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Towing vehicle



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 8th 13, 12:45 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Mike the Strike
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Posts: 952
Default Towing vehicle

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?


Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it was only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle straight away.

There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how small a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no substitute for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those hills and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just don't have enough braking power.

I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with a 5 liter engine!

Mike
  #2  
Old April 8th 13, 01:17 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tim Taylor
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Posts: 751
Default Towing vehicle

The only question to ask is can "The Crew" drive it.

So you've landed out in a field and you call to get someone to come get you and the reply on the other end of the phone is I don't know how to drive a stick. Few of the younger generation even know what a stick shift is.

  #3  
Old April 8th 13, 05:21 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Justin Craig[_3_]
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Posts: 65
Default Towing vehicle

If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!


I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
dream t of with the the 306!


Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it
wa=
s only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle
strai=
ght away.

There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how
sm=
all a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no
substitut=
e for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those
hill=
s and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just
d=
on't have enough braking power. =20

I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with
a=
5 liter engine!

Mike


  #4  
Old April 9th 13, 02:00 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Steve
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Posts: 6
Default Towing vehicle

Justin Craig wrote:
If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!


I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
dream t of with the the 306!


I'm on my second Audi A4 - stick transmission. I don't do as many miles as
some on this thread. My first A4 had a nice speed control - the trailer
would start fish tailing at about 70. My new car has a trailer stability
control algorithm. I once noticed I was doing 80 as I was passing slower
traffic on a back road - hardly noticed the trailer was on the back. I'm
more careful now.

I've got the 2 liter turbo. I get nearly 27 mpg on the highway with the
trailer on the back.

A trailer hitch is a factory option in Europe. I had to go to the UK web
site to get trailer specs. There isn't any info in my US owner's manual.
  #5  
Old April 9th 13, 04:58 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
JS
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Posts: 1,384
Default Towing vehicle

Using a Nimbus 3 in a Pfeiffer trailer for reference, towed behind:
00 Subaru 2.5L Outback (stick)
96 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.7L (auto)
97 Holden Commodore 3.0L (auto)

Before the trailer had functioning brakes, the Subaru was useless to stop it, hence the Tahoe purchase.
After installing trailer brakes, got rid of the Tahoe. Most of the horsepower/fuel was used to lug its own weight around anyway.
The Holden did pretty well, but the best trailer handling of the N3 and also the heavy and long Cobra ASH26E trailer was behind the Outback. Even handled X-wind, passing large vehicles, everything but starting up a hill, better than the Tahoe. Handled towing in high temperatures better than the Holden. Probably due to the RPM the water pump was turning!
However... Eventually replaced the Subaru's clutch, then had to replace the viscous coupler in the AWD at about 120k miles. Both seem weak links. Note that newer Subarus with 3.0L automatic still have the same viscous coupler.
Currently towing with Toyota RAV4 3.0L (auto) FWD. It has plenty of power, and will pass other vehicles at a vast rate of knots even when towing a Cobra trailer with ASW27. A friend proved the 4-cylinder RAV4 is adequate. Front Wheel Drive seems pretty silly to me, it should have AWD.
Thinking if the Audi Allroad 2.0 TDI had a reasonable maintenance record, it would be a great tow and everything else vehicle. This year Audi put the 2.0TDI in the N. American A3 FWD. Be years before the A3 Quattro or Allroad get it.
Jim
  #6  
Old April 9th 13, 08:28 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
rlovinggood
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Posts: 268
Default Towing vehicle

Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer, loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity. Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester. Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
  #7  
Old April 10th 13, 04:51 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Marotta
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Posts: 4,601
Default Towing vehicle

I currently tow with a Ford Edge, 3.5 liter, automatic, and it does just
fine locally. I'll be making my first road trip with it in a couple of
weeks going to the dry lake in Nevada and, if there are any short comings,
I'll note them here.

We brought my glider (LAK-17a in a LAK-T5 trailer) back to Moriarty, NM from
Dallas, TX (about 600 miles) using my wife's Subaru Outback, 3.6 liter,
automatic. It's got plenty of power but the trailer wanted to sway a bit.
We also made the round trip to Nevada (1,200 miles round trip) with it last
October and, other than a little swaying at 80 mph, it was fine other than
the reduction in mileage. I suspect a bit more load in the front of the
trailer will take care of that.

Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet
proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not.


"rlovinggood" wrote in message
...
Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight
of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned
brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer,
loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity.
Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the
trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear
of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue
weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to
attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event
of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price
and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester.
Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of
used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs
with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler
installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never
seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was
hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

  #8  
Old April 10th 13, 06:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
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Posts: 2,099
Default Towing vehicle


Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet

proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not..

I'll second the F-150. They come in various towing flavors, with and without the towing kit. Permissible towing weight sans tow kit depends on final drive ratio. I chose the 3.77 rear which has a 4600lb max towing weight for mine. However at 75mph it tends to shift up and down between 3rd and OD. At 85mph, it sticks in OD. At 65-75mph in rolling mountains, I stick it in 3rd and leave it.

Frank Whiteley
 




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