 pounds, it can pull small campers, trailers, and boats. While it cannot tow large RVs, it is capable of handling lightweight trailers, compact campers, and small to medium-sized travel trailers. The best campers for the Subaru Outback are typically lightweight or ultra-lightweight, such as teardrop campers, pop-up campers, and small stand-up campers.

Teardrop trailers

The Subaru Outback is a versatile vehicle that can tow a variety of small campers and trailers. Due to its limited towing capacity, the Outback is best suited for lightweight campers such as teardrop trailers.

When choosing a teardrop trailer for your Subaru Outback, it is important to consider the total weight of the trailer when loaded with your gear. The towing capacity of the Outback is 2,700 to 3,500 pounds, depending on the model year, trim level, and options. To ensure safe towing, it is recommended to select a teardrop trailer weighing less than 2,000 pounds, allowing for additional weight from your belongings.

• Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12S: This trailer offers a range of features, including a full outdoor kitchenette, a convertible gaucho couch, air conditioning, and a furnace. With a dry weight of 1,903 pounds, it is a great option for those who want the amenities of a larger trailer in a compact package.
• Timberleaf Pika: Designed for off-grid and dry camping, the Timberleaf Pika has a simple and utilitarian design. It features an outdoor galley kitchen, an onboard 12V electrical system, and a comfortable interior cabin with a double-size mattress. With a dry weight of 1,465 pounds, it is easy to tow and manoeuvre.
• Scamp Trailer: The Scamp Trailer is a popular and iconic lightweight camper with a unique two-piece fiberglass hull. Its design reduces weight and provides a leak-resistant roof. The Scamp Trailer is fully customizable, allowing you to configure it according to your needs. It has a dry weight of 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, depending on the floor plan.
• Little Guy Trailers Meerkat: The Little Guy Trailers Meerkat is a unique trailer that combines the features of a stand-up and pop-up camper. It offers standing room height when in camp mode and a reduced height for easy storage and towing. With a dry weight of only 1,180 pounds, it is one of the lightest and most manoeuvrable trailers on the market.
• Happier Camper HC1: Introduced in 2015, the Happier Camper HC1 stands out for its flexible modular interior. It features a honeycomb floor and interchangeable moulded fiberglass pieces, allowing you to customise the layout to your needs. With a dry weight of just 1,100 pounds, it is extremely lightweight and spacious.

These teardrop trailers offer a range of features and amenities to enhance your camping experience. Remember to consider the weight of the trailer and your gear to ensure safe towing within the Subaru Outback's capacity.

Pop-up campers

There are several pop-up camper models that are suitable for towing with a Subaru Outback. These include:

• Viking/Coachman 8' models: Weighing under 1,500 pounds, with a tongue weight of under 150 pounds. New models are priced under $6,000, while used ones can be found for under $4,000.
• Starcraft Starflyer 10: Weighing under 1,400 pounds, with a tongue weight of 140 pounds. New models are priced under $7,000.
• Quicksilver 8.1 and 8.0: Made entirely of aluminum, these basic campers are lightweight at 865 pounds, with a tongue weight of 150 pounds. New models are priced over $9,000.
• Jumping Jack trailers: A well-built option in the US, weighing 1,200 pounds.
• Palomino 280LTD: Featuring a tongue weight of under 200 pounds and a base weight of around 1,500 pounds, this camper can be towed easily by a Subaru Outback. It includes electric brakes and a Prodigy P3 controller.
• Chalet A-Frame trailer: Rigid A-frame trailers, such as the Chalet, A-line, and Rockport, are recommended for towing in mountainous areas as they are much better at keeping out sand and wind compared to canvas trailers.

Small travel trailers

The Subaru Outback is a great option for those looking to tow small travel trailers. While it can't pull a full-sized RV, its maximum towing capacity of 2,700-3,500 pounds means it can handle a variety of lightweight trailers with ease.

• Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro: This trailer has a dry weight of 1,514 pounds and a length of 11 feet 9 inches. It's one of the most affordable options, with an average cost of $11,000. It includes a fully-equipped kitchenette, a four-person dinette booth, and two fold-out bunks for sleeping, making it perfect for a quick weekend getaway.
• Scamp Travel Trailer: The Scamp trailer is a popular and iconic choice, known for its distinctive two-piece fiberglass hull. It has a dry weight of 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, depending on the floor plan, and can sleep two to four people. The hull design reduces weight and provides a unique look.
• Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G12S: Weighing in at 1,903 pounds, this small teardrop camper offers almost all the features of a larger trailer, including a full outdoor kitchenette, a gaucho couch that converts into a bed, air conditioning, and a furnace. It also has dual propane tanks and a 200-watt solar panel.
• NuCamp Tab 320 S: With a dry weight of 2,095 pounds, this fully self-contained camper includes a kitchenette, a three-piece wet bath, onboard batteries, propane, and freshwater and wastewater tanks. It also comes standard with electric brakes, an outdoor shower, and LED lighting.
• Little Guy Trailers Meerkat: This unique trailer is a cross between a stand-up and a pop-up camper. It has a dry weight of only 1,180 pounds and can sleep two people. The small pop-up dome provides extra headroom when camping but reduces the trailer's height during travel, making it easy to store in a standard garage.

