Quote:
Originally Posted by Riwright
I'd be interested to see the accident statistics with these tee-tiny tow vehicles. I can't see how they could possibly be safe.
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I tend to agree. Both of these articles concentrate on engine-related stuff - horsepower, torque, acceleration, gas vs diesel, and so forth. Neither of them mentions any of the parameters that are critical to towing, but not engine-related, such as stopping and emergency maneuvers.
One of them mentions that the Jetta has a tow rating of 3300 pounds in Europe, but less than half that in the US. Why the difference? They lay it off to an attitude that "in the US, nobody cares". Am I buying that? Probably not.
So a Jetta will not find its way onto my list of potential next tow vehicles.
By the way, both of the articles mention the "mechanical brakes" amazingly used on European trailers. Anyone know how these are activated? Surely not surge brakes, as found on U-Haul trailers.
Bill