Ideas for personal transport?

[Yamazaki]

I need to be able to transport the S401 with either the Impreza or the Ouback sedan. I realize that this is not a good idea for a number of reasons. However, if possible, I would like to engineer out any problems with this. Any good ideas out there to make it work? Or is this just simply not within the realm of possibility? I would like to get a trailer like one of these:
http://annapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2953339469.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2926997022.html
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2948806223.html

Bottom line: I flat out refuse to drive the S401 long distances (I'd like to keep the milage as low as possible), so one of the other two has to pick up the slack. Since I don't know how to make that work, I'm asking all of you.

[TGX4776]

I'd go for this one if your doing the transport yourself. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2926997022.html

however for half of 3k you should be able to get a transportation company to take it in an enclosed trailer. If anything happens to it it will be insured and will probably cost less.


I thought you were staying in the MD area?

[Yamazaki]

I'd go for this one if your doing the transport yourself. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2926997022.html

however for half of 3k you should be able to get a transportation company to take it in an enclosed trailer. If anything happens to it it will be insured and will probably cost less.


I thought you were staying in the MD area?
Well, the reason why I don't get a company to do it is because
1) I don't have a known destination.
2) It'll be a temporary stay (and I'm not going to pay for two trips with a company).
3) I think I'm going to have to do this much more in the future.

I am in the MD area.

[StatGSR]

Your cars wouldn't be able to safely tow any of those trailers empty let alone loaded with another car. There is no way around that, you either need to buy a truck and a trailer, or pay for transportation and or storage.

[TGX4776]

^agreed

I had assumed he already had a truck. If you have a way to get it up onto a flatbed i might be able to help you out depending on starting and ending location.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I'd vote for the aluminum trailer. Don't have to worry about rust, it's the longest, and the it's the only one with a wheel on the jack. I've seen a friend have a trailer carrying a 2 ton truck fall because the jack only had a ski on it.

[chuckthefuk]

Max towing capacity for a BE/BH is 2000 lbs... So a full sized trailer with trailer brakes / hydro whatchamacallit..

Your best bet is to upgrade to a higher class hitch and purchase this

For the front
http://www.downloadbits.com/pr=product_images/467a576ac469f132_passwords.jpg

For the rear
http://is00.thegumtree.com/image/big/113569292.jpg

This is the basic system that tow trucks use.. And you will have 0 mileage on the wheel bearings.

This is still iffy... I know the EZ30 and VDC should be up for the challenge however the s401 is over 3000lbs so you maybe pushing it.

[StatGSR]

^ i would still not recommend the above as being appropriate or safe, but i would say, if your crazy enough to try, that would be the only way you would have a fighting chance.

i would also add that if you are improperly towing with your car (towing more than the car and hitch are rated for), insurance may decide not cover anything if there was an accident. Might be worth checking into at any rate.

[mike-tracy]

I vote you get a cheap V8 truck and one of the flatbed trailers... I've had a few close calls with towing more than the tow vehicle weighed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7xG0NBYKF4
(not me by the way)

[Reason]

You could buy cheap pickup that could do your dirty work for under 3 grand. I will be needing to tow my BD in the somewhat future. Look into an old chevy or F150.

[Dead91silvia]

I really hate to kill you dreams of using a Subaru, to tow a Subaru, but NEVER should you ever even attempt to try that!

Even a dolly will not work with your car. Thats asking to blow a trans, destroy the rear suspension and even more strain on the motor. I have towed my 500 lb Polaris one a single sled trailer and that still makes me uneasy.

I have a 16' utility/car trailer I use to hauling personal and customer cars and my 1989 3/4 ton GMC with a V8 has a hard time when loaded. Also I cant tell you how many times I have I have had a hard time braking in emergence.

Bottom line, you need a truck.
This would work just find with one of those 2 last trailers.
T-100
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2967292462.html
F-150
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2954450454.html
Chevy
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2946163944.html

Those are what you need to tow a Subaru on a trailer.

As for what trailer, that one for $1600 I would not even thoink about getting. You cant open you door at all.

