Hi Gaia,
GaiaGoddess wrote:
For the last like 6 years, I have been trying to find a trailer with a GVWR lower than what my Escape can TOW. So I was looking at the trailers' GVWR, not my Escape's.
OK, now we're back on the right track. But how are you figuring what the Escape can tow? Are you using its published "tow rating"? If so, please see the definition of "tow rating" here:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27206374/gotomsg/27217884.cfm#27217884GaiaGoddess wrote:
And as for carrying vs towing, I guess I don't understand the difference, carrying is how much weight is IN the Escape, and towing is how much is BEHIND it, but in the end isn't it all still getting pulled/towed/carried by the tow vehicle?
Yes, you basically have it. But carrying and pulling are very different, and impact very different aspects of the tow vehicle. Pulling impacts engine power, gearing, and especially braking. Carrying impacts frame, suspension, axles, and tires.
As an analogy, let's say you need to carry 300# of pebbles up to a garden at the top of a hill. Do you grab a backpack or a wagon? Either way, you're the one doing the work, which is moving yourself plus the 300# load. But clearly one way is easier than the other. If we assume you weigh 100#, then your GCW (Gross Combined Weight) in either case is 400#. If you choose the backpack, your GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) is also 400# because your spine has to support the entire load. If you choose the wagon, however, your GVW is only 100# because the wagon carries 300# of the 400#. Towing a trailer, however, is more like a wheelbarrow. Most of the weight is carried by the wheelbarrow's axle, but you also have to bear some of the burden when you lift on the handles, maybe 100# of the 300#. That portion of the weight adds to your GVW, bringing it to 200#. The amount of weight you have to lift (not pull) is analogous to tongue weight.
With small vehicles, the biggest limitation is almost always what it can carry, not what it can pull. Unfortunately, "tow rating" addresses only what you can pull (and even then it addresses only the weight aspect, not aerodynamics
*, which is addressed by the frontal area rating). You also have to take a look at what it can carry, and I think you'll be surprised at how little that actually is. How much will it have to carry? The weight of the vehicle itself, your weight, the weight of the fuel, the weight of everything else in the vehicle,
and the tongue weight of the trailer. All of these things will be pushing
downward on the Escape's chassis. If the total of all these things exceeds your Escape's GVWR, you're overloaded.
*For an illustration of the effects of aerodynamic drag, grab a 1-2' square of cardboard and drive slowly down the road. Hold the cardboard out the window, being sure to present an edge to the oncoming wind. No problem. Now turn it so that you're presenting the flat side to the wind. Hold on tight! Be careful not to hurt your wrist.
Now imagine that cardboard is 9' high by 7' across and you're travelling at 55mph.-- Rob
