2012 Subaru Forester X Premium Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
2,400 lbs
Safe limit: 1,920 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
1,140 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
22.3 mpg
21 city / 27 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Subaru Forester X Premium is rated to tow up to 2,400 lbs powered by the 2.5L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 1,920 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 1,140 lbs is the number to watch closely — once you add passengers, hitch weight, and gear, it fills faster than most people expect. With this setup, you're looking at pop-up campers and smaller travel trailers.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class II hitch class and 2,400 lb tow rating
Class II Hitch Receiver
Required for towing with this vehicle. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
Shop Hitches →
7-Pin Wiring Harness
Powers trailer brakes and running lights. Check for factory port before buying.
Shop Wiring →
Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs. May be factory-installed.
Shop Controllers →
Towing Mirrors
Extended visibility for safer lane changes and backing. Clip-on or replacement styles available.
Shop Mirrors →
Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
3,340 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
2.5L
Horsepower
170 HP @ 5800 rpm
Torque
174 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
Transmission
4-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
All Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank
16.9 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City21 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Combined23 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 180 owners)22.3 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length179.5"
Overall Width70.1"
Height66.9"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 1,920 lbs and 1,140 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Expandable Trailers
Bumper Pull
1,000 – 25,450 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Out of Range
Travel Trailers
Bumper Pull
1,100 – 89,950 lbs
Out of Range
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Subaru Forester Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness AWD | 3,000 lbs | 28.4 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Subaru Forester Limited Hybrid AWD | 1,500 lbs | 28.4 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Subaru Forester Premium Hybrid AWD | 1,500 lbs | 28.4 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Subaru Forester Sport Hybrid AWD | 1,500 lbs | 28.4 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid AWD | 1,500 lbs | 28.4 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness AWD | 3,000 lbs | 23.1 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Base AWD | 1,500 lbs | 23.1 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Limited AWD | 1,500 lbs | 23.1 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Premium AWD | 1,500 lbs | 23.1 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Sport AWD | 1,500 lbs | 23.1 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Subaru Forester X Premium?
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The 2012 Subaru Forester X Premium is rated at 2,400 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 1,920 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 1,140 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2012 Subaru Forester X Premium, you need a Class II receiver hitch rated for 2,400 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 1,920 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at pop-up campers and smaller travel trailers. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 4,480 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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