The aluminum one or the flat beck are nice ones! I woulld look for another flat deck though, you want brakes. That aluminu one is a beast! What I would give to be able to get one like that right now! It is WAY longer then you would need and also it has super high fenders and makes for a pain to get in about out...

Anyway, thats my 2 cents...

[chuckthefuk]

If thats the case you should see how much a uhaul pickup truck costs... I doubt Yamazaki is looking for another vehicle to add to his limited parking situation. At least you can buy a real trailer and have the s401 sit on it in the garage :-D

Then just rent a truck for each trip...

[mike-tracy]

I'd avoid the t100 - the 3.slo or 3.4 are total dogs at towing... know from experience. Great truck in every other way.

[Dead91silvia]

I'd avoid the t100 - the 3.slo or 3.4 are total dogs at towing... know from experience. Great truck in every other way.

3.Slow yes (95 and older), they are junk, but there is nothing wrong with the 3.4! They have plenty of power for towing a Subaru with the right trailer! My brother has had one since 98 (got it new) and we have hauled a lot of stuff including a lifted 4Runner.

The only reason I even listed it was because it's a Toyota so working on it would be a breeze and better mileage.


If thats the case you should see how much a uhaul pickup truck costs... I doubt Yamazaki is looking for another vehicle to add to his limited parking situation. At least you can buy a real trailer and have the s401 sit on it in the garage :-D

Then just rent a truck for each trip...

This is also a good idea! Could work if you didnt have the room or want to maintain another rig...

[Dead91silvia]

now that I think about it... You could get a tow dolly and remove your drive line and rent a truck when needed... That would be the cheapest and lest amount of space consumption....

[Yamazaki]

If thats the case you should see how much a uhaul pickup truck costs... I doubt Yamazaki is looking for another vehicle to add to his limited parking situation. At least you can buy a real trailer and have the s401 sit on it in the garage :-D

Then just rent a truck for each trip...
I definitely am not buying another vehicle (until I can make space for a '97 Cappuccino, that is). But if I want to go somewhere for an extended period of time, I don't want to rent a truck for the whole duration either. I am kind of set on making it work with either the Impreza or the "Outback" tow the S401.

I realize the difficulty of my "request", but I didn't get the S401 here by giving up at the first barrier I encountered and I see this as a much simpler problem than that...

[96LegacyWagon]

do you have a transcooler? i think thats what someone told me was needed to keep the car working when you are towing?

[Dead91silvia]

I have a friend that towed a Saturn with another Saturn with a dolly, but then again both cars where worth $4000 combined and he IS nuts!

Anything can be done, but being that your Impreza is a super clean and built ride, I wouldnt use that. You might have the power to tow with the SUS, but your not going to have the braking, even with just a dolly.

I think Chuck has the best idea with renting a truck to tow with.

Something to also keep in mind with towing with a Subaru, the tow bars dont attach to the frame rails at a strong point, like they do on a full frame car.

[96LegacyWagon]

If braking would be his major issue, what kinds of break upgrades does he have available?

[Wiscon_Mark]

If braking would be his major issue, what kinds of break upgrades does he have available?

I think it's less that and more that Subarus don't support trailer brakes because of their low towing capacity.

[Reason]

Let say you decide to tow it with the outback. Whatever trailer you get make sure its light and has brakes.

Your best option is to buy a tailer and rent a truck. If you don't want a haul truck look into a car rental place like budget or Avis. They have trucks, and most of them have hitches. I wouldn't tell them your plans on towing but this is something we considered during a camping trip when we smoked the brakes on a S10 with a camper. But we corrected the braking on the trailer.

[StatGSR]

I think it's less that and more that Subarus don't support trailer brakes because of their low towing capacity.

my friend that works at Uhaul has installed a brake controller on a subaru before, granted i still don't agree with this idea, but it has been done.


i would look harder into transportation services that will move it for you, i would hate to hear about you and 2 of your cars getting balled up in the ditch...

[Dead91silvia]

If braking would be his major issue, what kinds of break upgrades does he have available?

