Trailer load Europe vs NA WAS : how wide are Audi Fuchs...

[Aaron Jongbloedt]

I think Louis is on to something..(geography & culture), Kneale is also 
on to something..(American stupidity & land of the lawsuits)*.  *I would 
wager that the DOT/NHSA has got some funny rules out there to prevent 
most passenger cars from towing.  I would also wager that most Europeans 
who tow don't tow as far or as often as we do, i.e. I doubt most people 
over there tow 7 hours one way to get the race car to the track and 
back.  I also think they make much more use of load leveling hitches and 
aluminum.

There are 4 components to being a tow vehicle:
-power (not to big an issue w/ most VAGs),
-braking (again not too big of an issue w/ most VAGs especially when you 
consider the upgrade options available, plus the addition of brakes on 
the trailer
-suspension...
-chassis...you need to have a lot of strong metal to tie the hitch to, 
so it can handle all the additional stress of a trailer bouncing around.

I really would like to know what/if any difference their is between a 
European and American car being the European version can do 4000lbs and 
the us one only 1500lbs.  Bigger springs, shocks, and brakes I can see, 
those are fairly easy, but how come they aren't even offered over here?  
But to over double the capacity, that is a crazy huge upgrade!  The 
chassis, the only economical thing i can think of is that there is some 
sort of special hitch that ties in to a dozen spots on the unibody. 

I just purchased a Dodge 1/2 ton truck for towing the 4ktq and the MKIII 
to the track.  I feel my neck getting more red already!!!  I would have 
loved it if i could have used an Audi 200tq, or Passat VR6 as a tow 
vehicle, however they are all rated at 1500lbs.  Even the Eurovan is 
rated at 4400lbs...but an aluminum trailer at 1500lbs plus a 2650lb 
mkIII plus tools, tires, and parts puts it close if not above its 
capacity.  At least the Tourage is rated for 7000lbs, but I can't afford 
the $30k for a used one w/ a v8 or $50k for a used v10 TDI!


Louis-Alain Richard wrote:
>> Curious as to why the rating should be different in the US vs Europe,
>>     
> so
>   
>> dramatically different..... Any thoughts on that?
>>
>> Dan D
>>     
>
>
> I have a few own personal theories about that:
>
> - Geographical: Alps, the Mont Blanc, the Pyrénées, Swiss, etc. You NEED
> trailer brakes even for a small 1000 kg load when you climb down these
> mountains.
>
> - Historical: after the WW2, Europe was destroyed and natural resources
> were scarce. Cars were small, fuel was/is expensive, families were
> growing, and it was the beginning of the "annual summer vacations"
> trend. In France at least, people use to quit the cities for the coast
> or the mountain, usually in August. So you need a trailer to bring all
> the goodies with you, but you need brakes because a Renault R8 or a
> Peugeot 404 or a Morris Minor is not suited to stop a full load of
> children and gear. Even today, in France, you see a lot of real small
> cars with trailer hitches. 
>
> - Dimensional : here in North America, when we want to tow something, we
> buy a truck. Period. Trailer hitches on cars are mainly for gooseneck
> bike racks.
>
> - Velocity: when the "autoroute" speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph), you
> want your little friend back there to be able to produce a bit of
> slowing force in case of an emergency...
>
> But I may all be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time...
>
> Louis-Alain
> Montreal
>
>
>
>   

-- 

aaron...
------
Aaron J. Jongbloedt
	"youngblood"
Sabis Educational Systems Network Administrator
----------------------------------------------------
It is better to wear out than it is to rust out.