2006 SUBARU OUTBACK towing capacity

8Driving tipsNew vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000
miles (1,600 km) ............. ................................. 8-2
Fuel economy hints ............. .......................... .... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ......... 8-2
Catalytic converter ............................................. 8-3
Periodic inspections .......................................... 8-4
Driving in foreign countries .............................. 8-4
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ........................... 8-5
Off road driving .................................................. 8-6
Winter driving ..................................................... 8-7 Operation during cold weather .............................. 8-7
Driving on snowy and icy roads ............................ 8-9
Corrosion protection .............................................. 8-10
Snow tires ............................................................... 8-10
Tire chains ............................................................... 8-11
Rocking the vehicle ................................................ 8-12
Loading your vehicle ......................................... 8-12 Vehicle capacity weight ......................................... 8-13
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................... 8-14
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ..................... 8-14
Trailer hitch (if equipped) .................................. 8-18
Connecting a trailer ................................................ 8-19
When you do not tow a trailer ............................... 8-20
Trailer towing ...................................................... 8-20
Warranties and maintenance ................................. 8-20
Maximum load limits .............................................. 8-21 Trailer hitches ......................................................... 8-24
Connecting a trailer ................................................ 8-25
Trailer towing tips ................................................... 8-26

8-26 Driving tips
T Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,
check that the standard side mirrors pro-
vide a good rearward field of view without
significant blind spots. If significant blind
spots occur with the vehicle’s standard
side mirrors, use towing mirrors that con-
form with Federal, state/province and/or
other applicable regulations.
T Trailer lights Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-
cle’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle’s lighting circuit to in-
crease its capacity and accommodate wir-
ing changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the turn signals, the brake
lights and parking lights each time you
hitch up.
T Tires
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated.
The recommended cold tire pressure un-
der trailer towing conditions is shown in
chapter 12, “Specifications” and in “GAS
STATION REFERENCE” at the end of this
manual. Adjust the rear tire pressure to
the recommended pressure when the tires
are cold. Normal pressure should be maintained in the front tires.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer manufacturer’s
specifications.
In the event your v ehicle gets a flat tire
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial
road service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured.
„ Trailer towing tips
Direct splicing or other improper
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle’s electrical
system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle’s lighting system. 800018
Never tow a trailer when the tempo-
rary spare tire is used. The tempo-
rary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle. y Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)
when towing a trailer in hilly coun-
try on hot days.
y When towing a trailer, steering,
stability, stopping distance and
braking performance will be dif-
ferent from normal operation. For
safety’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing a trail-
er and you should never speed.
You should also keep the follow-
ing tips in mind:

13-8 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
„ Vehicle load limit – how to de-
termineThe load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side
B-pillar. Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows seat-
ing capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all passen-
gers and their belongings, any cargo,
any optional equipment such as a
trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.
Therefore cargo capacity can be cal-
culated by the following method.
Cargo capacity = Load limit – (total
weight of occupant s + total weight of
optional equipment + tongue load of a
trailer (if applicable))
For towing capacity information and
weight limits, refe r to “Trailer towing”
section in chapter 8. T
Calculating total and load capac-
ities varying seating configura-
tions
Calculate the available load capacity
as shown in the following examples:
Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle
is 800 lbs (363 kg), which is indicated
on the vehicle placard with the state-
ment “The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed
363 kg or 800 lbs”.
For example, if the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 154 lbs (70 kg)
plus cargo weighing 551 lbs (250 kg). 1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capac-
ity by subtracting the total weight from
the vehicle capacity weight of 800 lbs
(363 kg).
3. The result of step 2 shows that a
further 95 lbs (43 kg) of cargo can be
carried. D00111Total weight
= 154 lbs (70 kg) + 551 lbs (250 kg)
= 705 lbs (320 kg) (Occupant) (Cargo)
Available Load Capacity
= 800 lbs (363 kg) 705 lbs (320 kg)
= 95 lbs (43 kg) (Vehicle
capacity weight) (Total weight)

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13-11also loaded capacities of the vehicle’s
suspension, axles and other parts of
the body.
Therefore, this means that the vehicle
cannot necessarily be loaded up to
the tire’s maximum load rating on the
tire sidewall.
„ Adverse safety consequenc-
es of overloading on handling
and stopping and on tiresOverloading could affect vehicle han-
dling, stopping distance, vehicle and
tire as shown in the following. This
could lead to an accident and possibly
result in severe personal injury.y
Vehicle stability will deteriorate.y
Heavy and/or high-mounted loads
could increase the risk of rollover. y
Stopping distance will increase.y
Brakes could overheat and fail.y
Suspension, bearings, axles and
other parts of the body could break or
experience accelerated wear that will
shorten vehicle life.
y
Tires could fail.
y
Tread separation could occur.
y
Tire could separate from its rim. „ Steps for Determining Cor-
rect Load Limit 1. Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX pounds” on
your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lbs
(635kg). and there will be five- 150 lbs
(68 kg) passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 – 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safe-
ly exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in Step
4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trail-
er, load from your trailer will be trans- ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduc-
es the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.

