Yaris towing a trailer
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Originally Posted By: EdwardC
I believe that many of the cars in europe are rated to tow much more than the identical car in the US. I believe it had a lot to do with the typical speeds and the speed limits.
I do think so. Every summer I see tiny cars towing trailers, and I wonder how the engine can cope.
I myself used to tow with my Marea, with its powerful 100hp engine (lol). It is rated to tow up to 1300Kg, but many time I towed up to 1700Km (a Peugeot J7 full of stuff on a car trailer), I know since once I got a fine for doing it (my bad, I was young and stupid and didn't even think there was maximum towing capacity).
When I was a kid I remember road trips with my dad and uncle in the Peugeot J7 (which can tow up to 2000Kg with its ~65hp engine)...this was a different age, sometimes we couldn't even barely hit 50Km/h. Now we live in an era where safety and speed are more important
I won't tow with a Yaris, but maybe a tiny matching trailer could be fun for the holidays!
I believe that many of the cars in europe are rated to tow much more than the identical car in the US. I believe it had a lot to do with the typical speeds and the speed limits.
I do think so. Every summer I see tiny cars towing trailers, and I wonder how the engine can cope.
I myself used to tow with my Marea, with its powerful 100hp engine (lol). It is rated to tow up to 1300Kg, but many time I towed up to 1700Km (a Peugeot J7 full of stuff on a car trailer), I know since once I got a fine for doing it (my bad, I was young and stupid and didn't even think there was maximum towing capacity).
When I was a kid I remember road trips with my dad and uncle in the Peugeot J7 (which can tow up to 2000Kg with its ~65hp engine)...this was a different age, sometimes we couldn't even barely hit 50Km/h. Now we live in an era where safety and speed are more important
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I have an SUV, right?
Where did you get the trailer?
I have an SUV, right?
Where did you get the trailer?
I used to tow all kinds of stuff around the US behind a '91 escort GT 5 speed. I regularly towed a fairly light trailer with two sportbikes or two dirt bikes and gear for a week worth of riding. Each sport bike was 400-500 pounds wet + leathers, coolers, gas tanks, etc.
A few times I towed a fairly large flatbed with three sportbikes from S. Fl to Tn. or Al. Biggest issues I had was having my fuel mileage halved and I popped a power steering hose winding through the woods somewhere near Ocala, but I had 150k miles at the time, so it may have been age related. The OE clutch was still in place when I sold it at 196k.
Even back then, I used to load everything very carefully to get the balance right and do everything I could to minimize the risk. The hitch was overbuilt and structurally better than what you can get off the shelf today for small cars.
I would never do it again. Once I upgraded to a full size truck, I never looked back w/ regard to heavy trailers. I have towed small trailers with my G35, around ~1,200 lbs on multiple 2,000 mile trips when I didn't have a truck, but not anymore.
Now it's trailer w/ brakes and a truck if I am near the weight limit (current car has 3,500 lb. limit) even if I have to rent something.
A few times I towed a fairly large flatbed with three sportbikes from S. Fl to Tn. or Al. Biggest issues I had was having my fuel mileage halved and I popped a power steering hose winding through the woods somewhere near Ocala, but I had 150k miles at the time, so it may have been age related. The OE clutch was still in place when I sold it at 196k.
Even back then, I used to load everything very carefully to get the balance right and do everything I could to minimize the risk. The hitch was overbuilt and structurally better than what you can get off the shelf today for small cars.
I would never do it again. Once I upgraded to a full size truck, I never looked back w/ regard to heavy trailers. I have towed small trailers with my G35, around ~1,200 lbs on multiple 2,000 mile trips when I didn't have a truck, but not anymore.
Now it's trailer w/ brakes and a truck if I am near the weight limit (current car has 3,500 lb. limit) even if I have to rent something.
After 16 years and a quarter million miles in my ECHO, I'd be quite leery of towing anything with it especially in any kind of wind. But maybe that's just me.
Of course then there's this:
Of course then there's this:
I would not doubt you can tow 1000lb with that kind of vehicle.
The main issue is when braking quickly, climbing grades or poorly loaded trailer.
The main issue is when braking quickly, climbing grades or poorly loaded trailer.
Drove a Yaris through the Davis Mountains in West Texas.
The wind blew the little car all over of the road, it was not a nice ride. Would not want to tow anything with this vehicle.
The wind blew the little car all over of the road, it was not a nice ride. Would not want to tow anything with this vehicle.
Cars in the 50's-70's use to pull big campers all the time, like this 35 footer behind a 53 Mercury convertible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxx4ijz3aig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxx4ijz3aig
My focus has no problem getting my popup moving ... or stopping it from moving. And since it's low profile, it is not affected by wind.
First time towing the Popup with the Focus I stopped way quicker than I was expecting to.
First time towing the Popup with the Focus I stopped way quicker than I was expecting to.
My last car had no problem with a popup, as long as it was going forward. Ask it to back up a hill, and that was when I found out that reverse was a taller gear than 1st! Engine had all the power in the world but the gearing was not so good for low speed maneuvers.