I think it's less that and more that Subarus don't support trailer brakes because of their low towing capacity.

My point with the brakes is that no matter what Subaru to tow with, the car doesnt weigh enough. If you need to hit the brakes hard, you have a big possibility that you will lock the brake, ABS or not, and or Jack Knife it supper fast. I'm sure you could maybe retro fit brake to a dolly, but that would still be a lot for a Subaru to stop. Also the metal under a Subaru is not meant to tow a car the same wight.

Think about it. The S401 has got to be at least the same curb wight as the SUS or the WRX. Add the wight of even a dolly and the car and trailer are more then the full wight of the towing vehicle. As StatGSR has said it can/has been done, but also the car getting towing is a supra rare car not only in Japan, but here in the USA. I myself would not want the risk of something happening.

When I tow, I have my 18' flatbed trailer, towed with a 3/4 4x4 GMC long box x-cab that. It's long to it tows well, it has about 200 hp and is slow as hell, the curb wight is about 5600 lbs, the trailer is about 1800 lbs. I once hauled a 1970 Ford truck to the scrap yard and it was 4000 lbs. Not joke, my truck could barely stop! It had 6000 lbs behind it, and my trailer brakes are toast. When hauling a car, it's not a big deal, but when the wight of what your towing is about the same as whet you are driving, it can get scary. At one time I actually locked the brakes on my truck in traffic, and I just about jack knifed it! I was hauling a Nissan 240sx! Those are only 2700 lbs and I just about sh!t myself when it happened.

I know it can be done, but I'm discouraging it for the reason of the S401 being rare and also knowing that both other Subaru's are some what rare and vary nice cars and would be upset to find out if anything happened to any of them, let alone hearing of an accident with a friend.

man I cant spell today! :smt005

[chuckthefuk]

"discouraging" is the key word. As much as I want to believe the Outback can tow another subaru... I keep coming back to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc

:-(

[mike-tracy]

I vote you get a cheap V8 truck and one of the flatbed trailers... I've had a few close calls with towing more than the tow vehicle weighed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7xG0NBYKF4
(not me by the way)


"discouraging" is the key word. As much as I want to believe the Outback can tow another subaru... I keep coming back to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc

:-(

Nice but too slow chuck :grin:

[Dead91silvia]

I didnt even see that one posted... WOW! :shock:

So yeah... Thats what I fear could happen...

[Yamazaki]

"discouraging" is the key word. As much as I want to believe the Outback can tow another subaru... I keep coming back to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc

:-(
So basically, I would want to drive as if I were driving the worst handling car in the world on ice (very slowly...). Allow a LOT of time and space in front of me for stopping distances, and no sudden maneuvers.

I vote you get a cheap V8 truck and one of the flatbed trailers... I've had a few close calls with towing more than the tow vehicle weighed...
I don't have a place for a truck.... Hell, the only way I could have a trailer is if the S401 stayed on it.

[Dead91silvia]

I don't have a place for a truck.... Hell, the only way I could have a trailer is if the S401 stayed on it.

Thats why I vote dolly like chuk mentioned. Takes vary little space and all you need to do to tow an AWD car with it is remove the flange bolts from the rear diff and you can tow with a dolly. I've done it before... Brad has one and it works well...

And renting a truck is pretty cheap comparing to buying one...

[rougeben83]

you can rent the tow truck for one way trips and buy the dolly. You can park the car/dolly at your destination and return the tow truck. Then whenever youre ready to move on, you can rent another one-way truck for your next destination...

[TGX4776]

if it's within 100 mile just get AAA. the plus members get a 100 mile towing range for free. multiple uses. $75 for a year

[StatGSR]

I'm sure if we were dealing with 100 miles he would just drive it, 100 miles is not a long distance.

[chuckthefuk]

s401 is not legal on public highways.. this is the stipulation to owning 1 of 400 rare unicorns state side..