When choosing a small travel trailer for your Subaru Outback, it's important to consider the total weight, including your gear and supplies, to ensure it doesn't exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle. Additionally, you may need to install a trailer hitch, hitch receiver, and other necessary towing equipment.

Airstream travel trailers

Airstream offers a range of travel trailer options, from the small and lightweight to the spacious and luxurious. The Pottery Barn Special Edition, for example, is a 28-foot trailer designed in partnership with Pottery Barn, featuring custom furniture based on best-selling designs, tailor-made storage solutions, and a timeless aesthetic. Starting at $170,700, this trailer is perfect for those seeking a stylish and comfortable camping experience.

For those seeking a more compact option, the Airstream Bambi is a lightweight and easy-to-manoeuvre trailer packed with everything needed for an unforgettable getaway. The Airstream Caravel is another small, single-axle option, designed to handle long distances and provide a simple towing experience.

If you're looking for a versatile and family-friendly trailer, the Airstream Flying Cloud is their most popular model, offering a wide range of floor plans to choose from. With its light and airy design, the Flying Cloud will keep you ready for any adventure.

For those seeking a design-forward statement piece, the Airstream Globetrotter is a perfect choice, starting at $123,150. Its crisp, clean lines and delicate neutral colours, along with the iconic aerodynamic aluminium shell, make it a head-turner on the road.

The Airstream Trade Wind, starting at $120,900, is another excellent option, offering more power potential than any other travel trailer model in the company's 92-year history. It is flexible, stunning, and supremely off-grid capable, making it perfect for weekend camping trips or extended boondocking excursions.

With a range of options, from the classic and timeless to the modern and sleek, Airstream travel trailers offer something for everyone.

Rooftop tents

The Subaru Outback is a versatile vehicle with a good towing capacity, making it a great option for those who want to go camping. Its maximum towing capacity is 3500 lbs, which is enough to pull small to medium-sized campers, trailers, and even boats.

If you're thinking of getting a rooftop 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 a rooftop tent. Some Subaru Outback models with crossbars that swing out and retract may not be able to handle the weight of a tent. In this case, you would need to install an after-market roof rack before adding a tent. It's important to ensure that the dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack is greater than the weight of the tent, and the static weight capacity should be higher than the weight of the tent plus the occupants.

Hard Shell Roof Top Tents

The Condor 2 by Roofnest is a versatile and functional option with a lot of sleeping space. It features a tough construction, HVAC ports, dimmable LEDs, a gear grid, and updated windows. It also offers the option to add an annex for extra space.

The Tuff Stuff Alpha 2 is perfect for smaller SUVs like the Outback. It offers a quick setup, all-weather protection, and an optional annex.

Soft Shell Roof Top Tents

The OVS Nomadic 2 Extended provides a large sleeping area, a comfortable 3" memory foam mattress, and a skylight window. It also has the option to add an annex for extra space.

The Overland Junction Golden offers unmatched 360-degree views and flexible configuration options, allowing you to completely open up the walls or keep them closed for protection from the elements. It features a comfortable mattress, extreme waterproofing, and high-quality tent fabric.

Premium Roof Top Tents

The Freespirit Recreation Evolution V2 is a durable hard-shell rooftop tent available in three sizes to fit any Subaru Outback. It comes with a comfortable mattress, blackout exterior material, adjustable features, and tri-layer insulation to keep you cosy.

Affordable Roof Top Tents

The OVS TMBK is a high-quality yet affordable option, made with durable fabric and featuring a comfortable 2.5" foam mattress. It's lightweight at only 110 lbs, making it suitable for Outbacks with weaker factory roof racks.

Lightweight Roof Top Tents

The Roofnest Meadowlark weighs just 90 lbs, making it one of the lightest tents on the market. It features a high-quality tent fabric, a rainfly, and a comfortable 2.5" mattress. Its lightweight design makes it easy to install and set up.

Best Mattress

The Freespirit Aspen Lite features an extremely comfortable 3" AirCore mattress, aluminium frame, and strong Poly-Oxford fabric. It also includes mesh screens on all windows, integrated LEDs, and a telescoping ladder.

Frequently asked questions