Towing a 6000 lb trailer with a Taurus?

The replies are starting to become personal in nature so after 7 pages I think it is time to close this thread.
Barney

Hybridhunter wrote:
I'm not american.

Not an issue Hybridhunter. The website shown above speaks of very satisfied customers from various countries.

Road Ruler wrote:

Hybridhunter wrote:


Frankly Andy, I think you are irresponsible, and over-zealous.

For sure you are allowed your opinion but when you read what actual real life "Andy" customers have to say it is quite different. Note most of the comments come from your fellow Americans.

First off RR, I have no doubt Can-Am is a paradigm of customer service , and that Andy is incredibly knowledgeable. That being said, you are VERY quick to make assumptions. I challenged the sensibility of the towing setup in the add, first you suggested I was possibly ignorant (although you were tactful about it) of the vehicles "true capabilities", then you assumed my truck is "over-rated", and that I was towing above it's true capabilities, when in fact I was well under the weight the cooling system was/is designed to handle, about 70% GCWR.

You just assume that everyone that thinks towing 5 times the tow rating just "doesn't know". I, for one, don't really think that GVWR is the end all of loading, I personally think it's far more important to follow GAWR's. I also happen to think that most vehicles can tow 100% of their GCWR safely and competently. I am no weight policeman, and I'm not one of the endless "bigger is better" advocates on this site that cluelessly recommends a "3/4 ton" (nebulous term anyhow) any time towing anything bigger that a utility trailer is mentioned.
GAWR is likely closely related to what the axles can handle, GVWR is more of a "legal" number, chosen for various reasons. GCWR is very much based on cooling system ability, chassis strength, stability, considerations and so on. It just seems like the most foolish number to avoid of those 3 is arguably GCWR.

I also think that if most folks had half the understanding about towing (and WDH's, and how only about ~85% of the tongue weight makes itself to the truck axles) in particular, they would not go around telling all of us 1/2 ton drivers how we need bigger trucks.

There is also the irony that when comparing the SHO to, say the GM half ton, with the relatively gutless, unresponsive, torque managed 4.8 or 5.3, that it no doubt moves it better. I just think that the manufacturers numbers exist for a reason.

Perhaps I should post Ford Canada's reply on the originally posted towing setup?

I'm not american.

Hybridhunter wrote:


Frankly Andy, I think you are irresponsible, and over-zealous.

For sure you are allowed your opinion but when you read what actual real life "Andy" customers have to say it is quite different. Note most of the comments come from your fellow Americans.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/andy-thomson-can-am-107289.html#post1352988

Road Ruler wrote:


It is no wonder. The out of the box old Explorers were lousy TV's.

Ouch!

BenK wrote:
Well, I'm not going to search through several thousand pages of DMV/DOT doc's
just to satiate someone's nit

Add to my saying of either believe in the ratings or not...that to decide to
believe in the rules/laws/etc or not...

+1 Agree!

One item that really stands out is the acceleration rate of the SHO with the 29' white box trailer in tow. 0 to 60 in under 15 sec is very quick. Even the Taurus with the non turbo V6 did it in 20 sec.

Very impressive, along with all the other many positive attributes or this rig.

Well, I'm not going to search through several thousand pages of DMV/DOT doc's
just to satiate someone's nit

Add to my saying of either believe in the ratings or not...that to decide to
believe in the rules/laws/etc or not...

n7bsn wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
...

But we are only talking about one issue, what is the statue?

What you don't like Reckless Driving or Exceeding the Conditions?

Or do you want the actual number quoted?

I'm not being a troublemaker. All to often we hear this is illegal, that is illegal. Well, I say prove it. Every single thing that is illegal is written in the statutes. If it isn't written - it is legal. Might be a bad idea, but legal.