Obligatory:
Originally Posted By: supton
My last car had no problem with a popup, as long as it was going forward. Ask it to back up a hill, and that was when I found out that reverse was a taller gear than 1st! Engine had all the power in the world but the gearing was not so good for low speed maneuvers.
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
My last car had no problem with a popup, as long as it was going forward. Ask it to back up a hill, and that was when I found out that reverse was a taller gear than 1st! Engine had all the power in the world but the gearing was not so good for low speed maneuvers.
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
Quote:
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
I've often wondered about that. Why do so many vehicles have such a high gear in reverse? Would make backing a trailer around much easier if you had a really low gear and you could just ease it back. Who needs to go fast in reverse?
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
I've often wondered about that. Why do so many vehicles have such a high gear in reverse? Would make backing a trailer around much easier if you had a really low gear and you could just ease it back. Who needs to go fast in reverse?
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: supton
My last car had no problem with a popup, as long as it was going forward. Ask it to back up a hill, and that was when I found out that reverse was a taller gear than 1st! Engine had all the power in the world but the gearing was not so good for low speed maneuvers.
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
reverse is often the same ratio as second gear, for some reason....
Originally Posted By: supton
My last car had no problem with a popup, as long as it was going forward. Ask it to back up a hill, and that was when I found out that reverse was a taller gear than 1st! Engine had all the power in the world but the gearing was not so good for low speed maneuvers.
Same with the Focus. I just back up way faster than I need to ...
reverse is often the same ratio as second gear, for some reason....
I haven't studied planetary gearsets, but I suspect on automatics it's "just how it works out", without involving another gearset.
Similarly, while one would be temped to think that all they need is a reversing gear to be inserted in the gears on a manual, it's probably more complicated than that. I bet it's an art of compromise, packing it all in there.
Outside of police enforcement needing to be able to go ludicrous speed in reverse, I can't think of a good reason to have a vehicle geared taller in reverse than first. Yet they just seem to wind up that way.
Similarly, while one would be temped to think that all they need is a reversing gear to be inserted in the gears on a manual, it's probably more complicated than that. I bet it's an art of compromise, packing it all in there.
Outside of police enforcement needing to be able to go ludicrous speed in reverse, I can't think of a good reason to have a vehicle geared taller in reverse than first. Yet they just seem to wind up that way.
Originally Posted By: supton
I haven't studied planetary gearsets, but I suspect on automatics it's "just how it works out", without involving another gearset.
Similarly, while one would be temped to think that all they need is a reversing gear to be inserted in the gears on a manual, it's probably more complicated than that. I bet it's an art of compromise, packing it all in there.
Outside of police enforcement needing to be able to go ludicrous speed in reverse, I can't think of a good reason to have a vehicle geared taller in reverse than first. Yet they just seem to wind up that way.
Some older trucks I have driven that had a proper granny 1st gear had an even lower reverse gear.
Originally Posted By: HemiHawk
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
reverse is often the same ratio as second gear, for some reason....
I had a Focus that could do about 45-50 in reverse, so the same ratio as second gear makes sense. Dont try that at home kids...
I bet mine would go a lot faster than I would feel comfortable backing up!
My Jeep has reverse that is between 1st and 2nd as well. With the bigger tires and factory rear end ratios, it will go 45 in 1st gear and 70? in 2nd. I bet I could get it up to 55 in reverse... but I'm not going to try.
I haven't studied planetary gearsets, but I suspect on automatics it's "just how it works out", without involving another gearset.
Similarly, while one would be temped to think that all they need is a reversing gear to be inserted in the gears on a manual, it's probably more complicated than that. I bet it's an art of compromise, packing it all in there.
Outside of police enforcement needing to be able to go ludicrous speed in reverse, I can't think of a good reason to have a vehicle geared taller in reverse than first. Yet they just seem to wind up that way.
Some older trucks I have driven that had a proper granny 1st gear had an even lower reverse gear.
Originally Posted By: HemiHawk
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
reverse is often the same ratio as second gear, for some reason....
I had a Focus that could do about 45-50 in reverse, so the same ratio as second gear makes sense. Dont try that at home kids...
I bet mine would go a lot faster than I would feel comfortable backing up!
My Jeep has reverse that is between 1st and 2nd as well. With the bigger tires and factory rear end ratios, it will go 45 in 1st gear and 70? in 2nd. I bet I could get it up to 55 in reverse... but I'm not going to try.
Originally Posted By: EdwardC
I believe that many of the cars in europe are rated to tow much more than the identical car in the US. I believe it had a lot to do with the typical speeds and the speed limits.
Did a quick search, here's an article describing the differences:
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tow-me-down-1609112611
And lawsuits.
I believe that many of the cars in europe are rated to tow much more than the identical car in the US. I believe it had a lot to do with the typical speeds and the speed limits.
Did a quick search, here's an article describing the differences:
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tow-me-down-1609112611
And lawsuits.
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