[Yamazaki]

My main reasons for not driving it are:
1) Fuel (I'd have to carry race fuel with me to mix with pump fuel)
2) In my mind, it's not really a car as much as a collecter's item. I'd like to keep the milage as low as possible.
#2 may seem like a waste to some people, but if they think so then they can get thier own S401 and drive it as much as they want.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I'd do the same thing if I owned a real 22b. I would only drive it once a year!

[Dead91silvia]

I fully understand not wanting to drive it, it was purchased as an investment.

Yamizaki, their is just dont have an easy answer to this one...

[Dead91silvia]

Hey man, I was wondering when you are on skype? I do better if I know a good time and then we can setup a time. Hope everything is going well over on the east coast! Ive been working on my Volvo a bit this last week since I havent had any work. Anyway, let me know when a good time is.

Robin

[Airgne]

My main reasons for not driving it are:
1) Fuel (I'd have to carry race fuel with me to mix with pump fuel)
2) In my mind, it's not really a car as much as a collecter's item. I'd like to keep the milage as low as possible.
#2 may seem like a waste to some people, but if they think so then they can get thier own S401 and drive it as much as they want.


well. there is not easy way yot say it, but dont tow it with nothing short of a c10 or bigger truck.

if it was my investment as you call it(i own a car/truck to make me happy when i drive it, not sit and look pretty), i would take the utmost care in its transportation. when it got shipped from japan it wasnt shipped on a raft, so why wouldnt you transport it the same way?

go to uhal and rent a truck and trailer, spend maybe 500-800 bucks, i would do that before i would tow it with a veichle not rated for it. have been useing trailers since i was little with my father to tow race cars down to old classics, and i have seen what is the good and the bad. the video of the bmw is not the worst case, it will happen unless you go 30mph the whole way.if you do that than you are just waisting money and should have got the uhal in the first place.

you are hard to change your mind anyways. you will do what you want. it is your car, but i would not do it. you have 1of less than 400 made cars, so why would you risk waisting it on a dumb idea? sorry to be harsh, but it is.

[chuckthefuk]

truth

[Yamazaki]

Grrr. I hate it when you guys make sense and it's counter to what I want....

[Airgne]

Grrr. I hate it when you guys make sense and it's counter to what I want....

sorry, just trying not to see that car turned to a pile of scrap.

[chuckthefuk]

Or a epic part out :-(

[Huffer]

Shoot, I'd drive it.

It's metal, unless you're planning on selling it one day, it's meant to be driven. It's not like the chassis was custom built, it's still a BE unibody with some nice bits, a unique VIN# to declare that.

I sound sacreligious, and I am. But I don't keep my treasure in a box somewhere waiting for rust and moths to get at it.

[dodik]

well having an H6 that i do use for towing here is my opinion.
You can use it to tow a car no problem but get yourself the best tranny cooler you can. The 4eats are just not designed for the H6, after a while you will replace it. Also get a trailer hitch that is at least 3500 lbs (i have the U-haul one).
Brakes you have two options get really big rotors/brakes because stopping even 1200 lbs with oem brakes is tricky. Or get a trailer with brakes <- this would be better. If you can avoid mountain terrain, do it at all cost or you will find out how much gas guzzler it can be, i've seen as low as 10mpg last year, and that was only with an empty u-haul trailer in the mountains.
When looking for a trailer get the lightest you can that will SAFELY take the load. If you can find a trailer with longer wheel base so that it takes all the weight and has brakes you'll be good to go. Straps need to be at least three times as strong as the load you are hauling. and a steel chain just for good measure.

Best solution for you is put on bigger brakes and get a trailer with brakes. Plan ahead and KEEP your distance.
I've towed 1500lbs max so far with no problems. On flat (relatively) highways it go as if empty once you get to hills that are at least half a mile long you'll start to feel the weight.

[StatGSR]

1500 lbs is not 4000 lbs.... Which would be the weight of a BE and a nice all aluminum car hauler....

[chuckthefuk]

Why aren't some of you paying attention?

The S401 is not road legal! Period. Its titled as a show car or rally car or something that is for offroad use.

So once again.. he can not drive it on public roads/highways.

Maybe in 20 years he may be able to register it as a road legal car but for now he has to trailer the unicorn around town and from state to state.

