Daisy is right on.
Towing a trailer with a tow vehicle that is not up to the task is a ticket
to problems (if you are lucky) and disaster (in the worst case). Also
recognize that an inadequate tow vehicle leaves you with little (if any)
safety reserve. Thus, slippery road conditions, rough pavement, etc. could
be all you would need to initiate a very dangerous chain of events.
Trying to get by with a light weight, under powered tow vehicle is wishful
thinking at best. Recognize that you should be basing your choices on
performance under WORST case conditions, not best case ones.
To truly appreciate the magnitude of the problem, one must consider the
reality of the current available vehicle situation.
Today's passenger vehicles are very finely optimized to be as light as
possible and as fuel efficient as possible. This translates into only
enough structural integrity to safely carry the rated passenger capacity
plus some luggage. Gear ratios in the transmission and rear end are
designed to minimize engine RPM (to conserve fuel) which translates into
less torque (the twisting power you need to accelerate a heavy load i.e.
your trailer). Likewise, engine size (displacement) is also minimized.
Smaller engines need to run at higher RPMs to produce the power to pull a
heavier load. This translates into more, and faster wear as the engine
strains to produce the necessary power.
In short, today's passenger cars are NOT optimized to be a tow vehicle. In
the old days of "body on frame" construction, knowledgeable RVers often
selected "Station Wagons," convertibles, and "hard top" convertibles
because these vehicles were built with heavier (stronger) frames and
frequently had lower rear axle ratios to better accelerate their heavier
weight, and the weight of the trailer.
Today, the only way to get a strong (and more trouble free) tow vehicle is
to select a properly optioned truck. The good news is that modern pickup
based trucks (which would include Tahoes and Suburbans, etc.) are far more
hospitable (air conditioning, leather interiors, cruise control, etc.), and
ride very well (especially Chevrolet and GMC models) - not like the
proverbial truck. Along these lines, a 3/4 ton pickup has a far heavier duty
frame, and related brake and suspension components than its 1/2 ton truck
counterpart.
Remember Filippi's law in choosing a tow vehicle. It is the only thing
between your a-- and the road. So this is not the place to skimp.
Oliver Filippi
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