Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird
In the US they won't have the official stamp, but cars like my 2002 Forester manual have a 4000-4400 pound rating in other countries but only a 2000 pound rating here. The cars are identical, the laywers are different. I tow a waverunner or utility trailer pretty often but they are both under 2000 pounds. You hardly notice them back there.
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This is very true, American ratings are for liability reasons. You could tow more than the weight of your car with a load distribution system, brakes, and some caution. You probably won't hurt the engine or trans, but troopers will likely stop you.
Talking with CDL drivers and expediters, they said that as long as your vehicle is level and not obviously out of control, you can go over your vehicle's gross limit and avoid tickets, especially as a non professional driver.
Like you mentioned with the vw, IIRC, the beetle is rated for 8-1,200lbs... Something in that range, but in Europe, it's in the range of 3,000-4,500lbs. If you have an auto and a trans cooler, you ought to be fine with whatever you can keep from swaying.