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[image] Since many people seem to believe you can't tow with cars, here's roughly what dutch people end up doing on vacation. (feddit.de)
submitted 3 years ago* by to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
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[–] 10 points 3 years ago (2 children)

There might actually be technical reasons for this.

E. g. top speed in Europe while towing is 100 km/h (some countries and trailers less), whereas in the US you can drive up to the designated speed limit.

Bearing load is also different, in Europe it's usually 4 % of the trailer weight, in the US at least 10 % is recommended.

Trailers are also different, e. g. unbraked trailers only exist up to 750 kg in Europe, whereas in the US I've seen much heavier trailers without brakes.

Trailer brakes are also different, Europe uses overrun brakes, the US electronic brakes.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I've never heard the term "overrun brakes" (TIL!) before. I've always called them surge brakes, and they are widespread in the U.S. on the majority of boat trailers.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (1 child)

    That's actually the most reasonable explanation I've seen so far, and it helps explain a bunch (one small correction: most states have a towing speed limit of either 55 or 65 mph, so just about the same or slower than in Europe. Canada is even worse with most provinces limiting highway towing speed to 80-90kmh). That said, it still doesn't make any sense that our tow rating does not take into account the presence of a brake controller (that is to say, the stated towing capacity does not list braked and unbraked separately in most cars except trucks).

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (1 child)

    one small correction: most states have a towing speed limit of either 55 or 65 mph, so just about the same or slower than in Europe

    Interesting, thanks for the correction! I didn't spend the time to research it for all states / provinces, when I researched this topic a while ago.

    brake controller

    In Europe electronic brake controllers aren't really a thing. Mechanical overrun brakes are used instead to brake trailers.

    That said, it still doesn’t make any sense that your tow rating does not take into account the presence of a brake controller

    Cars in Europe usually have two tow ratings, one for braked, the other for unbraked trailers.

    • trailers up to 750 kg can be unbraked and can be driven with a Class B driver's license
    • trailers above 750 kg must be braked; you need a separate Class BE driver's license, if the total weight of the combination is above 3500 kg
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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago

    My bad, that was a typo - I mean our tow rating. Most vehicles (except for trucks) don't list the tow rating with a brake controller installed and the only way to get one is to have your vehicle rated and tested individually.

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