Kitcat Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) I know this popular subject has been covered before but my post is triggered by GJSlutz's post under a different topic saying he now has a TDI Jetta sportswagon as a tow vehicle for his se7en. Any idea what it can actually tow? I saw that in the US its rated at 1000lbs, wh/wldn't cut it. But in England, the same vehicle is rated by VW at 3300 lbs. Different suspensions? Different liability laws? Pickup trucks are dirt cheap at the moment. Lots of $10K off ads. On the other hand they are gas guzzling behemoths and not especially practical for my daily commute. The relatively diminutive Jetta wagon gets great mileage and would seem to be the best of both worlds, if the trailer were a light weight, single axle etc., type, and IF it could comfortably tow 3,300 lbs. Thots? Mike Edited November 15, 2009 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xflow7 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Good question. I've wondered the same thing. I've always kind of assumed that the delta b/w ratings in US and Europe on the same model car is more down to liability and driving standards than any meaningful difference in engineering. I remember when I was a kid using our '79 Rabbit loaded with a family of 4, luggage and a Sunfish and windsurfer on the roof to tow a 14ft Aluminum boat all over creation and we never had any issues. I have noticed that among small, relatively miserly cars, Subarus in the US tend to have pretty solid tow ratings. Imprezas (at least through the last generation) were rated at 2000 lbs or something and the Foresters (same platform) at, I think, 2500. Move up to a Legacy and you got 3000 or 3500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 YouTube - Renault 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I have towed both my Caterham and my Miata (but not at the same time) on an 18' aluminum tilt bed trailer with an '05 Subaru Legacy GT wagon with no problems. I was concerned about getting caught in stop and go traffic at high altitude construction zones and possibly burning out the clutch so I replaced the Subie with a Silverado and an enclosed trailer. Below is a picture of the rig with two Se7ens aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 My research convinced me it was a liability issue. When I get back from a few week visit I will order a European hitch rated @ 3K + LBS. I have a 12’ aluminum trailer that weighed 683 LBS. I’m’ presently in the process of enclosing it and will be around 1250 LBS empty with the addition of disk / surge brakes. I expect no problems at all if I keep the engine spooled up on up hill pulls. Pulling too hard in higher gears will create too much heat in the turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 ......My research convinced me it was a liability issue. When I get back from a few week visit I will order a European hitch rated @ 3K + LBS...... I would agree about the motivation of the car makers, but if you go for higher load than specified in the US it may become a liability issue for you if you ever get into an accident. It sounds like a good excuse for an insurance to weasel out of coverage or to blame you for partial responsibility when somebody else is at fault. The Euro spec is not going to help you. Gert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I know the Euro spec is not DOT, but anything can be reason to refuse coverage. I have never lived in fear of that. Just me adding the trailer brakes can put liability on me. I have also done many mods on cars and the same there. I have lived by: Screw that S***. Many here build cars and it is the same for them. We enjoy life as most do. When I was working we were the largest maker of car seats for children. Talk about liability, we were had many by people that damaged or killed children by improper use. We had the honor of paying, as we were insured and was seen as deep pockets to take care of problems by others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiva Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Most Volvo (S60 and up) are rated to 3500 lbs. Perfect for a small trailer and the Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I can tell of one of my less bright moves. About 15 years ago I purchased a restored 1969 El Camino SS 427 truck to pull classic cars to meets. On the first outing I pulled a 37 Packard on a tandem trailer. Any time I got over 45 MPH it became one of the scariest things I ever done. I’m glad it was only a 70 mile trip, the first & last I ever tried with that combo, two days latter the 427 was gone & replaced by a Dodge Dually diesel. What a difference it made! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparecr Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I’m’ presently in the process of enclosing it and will be around 1250 LBS empty with the addition of disk / surge brakes.QUOTE] Yeah here is your problem, aero drag is the same as towing weight when it comes to trailers. When I pull my little 800lbs 6x12 enclosed trailer with the Seven it is just as bad as towing my 22' open diamond plate decked trailer with my 62 Chrysler on it. Believe it or not in the first combo I get about 12mpg and the second I get 14mpg. (Ram 1500 Quad Cab, 4.7L with 6-spd manual) You smart in doing the brakes however I think that is where the towing ratings really come in. My old Dakota had the same tow rating as my Ram, but weighed 1000lbs less and just never believed it would stop a trailer coming out of the mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I thought I'd share my latest towing experience with my Honda Ridgeline and USA7's Mission trailer. The first time I towed my trailer/Birkin combo I got just under 15mpg on the way to Carlisle when the Ridgeline had appr 2400 miles on it. I took it up to Buffalo in July with 8500 miles on it, and got 20.5 mpg with the unloaded trailer and 17.2 with the Birkin loaded on the way back. This was doing right around 65-68 mph. I had heard that the Ridgeline fuel mileage improves once you got past 7500 miles and my experience seems to verify that. It really makes a very good light/medium-duty tow package. I was able to put the gearbox and many other parts in the huge trunk under the bed, strap the motor in the bed with some other containers, and throw all the paperwork and clean parts under the back seat. The Ridgeline is very comfortable to drive, excellent in the rain and snow, and pulls my car/trailer combo like it's not there other than downshifting into 4th gear, and sometimes 3rd gear, when going up an incline on the highway. It might not be a torque-monster, and I don't think I'd like pulling the 5000# limit, but it suits my needs perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I thought about a light, flatbed trailer with a single axle, but I convinced myself to get a tandem axle enclosed trailer. It's safe to park at a hotel overnight, there's redundancy in the second axle with regards to a blowout (4 tires instead of 2), weathering of the car (hail damage, rain), and the list goes on and on. I paid just over $3000 for my trailer. It's absolutely perfect for the Se7en, and it helped me move out of my house too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKANSA Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 i have my truck its a 1995 ford f-350 with 460 7.5l in it putting 489hp to the wheels!! its my daily driver and my play toy (for now) i go to truck pulls withit and it does great! its truly a monster ask southwind25. im gettin 11 hishway and ???city and it will pull anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 20.5 mpg in the Ridgeline pulling a trailer? I am lucky to get 20 mpg in my Se7en itself. Of all the potential tow vehicles I have thought of and suggested here, I must say the Ridgeline is the most appealing:stout but not over the top. Decent gas mileage, livable as a daily driver, etc. I just wish it didn't look so dorky (sorry). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I just wish it didn't look so dorky (sorry). Mike - No reason to apologize when it's the truth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Ebrahimi Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 It's way overkill for hauling a 7, but I do love my Duramax powered crewcab short bed 3/4 ton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drew... Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 As hard as it is to say Buick and Se7en in the same sentence my 2006 Buick Rainier with the 5.3 V8 with Active Fuel Management has been a very comfortable tow vehicle. 18 mpg daily with 12-13 towing a 12 foot LowHauler with the se7en. AWD with load automatic load leveling. We've towed coast-to-coast in comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 It's way overkill for hauling a 7, but I do love my Duramax powered crewcab short bed 3/4 ton That is not overkill it is just pure comfort and safety....like my setup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim F. Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Hey, Martin; I notice you have an Oregon "tree" plate on your dually. Are your vehicles registered up here and you have dual residency w/ CA? When we bought our motorhome in '98 and living in Santa Barbara we also had a proper OR address, so were able to title and register it up here even though we were mostly residing in CA. A year later we left Santa Barbara after 43 years and made the move lock, stock, and barrel up here to GP. If my memory serves me, don't you have ties in Newburg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Ebrahimi Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 That is not overkill it is just pure comfort and safety....like my setup Nice setup! Is that the 7.3 or the 6.blow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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