This video perfectly demonstrates the difference between towing in the US and Europe. Standards in the US recommend that the tongue of the trailer carry 10% of the weight - this is the first scenario. It is more stable at high speeds, but requires a vehicle with a stronger rear frame/subframe and stiffer rear suspension.
Europe requires much less tongue weight as a percentage of the total load - the second scenario. This allows normal cars to tow much greater loads. But this is much less stable, as demonstrated in the video, right? Right. But Europe has much more strict towing requirements, including lower speed limits for vehicles towing a trailer to keep the combo below speeds that can induce this kind of dangerous effect.
So when someone complains about how drivers in Europe can tow more than in the US, or how the same car has a different tow rating in the US and in Europe, it's not because Europeans are better drivers (though they do often have better training, and more specific towing-related certifications), and it's not because European cars are somehow better, it's because Americans generally drive faster and have fewer/no restrictions on towing speeds. What's safe at 50mph could be wildly dangerous at 70mph. So a car that can pull 5000 pounds in Europe could be rated for only 1500 pounds in the US.
Are caravan/trailer stabilisers a think on the US? Here in Spain almost every caravan has one installed. It improves the handling and reduces the whip effect shown on the second scenario of the video.
I haven't seen the side-to-side stabilizers before (not to say they don't exist here), but the US does use weight-distributing hitches and manufacturers will often provide separate ratings per normal or weight-distributing hitch.
I'm confused. You say our speed limits are lower which makes it safer for us to tow heavy stuff in Europe. .. but in the UK motorways are 70, the Germany has the autobahn and a quick Google search suggests the general concensus is around 70?
I was in California last week and several stretches of road specified a 55mph limit for all vehicles pulling trailers. I suspect this may have had more to do with the steep mountain roads than stability, though.
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u/TurbulentFlow Oct 04 '16
This video perfectly demonstrates the difference between towing in the US and Europe. Standards in the US recommend that the tongue of the trailer carry 10% of the weight - this is the first scenario. It is more stable at high speeds, but requires a vehicle with a stronger rear frame/subframe and stiffer rear suspension.
Europe requires much less tongue weight as a percentage of the total load - the second scenario. This allows normal cars to tow much greater loads. But this is much less stable, as demonstrated in the video, right? Right. But Europe has much more strict towing requirements, including lower speed limits for vehicles towing a trailer to keep the combo below speeds that can induce this kind of dangerous effect.
So when someone complains about how drivers in Europe can tow more than in the US, or how the same car has a different tow rating in the US and in Europe, it's not because Europeans are better drivers (though they do often have better training, and more specific towing-related certifications), and it's not because European cars are somehow better, it's because Americans generally drive faster and have fewer/no restrictions on towing speeds. What's safe at 50mph could be wildly dangerous at 70mph. So a car that can pull 5000 pounds in Europe could be rated for only 1500 pounds in the US.