Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Are you hauling heavier loads now with the bigger engine? Any stressing on the frame components?

[Xist]

Would it be sacrilege to turn an Insight into an aero trailer?

What it you you made a trailer with the same wheelbase, Insight wheels, and fiberglass body panels formed off an Insight.

"No Insights were harmed in the creation of this trailer."

Not to attempt to derail the conversation again, but I think part of the appeal of tiny homes is regulations do not seem to apply to trailers. While people talk about building some ridiculously cheaply, it seems like you would spend so long looking for cheap materials you might be better off working and buying stuff on sale.

Okay, last thing! I apologize, I forgot to mention the second guy claimed he built his tiny house entirely from culled lumber. All of the culled lumber I have seen was fit for firewood.

Okay, I am finished!

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Are you hauling heavier loads now with the bigger engine? Any stressing on the frame components?

I don't know the capacity of my hitch, but luckily I haven't hit it. I inspect before and after towing every time and so far it seems to be holding everything I throw at it, but I'm also careful. I found I could pretty much haul whatever I wanted even before the engine swap, I just needed to use a lower gear. The new engine, if anything, makes me more reluctant as I fear I might accidentally pull the back of the car off if I lay on the throttle.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I found I could pretty much haul whatever I wanted even before the engine swap, I just needed to use a lower gear. The new engine, if anything, makes me more reluctant as I fear I might accidentally pull the back of the car off if I lay on the throttle.

I wish my fear was ripping my Prius to pieces due to acceleration. Really though, the problem isn't so much in acceleration, but to be able to safely come to a quick stop if need be.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I wish my fear was ripping my Prius to pieces due to acceleration. Really though, the problem isn't so much in acceleration, but to be able to safely come to a quick stop if need be.

What kind of loads would you be trying to haul? I mean the ABS and brakes on the Prius is pretty phenomenal. It does all the work for you. Just go brake check yourself on an empty road one night and press the pedal as hard and as fast as you can from say 60 mph. It really gets down. Pretty similar to the Mustang when it was on 235 mm tires and that car was also rated to tow 1000lb.

[redpoint5]

I'd be afraid of jackknifing in a test of maximum braking pulling a load.

My dad once hauled a 5th wheel camper from Portland to Salem in a ~1965 Chevy pickup. We started with a full tank. It wasn't fast to get up to speed, but even worse, when he tested braking on the freeway found that it would take about 150 yards to stop. We ran out of gas 3 miles from home.

Not enough power is a problem, but not enough braking is even worse.

[Xist]

Engineering Explained said a normal tow strap would have been adequate for Ford's train-pulling stunt.

Slow and steady?

Imagine conducting an emergency stop and discovering your hitch is inadequate for those forces.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

Engineering Explained said a normal tow strap would have been adequate for Ford's train-pulling stunt.

Slow and steady?

Imagine conducting an emergency stop and discovering your hitch is inadequate for those forces.

Well it clearly is a stunt. A standard tow strap is rated to 20,000 pounds. Trucks don't have the tire traction to pull with that much force, and I'm sure there's other limits within the drivetrain that wouldn't handle it either.

I'm moving the sun with my mass, even though I'm so far away. Anything moving anything else isn't that impressive. It's the rate at accelerating a thing that is impressive.

My dad bent a solid steel 2" hitch pin when a poorly weight distributed excavator started a fishtail. He shouldn't have been pulling 20k pounds with a 2" receiver. He managed to get the job done though.

[Xist]

I once tried to pull an MTV trailer with a HMMWV, but some Sergeant ran out and stopped me because the trailer was bigger than the truck.

I only needed to move it a short distance and at a low speed.

I guess that is what happens after several years of being ordered to solo things with inadequate equipment that officially require two or three Soldiers.

[MetroMPG]

Snapped this weekend...




I've seen this car around town a few times this summer. They're making the most of it!


I'm pretty sure that's a Seadoo trailer.