Does A Higher Rated Trailer Hitch Increase The Towing And Tongue Weight Capacity Of The Vehicle

Published 11/19/2021

Question:

The factory installed receiver only supports 500lbs of Tongue Weight/Hitch Weight. However the C25VR states it supports 750 lbs of TW/HW. Is the TW a product of the vehicle frame or the receiver itself? Im concerned with damaging the uni-body frame if the vehicle cannot support more than 500 lbs of TW to begin with.

asked by: John M

Expert Reply:

You are right to be concerned with the integrity of the vehicle's frame when it comes to towing and tongue weight capacities. The towing and tongue weight capacities of a hitch are just what that specific hitch is rated for and does not transfer over to what the vehicle can handle. Subaru lists two different Gross Towing Weight (GTW) and Tongue Weight (TW) capacities based on the model of the Ascent.

Models with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler*1: 5,000lbs (2,268 kg) GTW capacity.
Models without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler*2: 2,000lbs (907 kg) GTW capacity.

Models with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler: 500lbs (227 kg) TW capacity.
Models without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler: 200lbs (91 kg) TW capacity.

For example if your 2021 Subaru Ascent was a model without an air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler then you would have a max GTW of 2,000lbs and max TW of 200lbs. So if you installed the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" # C25VR which has a GTW of 5,000lbs and TW of 750lbs you would still need to follow the lowest rated capacity which would be your vehicle's 2,000lb GTW and 200 TW capacities. With smaller vehicles it is common to have a hitch that is rated higher than that of the vehicle.

expert reply by: Kevin C