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

[Huw Powell]

>> Curious as to why the rating should be different in the US vs
>> Europe, so dramatically different..... Any thoughts on that?

> 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.

I think the Rocky Mountains pretty much make that possibility moot. 
Even the Appalachians have some nasty grades and long hauls up or down.

> - 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.

I think US trailers end up with brakes past a certain load limit too, 
but I can certainly see that reason being one - small cars, narrow 
roads, etc.

> - Dimensional : here in North America, when we want to tow something,
> we buy a truck. Period.

I almost mentioned that one.  The assumption here is that if you want to 
tow more than a few hundred pounds, you must surely have a truck.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/