Truck vs Car as a tow vehicle

On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:49:02 AM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Dave Nadler wrote on 11/2/2020 6:27 AM:
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...

And with various styles of "electronic stability control", which use methods like braking the
spinning wheel to allow the differential to send power to the wheel with traction.
--
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...oad-the-guide-

In 15 years I have had 10 off - airport landouts in a TX-PA-FL triangle. None required 4wd, though one benefited from the high clearance a truck or truck-based SUV would provide. Thanks, KG!

On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 7:10:34 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
In 15 years I have had 10 off - airport landouts in a TX-PA-FL triangle.

Thats a hell of a triangle Tony!
Is it on OLC??

On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 8:11:20 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 7:10:34 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
In 15 years I have had 10 off - airport landouts in a TX-PA-FL triangle.
Thats a hell of a triangle Tony!
Is it on OLC??
Ha! Sure, in bits and pieces over 15 years! Fortunately my 1-26, 1-35C, and "new" H-201b have not ended up in "bits and pieces". Got out to KS, CO, & UT too but made it around.

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.

On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 4:10:34 PM UTC-8, Tony wrote:
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:49:02 AM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Dave Nadler wrote on 11/2/2020 6:27 AM:
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...

And with various styles of "electronic stability control", which use methods like braking the
spinning wheel to allow the differential to send power to the wheel with traction.
--
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...oad-the-guide-

In 15 years I have had 10 off - airport landouts in a TX-PA-FL triangle. None required 4wd, though one benefited from the high clearance a truck or truck-based SUV would provide. Thanks, KG!

I have had several, including the one I mentioned that was on 50 miles of bad roads. Plus, it is very handy in wintertime (even in TX). The bottom line is you never know in advance if you need it.

Tom

On Mon, 02 Nov 2020 20:53:14 -0800, 2G wrote:

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.

Something with Landrover or Jeep written on it will do the job. G-Wagen
or Land Cruiser also count.


--
--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

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

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