I thought this was an oil discussion group. I'm looking for oil advice.
I'll rebut with some comments:
- The OEM Saturn 2000 lb (200 lbs tounge wight) rated hitch attaches to the car with 3/16" plates of steel installed inside the trunk, with 1/2" bolts clamping the plates down, going through the floor, through two additional welded layers, the edge of the main chassis stiffeners (looks similar to a frame, but it's welded directly to the trunk) and then into the hitch.
- The stock suspension and chassis is very stiff - stiff enough to provide a very stable ride with the trailer behind. I've improved this by installing Moog CC681 rear springs and the car (and trailer) sits level, fully loaded with the trailer attached (165 lb toungue weight).
- Also, the aftermarket adjustable 16.5 mm rear sway bar provides even more stability.
- The 205/55R15 tires resist lateral motion well.
- Braking is handled with a top of the line Prodigy inertia brake controller.
- Large Mckesh rear view mirrors provide excellent view behind/beside the trailer.
- The pop-up camper actually weights 1385 lbs, but is closer to 1700-1800 when loaded.
- When closed the camper is less than 4 feet high so the aero drag and cross wind push isn't that bad.
- The setup is so stable that there is no tendancy at all for any unstable sway to occur. At highway speeds, emergency manouvers can (and have been) be achieved with ease, with no jacknifing instability at all.
- The setup handles well enough, twisty, mountain roads can actually be fun (although I'm afraid of the trailer tires not being up to the task).
- My wife is even willing to drive.
- I've been towing for over 20 years and as far as stability & braking this is one of the easiest TV/trailer combinations to drive. My current 1 ton Chevy truck (almost 7000lbs itself with both tanks full) with 300 hp, towing the loaded 8000 lbs float is far less stable, has less get up and go and is in general more of a chore to drive.
- There are many pickup trucks out there hauling more than twice their own weight behind them. I'm hauling a little more than 1/2 (when the car is loaded).
- Power to weight: truck + 8000 trailer = 2 hp/100 lbs, loaded car + trailer = 2.8 hp/100 lbs
- Truck seats 3, no A/C, get's terrible fuel economy - car seats 4, A/C, cruise, good sound system, and gets 28 mpg (Canadian gallon) when towing.
- On the negative side, the engine's power is in the 5000-6000 rpm range, so it will see a fair bit of that when climbing hills.
Yes, there are more ideal tow vehicles. This is what I've got at the moment, it works well enough for me and the engine is probably the biggest weak link (IMO - although if I'm willing to rev it up I don't slow traffic).
Can we have an oil discussion?
Steve
I'll rebut with some comments:
- The OEM Saturn 2000 lb (200 lbs tounge wight) rated hitch attaches to the car with 3/16" plates of steel installed inside the trunk, with 1/2" bolts clamping the plates down, going through the floor, through two additional welded layers, the edge of the main chassis stiffeners (looks similar to a frame, but it's welded directly to the trunk) and then into the hitch.
- The stock suspension and chassis is very stiff - stiff enough to provide a very stable ride with the trailer behind. I've improved this by installing Moog CC681 rear springs and the car (and trailer) sits level, fully loaded with the trailer attached (165 lb toungue weight).
- Also, the aftermarket adjustable 16.5 mm rear sway bar provides even more stability.
- The 205/55R15 tires resist lateral motion well.
- Braking is handled with a top of the line Prodigy inertia brake controller.
- Large Mckesh rear view mirrors provide excellent view behind/beside the trailer.
- The pop-up camper actually weights 1385 lbs, but is closer to 1700-1800 when loaded.
- When closed the camper is less than 4 feet high so the aero drag and cross wind push isn't that bad.
- The setup is so stable that there is no tendancy at all for any unstable sway to occur. At highway speeds, emergency manouvers can (and have been) be achieved with ease, with no jacknifing instability at all.
- The setup handles well enough, twisty, mountain roads can actually be fun (although I'm afraid of the trailer tires not being up to the task).
- My wife is even willing to drive.
- I've been towing for over 20 years and as far as stability & braking this is one of the easiest TV/trailer combinations to drive. My current 1 ton Chevy truck (almost 7000lbs itself with both tanks full) with 300 hp, towing the loaded 8000 lbs float is far less stable, has less get up and go and is in general more of a chore to drive.
- There are many pickup trucks out there hauling more than twice their own weight behind them. I'm hauling a little more than 1/2 (when the car is loaded).
- Power to weight: truck + 8000 trailer = 2 hp/100 lbs, loaded car + trailer = 2.8 hp/100 lbs
- Truck seats 3, no A/C, get's terrible fuel economy - car seats 4, A/C, cruise, good sound system, and gets 28 mpg (Canadian gallon) when towing.
- On the negative side, the engine's power is in the 5000-6000 rpm range, so it will see a fair bit of that when climbing hills.
Yes, there are more ideal tow vehicles. This is what I've got at the moment, it works well enough for me and the engine is probably the biggest weak link (IMO - although if I'm willing to rev it up I don't slow traffic).
Can we have an oil discussion?
Steve
