compacts/midsizes that tow heavy w/weight distributing class 2 hitch avail?

[jray3]

A storage policy is comprehensive coverage (theft, fire, falling trees) for a vehicle not in active use. With PEMCO, it takes me about two minutes to logon and add liability coverage and print proof of that transaction. For my truck, the storage policy costs $33.27 per year, compared to $411 for liability, and it buys the ability to add liability for minimal effort and miniscule cost for the couple of cumulative weeks I'm trucking per year.

[roosterk0031]

Looking at the 1999 for FWD only.

Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager 3.0v6 15 city/23 hwy 3500lbs

Town & Country/Caravan 3.3 or 3.8v6 16/22 3500 lbs

Windstar 3.8v6 16/21 3500 lbs



I think the Quest & Villager are the same car?

[stillsearching]

If people can share specific links and references (ie to euro site tow ratings listed somewhere) that would be a huge plus. I listed the one reference I had for Mazda anyways. I'm especially liking that Mazda because of the newer Skyactiv engine which is as efficient as a diesel while running cheaper gasoline... but it will be awhile before I can buy one used or otherwise.


Worth mentioning - Euro tow ratings often have notably lower toungue weights like 5-10% but also lower rated towing speeds never above 55-60mph. As opposed to america which likes 10-15% and might tow up to 75mph where the physics of sway are something like multiple times more intense. (I remember reading this but don't have an exact article handy to list) However - if i'm willing to tow the heavy loads slower I don't see how this is such a big deal. But the point is without toungue weight it's less stable, and some vehicles dont handle the weight on the tail as well either.


Minivans towing 3500lbs doesn't surprise me/they've done that for a long time. SUV's with RWD based minitruck chassis have had ratings up to 6000lbs (I think the 2002 S10?) so that Jeep Cherokee figure didn't surprise me. Both are taller and wider and boxier than i'd like though. I'm really looking for Passat competitors that are more reliable and cheaper to maintain. I'm looking for something that can tow it's own weight while knocking down 28mpg plus city and 33mpg plus highway unladen like my little Saturn does now.

[Fat Charlie]

The old XJ Cherokee that went away 15 years ago was a regular truck chassis. The current KL body Cherokee is based on the Dart, which makes the numbers really surprising; the Dart is rated at 1000#. Usually their modifications are more cosmetic- the MK body Compass and Patriot were just Calibers with different sheetmetal and were rated for 1000# (2000# if you added the trailer town engine oil cooler). The Caliber had split the difference and was rated at 1500# with no mention of an available cooler.

[roosterk0031]

That's a pretty tall order, even the newest CUV's rated for 3500 on rated 27ish hwy.

I went to Mitsubishi Australia website to compare their ratings for Outlanders vs US ratings. They don't get the 3.0v6, but rate the 2.4 gas at 3500 with trailer brakes, 1650 without, vs 1500 US.

I think a huge part is about speed and US expectations to be able to pull the rated capacity without having to slow down and having some places with 80 mph speed limits.

[adam728]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

The old XJ Cherokee that went away 15 years ago was a regular truck chassis.

If you want to call a stamped uni-body a regular truck chassis, then yes. The XJ was uni-body from the beginning.

Tow ratings baffle me. My 08 Mazda 3 is rated up to 2000 lbs with trailer brakes overseas. But here it's a no go on towing. But then 1/2 ton trucks are rated up to 12,000 lbs towing.

[Fat Charlie]

Doh!

[oil pan 4]

The unusually high tow ratings on the euro specs is due to several conditions and circumstances not found in the United States.
1 they install trailer brake controller even in cars, something pretty much unheard-of.
2 They slow down when towing, something else pretty much unheard-of in the United States.

Another thing to consider.
Can you even get a trailer hitch rated for the max rating of the vehicle?

For example my camaro has a 2,000lb trailer and 200lb hitch rating. BUT no one ever bothered to make a hitch rated for that much. The only ones ever sold were rated for 1,000lb of trailer and 100lb of hitch weight.
Apparently this is very common with car trailer hitches.

[WE3ZS]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

The unusually high tow ratings on the euro specs is due to several conditions and circumstances not found in the United States.
1 they install trailer brake controller even in cars, something pretty much unheard-of.
2 They slow down when towing, something else pretty much unheard-of in the United States.

Another thing to consider.
Can you even get a trailer hitch rated for the max rating of the vehicle?

For example my camaro has a 2,000lb trailer and 200lb hitch rating. BUT no one ever bothered to make a hitch rated for that much. The only ones ever sold were rated for 1,000lb of trailer and 100lb of hitch weight.
Apparently this is very common with car trailer hitches.

Here is your '85 Camaro 200/200lb trailer hitch.
https://www.etrailer.com/hitch-1985_...let_Camaro.htm

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by jray3

My 112 mpge i-Miev tows loads up to about 1000 lbs admirably (strong regenerative braking should come with every tow vehicle).

Any idea how towing affects it's range?