Tow Vehicle & Rig Photos

[CottagerGreg]

Originally Posted by scott023

You're kidding, right? Put a 5K trailer on the lot of them and then show us results. Both the VW and the Porsche are built to be high performance SUV's, so they have brakes to perform at speed. BIG difference when they are pulling a load that weighs more than the vehicle.

Braking power is a measure of disc size, size of calipers and clamping force... you lost me here... physics....

[scott023]

Originally Posted by flashydubber

Braking power is a measure of disc size, size of calipers and clamping force... you lost me here... physics....

Of course it's physics... are you saying you think that the brake performance on your VW is the same when trailering your boat? Again, the brakes on the VW and Porsche were put on them to help stop from high speeds quickly, not while trailering a 5K load. Features like intergrated brake assist have been built into some of the domestics to help improve the brake performance. I can't find the article I read recently, but the performance of the Chev and Ford truck brakes were nearly unchanged when trailering 5K from not trailering.

My point is, when trailering loads, brake performance is less than normal. I believe that the amount of brake performance loss would be enough on the VW and Porsche to negate the 40' average that the VW had without trailering.

[TayMC197]

Originally Posted by scott023

Of course it's physics... are you saying you think that the brake performance on your VW is the same when trailering your boat? Again, the brakes on the VW and Porsche were put on them to help stop from high speeds quickly, not while trailering a 5K load. Features like intergrated brake assist have been built into some of the domestics to help improve the brake performance. I can't find the article I read recently, but the performance of the Chev and Ford truck brakes were nearly unchanged when trailering 5K from not trailering.

My point is, when trailering loads, brake performance is less than normal. I believe that the amount of brake performance loss would be enough on the VW and Porsche to negate the 40' average that the VW had without trailering.

I can tell you right now the performance of breaks isn't the same. You take away trailer breaks and that VW or any Med Sized SUV will get shoved... It will stop it but I wouldn't think it would hold up in an emergency situation. If it doesn't I doubt the breaks would be good for a second chance. I don't have breaks on my 2500 and it does fine... but I wouldn't do the same on a half ton, my old Z71 1500 didn't stop near as well with not trailer breaks.

[Forrest-X45]

I think the point Scott is trying to make is the brake design on the German performance SUV's is designed for high performance driving (around a race track/street performance) versus big American SUV brakes are designed to bring heavy trailers to a stop. The brakes are large on the German SUV's but the pad material is much different than what you will find on a heavy SUV. When I shop for brake pads for my BMW they are much different material than what I see for my heavy duty truck. I just don't believe the German SUV pads are designed and won't work as well if they have to stop a heavy boat versus the American SUV brake pads.

I am also old school and just don't see the reason to buy a SUV/truck and then tow a boat or trailer at or over in some cases of it's maximum trailer capacity. It doesn't make safety sense to me or for long term durability of the rig. I will probably always buy more tow rig than I need just in case the day comes that I need a long wheel base with extra towing capacity rig. Actually the day has already come and I am glad I had lots more tow rig than I needed and was able to bring the truck and MC back safely on the freeway after swerving off the freeway (sloped shoulder down into a ditch with loose dirt and debris) without loosing control of the boat, the loooong wheel base truck was able to easily control the sway of the boat. Those smaller SUV's just cause me to worry if you ever have to make that type of emergency move.

[Sodar]

Originally Posted by thatsmrmastercraft

Pulling big boats with little SUV's is fine until your trailer brakes fail.

Originally Posted by TayMC190

I can tell you right now the performance of breaks isn't the same. You take away trailer breaks and that VW or any Med Sized SUV will get shoved... It will stop it but I wouldn't think it would hold up in an emergency situation. If it doesn't I doubt the breaks would be good for a second chance. I don't have breaks on my 2500 and it does fine... but I wouldn't do the same on a half ton, my old Z71 1500 didn't stop near as well with not trailer breaks.

This argument is pretty irrational!

In ANY towing situation, when your equipment fails, poop hits the fan.

Whether it is a Chevy Dually pulling a 15,000# 5'er or a Tahoe pulling an X-25, without trailer brakes, stopping is not going to be as quick as if it was unloaded.

Basically, what I am getting at is if I have a 2500HD and tow a 5th Wheel that is at the brink of the truck's towing capacity, would I be getting the flack that you are giving this poor guy?



Wait here, I need to go pick-up my new Sport Chassis to tow my 197...

[scott023]

Originally Posted by Sodar

Wait here, I need to go pick-up my new Sport Chassis to tow my 197...

that's what I'm talking about.

[Forrest-X45]

Originally Posted by Sodar

Basically, what I am getting at is if I have a 2500HD and tow a 5th Wheel that is at the brink of the truck's towing capacity, would I be getting the flack that you are giving this poor guy?

Most likely....I see it all the time with guys on the HD diesel and RV forums. Guys get all kinds of crap for towing big 5'er toy haulers with 3/4 tons. You can tow it just fine but what happens if you need to stop suddenly or swerve to miss something in the road? How is that short bed 3/4 gonna handle that 15,000+ pound 5'er? Same with a short wheel base SUV's towing at over their maximum towing capacity.......

Just my two cents......

[Forrest-X45]

Originally Posted by scott023

that's what I'm talking about.

Word..brother!

I had my eye on a built up Chevy Kodiak for a while. Boy would that have been overkill tow rig.

[Sodar]

Originally Posted by Forrest-X45

Word..brother!

I had my eye on a built up Chevy Kodiak for a while. Boy would that have been overkill tow rig.

The suspensions on the Kodiaks SUCK!

The FL's air ride is sooooooo much better.

[sand2snow22]

Originally Posted by Forrest-X45

Word..brother!

I had my eye on a built up Chevy Kodiak for a while. Boy would that have been overkill tow rig.

Was it at Destination Motorsports?