Truck vs Car as a tow vehicle

On Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 6:05:48 AM UTC-8, Eric Greenwell wrote:
2G wrote on 11/2/2020 8:53 PM:
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:27:33 AM UTC-8, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 9:20:07 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
With 2WD once you have lost traction on either driven wheel
you ARE stuck or are spinning out because of how the differential works.

Incorrect for modern vehicles equipped with limited-slip differentials....

Limited-slip differentials are primarily used on 2WD sports cars. 4WD is a MUCH better option: if you lose traction on one wheel you have 3 others providing traction vs one. I haven't seen any SUVs where this is an option, anyway.

Isn't that what AWD does? It's available in SUVs, sedans, and even a minivan.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

Limited-slip differentials are offered for 2WD vehicles only. I once had this on a Ford F-250 pickup, which I was not very satisfied with (it didn't seem to work as advertised). Here is a good explanation comparing AWD to 4WD:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...l%20off%20road.
If that isn't enough, here is another:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...36/awd-vs-4wd/

The bottom line is if you want maximum traction while off-road get 4WD. AWD is perfect for people that only drive on roads that may get occasional snow and ice.

Tom

At 02:08 05 November 2020, 2G wrote:
On Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 6:05:48 AM UTC-8, Eric
Greenwell wrote:
2G wrote on 11/2/2020 8:53 PM:
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:27:33 AM UTC-8, Dave
Nadler wrote:
On Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 9:20:07 PM UTC-5, 2G
wrote:
With 2WD once you have lost traction on either driven
wheel
you ARE stuck or are spinning out because of how the
differential
wor=
ks.

Incorrect for modern vehicles equipped with limited-slip
differentials=
....
=20
Limited-slip differentials are primarily used on 2WD sports
cars. 4WD
i=
s a MUCH better option: if you lose traction on one wheel you have
3
others=
providing traction vs one. I haven't seen any SUVs where this is
an
option=
, anyway.
=20
Isn't that what AWD does? It's available in SUVs, sedans, and
even a
mini=
van.
=20
--=20
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us"
to
email=
me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"

https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ions/download-
th=
e-guide-1

Limited-slip differentials are offered for 2WD vehicles only. I once
had
th=
is on a Ford F-250 pickup, which I was not very satisfied with (it
didn't
s=
eem to work as advertised). Here is a good explanation comparing
AWD to
4WD=
:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...372/all-wheel-
drive-four-whe=
el-drive-differences-
explained/#:~:text=3DGenerally%2C%20an%20all%2Dwheel%2=
0drive,functions%20like%20a%20locked%20differenti al.&text=3D
But%20four%2Dwh=
eel%20drive%20often,works%20so%20well%20off%20roa d.
If that isn't enough, here is another:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...36/awd-vs-4wd/

The bottom line is if you want maximum traction while off-road get
4WD.
AWD=
is perfect for people that only drive on roads that may get
occasional
sno=
w and ice
Tom

Back in 1987 Audi produced the 80 Quattro, a four door sedan with
4 wheel drive. It had pneumatic diff locks on the front centre and
rear diff. I towed a 2 seater in a 4 wheel covered trailer up a 2 mile
25% slope in a foot of snow and overtook everything in sight. going
down the other side was much more interesting

I am not a fan of large trucks that rarely get used as trucks and much prefer mid-size SUV's like my wife's RX350. But every now and then a truck bed is handy... so, with 185kmi on my old CRV, I compromised last spring and got a Honda Ridgeline awd. Driving feel, size, and interior is very similar to a Honda Pilot so it is great running errands around town and gets 24-27mpg mixed city/hwy. After easily towing all my daughter's stuff to Illinois from AZ in a 4800lb u-haul trailer (17-18mpg), I can attest to the 5000lb tow rating and the 300hp V6's power. I get 21-22mpg towing my DG300 in a Cobra trailer. The 2-way tailgate and trunk in the bed are extremely handy (way more than I expected). Quiet, comfortable, not too big, lots of modern features, and very easy to drive and park. Have 16k miles on it now and can say it suits me and my needs as well as I had hoped. Other than pulling the Cobra through some deep sand after the dirt road to El Tiro gliderport got washed out, I haven't made much use of the AWD system. For my type of driving, I think this "activate on slippage" awd system will be more than acceptable. If not, we have a great club with lots of helpful members with hard-core 4WD capability who enjoy good beer with their retrieve dinners.
JJ

On 11/5/2020 10:13 AM, Stephen Struthers wrote:

Back in 1987 Audi produced the 80 Quattro, a four door sedan with
4 wheel drive. It had pneumatic diff locks on the front centre and
rear diff. I towed a 2 seater in a 4 wheel covered trailer up a 2 mile
25% slope in a foot of snow and overtook everything in sight.