14-8 Index
Rotation ..................................................................... 11-37
Tires ................................................................................. 12-5
Types ......................................................................... 11-33
Tires and wheels ............................................................ 11-33
Top tether anchorages ..................................................... 1-36
Towing .............................................................................. 9-13
All wheels on the ground ............................................. 9-16
Flat-bed truck ............................................................... 9-16
Tie-down hooks ........................................................... 9-13
Weight ......................................................................... 8-21
Trailer
Hitch ............................................................................ 8-18
Hitches ........................................................................ 8-24
Towing ......................................................................... 8-20
Towing tips .................................................................. 8-26
Trip meter .................................................................. 3-7, 3-11
Trunk lid ........................................................................... 2-21
Release handle ........................................................... 2-22
Trunk light ...................................................................... 11-55
Turn signal
Indicator lights ............................................................. 3-24
Lever ........................................................................... 3-32
U
Under-floor storage compartment .................................... 6-16
V
Valet mode ....................................................................... 2-16
Vanity mirror ....................................................................... 6-4
Vehicle
Capacity weight ........................................................... 8-13 Identification ............................................................... 12-10
Vehicle Dynamics Control
OFF indicator light ....................................................... 3-22
OFF switch ................................................................... 7-32
Operation indicator light .......... ..................................... 3-22
System ......................................................................... 7-29
Warning light ................................................................ 3-22
Ventilator ............................................................................ 4-2
W
Warning and indicator lights ............................................. 3-14
Warning lights
ABS ............. ....................................... ............ .............. 3-20
All-Wheel Drive ............................................................ 3-22
Anti-lock Brake System ................................................ 3-20
AT OIL TEMPerature ................................................... 3-18
Brake system ............ ......................... ............ .............. 3-20
Charge ......................................................................... 3-18
CHECK ENGINE ......................................................... 3-17
Door open ................. ......................... ............ .............. 3-22
Low fuel ....................................................... 3-9, 3-13, 3-21
Oil pressure ................................................................. 3-18
Seatbelt ........................................................................ 3-14
SRS airbag system ...... .......................................... ...... 3-16
Vehicle Dynamics Control ................................... 3-22, 7-31
Warranties and maintenance ............................................ 8-20
Washing ............................................................................ 10-2
Waxing and polishing .... ......................... ............ .............. 10-3
Wear indicators ......................... ...................................... 11-37
Wheel
Alignment ..................................................................... 12-5
Balance ...................................................................... 11-37

GAS STATION REFERENCE
Fuel: T 2.5-liter non-turbo models
Use only unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or
higher.
T 2.5-liter turbo models and 3.0-liter models
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or
higher. For temporary purposes if premium unleaded gasoline is
not available, you may use regular unleaded gasoline with an oc-
tane rating of 87 AKI or higher. For optimum engine performance
and driveability, it is required (for 2.5-liter turbo models), and rec-
ommended (for 3.0-liter models) that you use premium grade un-
leaded gasoline.
„ Fuel octane ratingThis octane rating is the average of the Research Octane and Mo- tor Octane numbers and is commonly referred to as the Anti Knock
Index (AKI). Refer to “Fuel ” section in this manual.
Fuel capacity: 16.9 US gal (64 liters, 14.1 Imp gal)
Engine oil: Use only API classification SM with the words “ENERGY CON-
SERVING” and the ILSAC certification mark (s tarburst mark) dis-
played on the container.
Engine oil capacity: 2.5-liter models: 4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
3.0-liter models: 5.8 US qt (5.5 liters, 4.8 Imp qt)
Cold tire pressure: Tire size P205/50R17 88V 215/45ZR17 P225/55R17 95V
Wheel size 17 x 7 JJ
Pressure Front 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 35 psi (240 kPa, 2.4 kgf/cm 2
) 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
) 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear at trailer
towing – 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
)
Temporary
spare tire Size T135/80R16 T135/70D17 T155/70D17
Pressure 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm 2
)