RE: Towing With V8 (was: Boating with an S4)

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

I'd think the difference in towing capacity between similarly-powered
vehicles but with different frame/body configurations might have more to do
with hitch attachment points.  The hitch on my Type 44 body Audi is
anchored in several places to materials that aren't much thicker than the
sheetmetal on my old Suburban.  The hitch on my Suburban is attached in
several places to a truck frame.   The Audi V8 has twice the horsepower of
the Suburban, but the latter will pull a much heavier load, even though
it's also an automatic.  Both have some sort of 4X4 connection to the road
:~).

Kneale Brownson



At 11:01 PM 8/17/99 -0400, CLIFFORD ILKAY wrote:
>At 10:30 PM 8/17/1999 -0400, Paul Wilson wrote:
>>There's more to towing than just HP and torque.
>>
>>It has a lot to do with chassis setup.  The Safari minivan is a body on
>>frame so that probably helps as does the very mildly tuned 4.3L V6.
>>
>>However, I'm sure Audi is being conservative with ratings.
>
>Hi Paul,
>
>I realize there is more to it than HP and torque. You are the second person
>to cite unibody vs. body on frame construction as being a factor. I fail to
>see the relationship. I would think that torque transfer is key in addition
>to vehicle weight. The V8 is certainly no lightweight. I would not be too
>surprised if it is just as porky as the Safari minivan. However, the
>Safari's 4.3 V6 might have more usable low end torque which is something
>the Audi's pathetic automatic transmission squanders in copious quantities.
>Does anyone have any towing specs for the V8 5 speed?
>
>Regards,
>
>Clifford Ilkay
>Dinamis Corporation
>3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1419
>Toronto, Ontario
>Canada M4N 3P6
>
>Voice/Fax: 416-410-3326
>
>mailto:clifford_ilkay@dinamis.com