25% slope...over two miles?!? Holy Moly - like the thug in "Dirty Harry" I
gots to know. Where IS that? In the USA, I've never seen anything steeper than
15% (16?) and that's down to the dam at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Plenty
of 12/13/14-percent signs in CO/UT, but 25%? I'm amazed there *were* others to
overtake!

Bob W.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

On Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 7:08:22 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
On Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 6:05:48 AM UTC-8, Eric Greenwell wrote:
2G wrote on 11/2/2020 8:53 PM:
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:27:33 AM UTC-8, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 9:20:07 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
With 2WD once you have lost traction on either driven wheel
you ARE stuck or are spinning out because of how the differential works.

Incorrect for modern vehicles equipped with limited-slip differentials...

Limited-slip differentials are primarily used on 2WD sports cars. 4WD is a MUCH better option: if you lose traction on one wheel you have 3 others providing traction vs one. I haven't seen any SUVs where this is an option, anyway.

Isn't that what AWD does? It's available in SUVs, sedans, and even a minivan.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

Limited-slip differentials are offered for 2WD vehicles only. I once had this on a Ford F-250 pickup, which I was not very satisfied with (it didn't seem to work as advertised). Here is a good explanation comparing AWD to 4WD:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...l%20off%20road.
If that isn't enough, here is another:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...36/awd-vs-4wd/

The bottom line is if you want maximum traction while off-road get 4WD. AWD is perfect for people that only drive on roads that may get occasional snow and ice.

Tom

My Dodge Durango very definitely has 4WD and a rear LSD, though it was not in the options listed in the back of the glove box. I rebuilt it four years ago. It was very difficult to identify from outside of the pumpkin as same diff could be fitted or refitted with/without it. The vehicle is definitely a goat with a small turning radius, plenty of ice and snow clearance, and tows large glider trailers very well at impressive speeds. It sucks gas though, especially the ethanol infused stuff.

Frank

Les Sebald, the long time owner of Soar Truckee, would tell anyone who would listen, to buy a 74 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Heavy enough that the trailer couldn't wag the dog. Low hitch height. Plenty of power. Comfy ride for your driver. Style points.

kenward1000 wrote on 11/12/2020 9:52 PM:
Les Sebald, the long time owner of Soar Truckee, would tell anyone who would listen, to buy a 74 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Heavy enough that the trailer couldn't wag the dog. Low hitch height. Plenty of power. Comfy ride for your driver. Style points.

How long ago was that? Imagine what a disaster in motion that car is now.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

On Friday, November 13, 2020 at 12:52:11 AM UTC-5, kenward1000 wrote:
Les Sebald, the long time owner of Soar Truckee, would tell anyone who would listen, to buy a 74 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Heavy enough that the trailer couldn't wag the dog. Low hitch height. Plenty of power. Comfy ride for your driver. Style points.

The type or class of vehicles which hasn't been mentioned here (unless I missed it) is the 'Full-sized Van'. I tow a two-axle trailer with a Ford E150 conversion van, which I bought used in an estate sale for a song and a dance. It has a 5.8 L V8 and it is my weekend/vacation/airport vehicle - not my daily beater - so I really don't care about the economy of that beast. So far, I have done several 3,000+ mile round-trips across the US and it is a very comfortable, quiet ride. It has not been overpowered by the trailer (yet), which has brakes in good working order and is equipped with a tire pressure/temperature monitoring system. The van has the short overhang which enhances the stability and the tow hitch is positioned such that I don't scrape the ground when pulling into a gas station. Overall, a big thumbs-up for this class of vehicles - a perfect fit for my situation.

Uli
'AS'