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Post by yobarr on Mar 7, 2024 17:51:32 GMT 10
Who is familiar with the process for issuing tow ratings for light vehicles?
I'm talking about lightweight utes and "SUVs"(hate that terminology) being given 3500kg tow ratings, making them an accident looking for a place to happen if they are used to tow that weight.
I would be interested to know your thoughts, as it all is "smoke and mirrors" designed to mislead ignorant car buyers, and is not helped by unscrupulous car and caravan salesmen, whose income is commission-based, doing nothing that might affect their income. Cheers
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Post by arewelost on Mar 7, 2024 22:56:08 GMT 10
I think that may be a tough ask. Money talks. If the ratings were lowered for a vehicle they would get less sales. The engineer that pushed for that would not be working for that company much longer.
I doubt the government has much appetite for trying to get the car manufacturers to change. When the media has graphic images that generate enough interest, maybe they will do something.
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Post by magnarc on Mar 10, 2024 10:27:24 GMT 10
Saw an ad for a Ram ute last night that advertised 4.5 tonnes but did not state which model. Are they really capable of that???
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Post by yobarr on Mar 10, 2024 12:12:51 GMT 10
Saw an ad for a Ram ute last night that advertised 4.5 tonnes but did not state which model. Are they really capable of that???
That'll be the vastly over-rated Ram 1500, the model that "Eats utes for breakfast" or some such rubbish. The ONLY way that ute can safely tow a 4500kg trailer is if the trailer is a DOG trailer, with a steerable front axle and almost zero towball weight. A normal caravan is a PIG trailer, and much weight is carried by the drawbar which puts a multiplied weight onto the car's rear axle. The Ram 1500's main problem is a stupidly low rear axle carrying capacity which was only 1770kg, but has recently been upgraded to 1860kg, I believe. This is ridiculous when lightweight twin-cab utes have rear axle capacity of around 1850kg, and even the much over-rated LC200 has capacity of 1950kg. When I took this up with Ram I was advised that the rear axle weight at tare is over 1000kg, so by the time you add fuel, towbar, passengers and generally accepted 10% towball weight (450kg) you are so far over the rear axle carrying capacity that it is ridiculous. SAFELY Tow 4500kg as a PIG trailer. Tell 'em they're dreaming. Cheers |
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