Yamazaki... how often do you plan on taking the s401 out for meets?

[dodik]

well the gross weight of h6 vdc is 3600 lbs max rear axle weight is 800 lbs. I understand the difference between 1500lbs and 4000lbs. but also he would be using two axle trailer not a single like i did. If he can get that tongue weight to be no more than 600lbs he'll be good. its all about securing the load. and driving safe, like keeping speed, distance, maintenance in order.

do you think this is any different? 6000lbs towing 18000lbs
http://www.layitlow.net/pics/1103/dodge%20with%20trailer%20012.jpg

[Yamazaki]

if it was my investment as you call it(i own a car/truck to make me happy when i drive it, not sit and look pretty), i would take the utmost care in its transportation. when it got shipped from japan it wasnt shipped on a raft, so why wouldnt you transport it the same way?
Shoot, I'd drive it.
It's metal, unless you're planning on selling it one day, it's meant to be driven. It's not like the chassis was custom built, it's still a BE unibody with some nice bits, a unique VIN# to declare that.
I sound sacreligious, and I am. But I don't keep my treasure in a box somewhere waiting for rust and moths to get at it.
I think you guys are confusing commuting/transiting with driving. I don't want to take this on a road trip. That isn't driving. It's sitting in a car for awhile until you get where you are going.

Like I said, I'd like to keep mile as low as possible. And while that doesn't mean I'll avoid driving it like the plague, it's not going be anything remotely close to a daily driver. And I certainly don't want to put hundreds of miles on the suspension, engine, chassis, etc just for a transit.

[Yamazaki]

Why aren't some of you paying attention?

The S401 is not road legal! Period. Its titled as a show car or rally car or something that is for offroad use.

So once again.. he can not drive it on public roads/highways.

Maybe in 20 years he may be able to register it as a road legal car but for now he has to trailer the unicorn around town and from state to state.
Actually, it'll be legal to register MUCH sooner than you'd think. But it's a moot point anyway. I drive my Impreza around and it's registration expired five years ago... (I'm working on changing that though)


Yamazaki... how often do you plan on taking the s401 out for meets?
Well, that depends more on my schedule and life than anything else.

[Airgne]

if it was my investment as you call it(i own a car/truck to make me happy when i drive it, not sit and look pretty), i would take the utmost care in its transportation. when it got shipped from japan it wasnt shipped on a raft, so why wouldnt you transport it the same way?
Shoot, I'd drive it.
It's metal, unless you're planning on selling it one day, it's meant to be driven. It's not like the chassis was custom built, it's still a BE unibody with some nice bits, a unique VIN# to declare that.
I sound sacreligious, and I am. But I don't keep my treasure in a box somewhere waiting for rust and moths to get at it.
I think you guys are confusing commuting/transiting with driving. I don't want to take this on a road trip. That isn't driving. It's sitting in a car for awhile until you get where you are going.

Like I said, I'd like to keep mile as low as possible. And while that doesn't mean I'll avoid driving it like the plague, it's not going be anything remotely close to a daily driver. And I certainly don't want to put hundreds of miles on the suspension, engine, chassis, etc just for a transit.


thats why in the end i want you to get a truck and trail from uhal and just tow the damn thing right.

[dodik]

i think Airgne is right, a good aluminum trailer with brakes is gonna run you 3k. You can get a beater truck for about 1k and rent a trailer from uhaul for 55 buck a day.

[StatGSR]

i say buy a trailer and rent a truck, the rental prices i saw on uhauls site for a flat bed are not as cheap as I'm seeing people say they are here. if your towing with a truck, you can find a nice used steel flat bed trailer for pretty cheap.

[dodik]

if you buy a trailer you have to store it, if you buy a truck you can use it for other things as well.

[chuckthefuk]

The S401 will be stored anyways.. why not perch it up on a trailer :-D

[Huffer]

Might as well take it apart every time you want to transport it. *pssh*

[Dead91silvia]

I think a horse has been beaten to death... I think Yamazaki got the point... It's just not the one he wanted...