So according to these sources you can tow 3500 lbs on inclines up to 8%. This discussion sparked my curiosity and I googled a bit on some European websites and found that a 4 Cylinder Volkswagen Passat Wagon can tow 3500 lbs. It is - I believe - also a matter of towing in the mountains or on flat surfaces. So I guess to some extent it is a matter of perspective. With gas prices being as high as $9 per gallon people (like the original poster) just don’t see a point in driving a truck all year long just because the tow a trailer a couple of times a year, It is very common practice - and the engines there are much less powerful than what is sold here. People hook up camping trailers to their Passats or GM mid size vehicles and what not and drive hundreds (even thousands) of miles. Simply because in Europe they do it all the time and I have always wondered where that difference in perception is coming from. I used to live in Europe for many years so I always follow these discussions about not being able to tow trailers with a passenger vehicle with much interest. But your choice of cars that can handle a 3,500 lb trailer is very limited. Trucks have more powerful brakes and towing is expected and designed into the entire braking system.Ī used police intercepter packaged Ford Crown Vic might do fine with your trailer. ABS and traction control systems for cars are not tuned for towing either. Today’s cars do not have brakes designed for stopping heavy loads. Now cars are unibody (which means no full frame) while trucks and SUV’s have full frames.īringing a trailer to a stop is important. The full sized cars often had full frames under them the same as trucks. More wind drag just increased the work load on the tow vehicle.īack in '60’s cars and light trucks shared many more driveline parts motors, transmissions, rear ends, and axles were very similar with some different gearing ratios. There is the extra weight, but there is also a huge increase in wind drag. You have to realize that towing is tough on the tow vehicle. Modern cars also use gears and components that are strong enough for moving the vehicle but don’t have extra capacity for towing. Each of these vehicles differ in terms of their Gross Combined Weight, payload, towing power, engine, torque and fuel economy.As they make cars lighter to maximize mpg it takes away from the frame strength which makes cars poor tow vehicles. While there are no strict divisions of towing SUVs, they can possess widely distinct demeanors from each other. There are multiple SUVs with a varied range of towing capacity. Are there different types of SUVs for towing? If you want a balance between good towing capacity and decent fuel economy, don’t forget to check the EPA estimates and the real-life mpg of the SUV. High-performance vehicles come with robust bodies, and require more fuel to run than regular vehicles. Powertrain: If you want excellent towing capacity, always look for vehicles with a gutsy powertrain, so that you don’t have to compromise in terms of performance.įuel Economy: This is another important aspect you must consider. Towing Capacity: It’s a no-brainer that you will have to check the numbers offered by the manufacturer to know the exact towing capacity of your vehicle. Checking these two numbers are absolutely necessary before buying a towing SUV. Payload, on the other hand, refers to the maximum amount a particular vehicle can carry without crossing safety limits. It refers to a combination of the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can carry and the weight of the loaded vehicle itself. GCWR & Payload: GCWR stands for Gross Combined Weight Rating. Here are a few crucial factors that you should keep in mind when choosing an SUV for towing: What to look for when choosing an SUV for towing?
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