Overwhelmed and worried about safety
Hi all. I know threads of "can I tow XYZ with my ABC" probably get annoying and I've been reading and reading and reading. But I'm overwhelmed and my partner and I have never towed anything before. Th...
Forum Discussion
It seems the manufacturers want you to believe that you can actually tow more than your vehicle weighs, and do it perfectly fine too. Realistic experience, you have to accept they are doing this under optimum conditions. You alone are the tow vehicle driver, you want to tow a load of steel with no side resistance, or front resistance.
Now you look at your city, Winnipeg, known as the windy city. Take 20% off for that. Then you look at your real carrying capacity. 1050 - 1270 pounds. That is the driver, passengers, gear, hitch, and tongue weight. Now if you carried that load of steel the way I said, you see where you can, but if you fill the Jeep with stuff, and need a heavy hitch, well it gets exciting pretty soon when a semi blows by you and you feel the push. Then you start downhill through the switchbacks and feel the push from behind, and you need more brakes from the back but your hands are gripping the wheel.... and you run out after that and get a 3/4 ton truck. You feel safe for awhile, then realize with the new rig and the new child you might like a bigger rig... so now you need a one ton.
Better to bite the bullet up front and get what you might need later, but enjoy the ride rather than feel overwhelmed with weight decisions.
Now you look at your city, Winnipeg, known as the windy city. Take 20% off for that. Then you look at your real carrying capacity. 1050 - 1270 pounds. That is the driver, passengers, gear, hitch, and tongue weight. Now if you carried that load of steel the way I said, you see where you can, but if you fill the Jeep with stuff, and need a heavy hitch, well it gets exciting pretty soon when a semi blows by you and you feel the push. Then you start downhill through the switchbacks and feel the push from behind, and you need more brakes from the back but your hands are gripping the wheel.... and you run out after that and get a 3/4 ton truck. You feel safe for awhile, then realize with the new rig and the new child you might like a bigger rig... so now you need a one ton.
Better to bite the bullet up front and get what you might need later, but enjoy the ride rather than feel overwhelmed with weight decisions.
