can I increase my tow vehicle's tow rating
am confused. just read in july. manufacturer's use engine power for tow rating but further states if you improve performance it won't improve tow rating?
Forum Discussion
Manufacturers use many things to calculate tow ratings. Some of them are engines, transmissions, tires, brakes, frames, suspensions, and hitch classes. In addition to tow weight rating, the vehicle has a rating for it's max weight, a rating for the weight it can carry, and your hitch receiver has ratings for what it can carry. All of those ratings are tied together.
Nothing you do to the vehicle can change it's ratings. Increasing engine performance might help you accelerate faster, but, it would do nothing as far as carrying weight, and if the engine performance upgrades added any weight to the vehicle, it would actually reduce towing capacity.
Note: When you see advertised manufacturer tow ratings , they say this vehicle can tow up to XXXX lbs. Then the fine print in their owners manual says "the vehicles tow rating does not include passengers or cargo". When you add these to the vehicle, it's tow rating is reduced, pound for pound". Different options also affect tow capacity. Side by side vehicles with same engine, frame, brakes, etc, one has two wheel drive and the other has four wheel drive, the two wheel drive will have higher tow capacity, because it weighs less.
Nothing you do to the vehicle can change it's ratings. Increasing engine performance might help you accelerate faster, but, it would do nothing as far as carrying weight, and if the engine performance upgrades added any weight to the vehicle, it would actually reduce towing capacity.
Note: When you see advertised manufacturer tow ratings , they say this vehicle can tow up to XXXX lbs. Then the fine print in their owners manual says "the vehicles tow rating does not include passengers or cargo". When you add these to the vehicle, it's tow rating is reduced, pound for pound". Different options also affect tow capacity. Side by side vehicles with same engine, frame, brakes, etc, one has two wheel drive and the other has four wheel drive, the two wheel drive will have higher tow capacity, because it weighs less.
