TrepMan
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OK, was checking out the 30th anniverary addition of Trailer Boats magazine over the weekend. And it started me thinking (now we're in trouble) about how a manufacturer figures out the Max tow rating of a vehicle? The mag noted that in the early years of trailer boats (up to the 70's and later) there were no factory ratings. It even showed an 18ft fiberglass runabout being towed behind an AMC Gremlin! Then I started thinking about my old Saturn SL2 4 cylinder. It was rated (per the manual) for 1000lbs. As I was looking for a wagon last summer I thought, HEY i'll get the new larger V-6 (182 hp) L series Saturn wagon, but low and behold it still only tows 1000lbs.
Can someone give me a layman's idea of how they figure this out? I figured a bigger more torquier motor with larger/heavier frame and better brakes would increase the towing capacity. But then I saw the Hyndai Elantra with a 140hp 4 banger rated at 1500lbs and could not figure that one out campared to a Saturn v-6 with 182hp rated at 1000lbs.
I know either of my current vehicles can tow my boat based on the factory ratings, just don't understand them.
Can you say "i've got cabin fever, i've got cabin fever..."
TrepMan
Can someone give me a layman's idea of how they figure this out? I figured a bigger more torquier motor with larger/heavier frame and better brakes would increase the towing capacity. But then I saw the Hyndai Elantra with a 140hp 4 banger rated at 1500lbs and could not figure that one out campared to a Saturn v-6 with 182hp rated at 1000lbs.
I know either of my current vehicles can tow my boat based on the factory ratings, just don't understand them.
Can you say "i've got cabin fever, i've got cabin fever..."
TrepMan