SAE Standards for Towing

[jelag]

I'm reading one of the SAE publications that I get and in it is an article about benchmark standards for towing and how the big 3 test vehicles.....



It seems that the big 3 don't use the same standards for testing for towing ability and there seems to be some speculation between GM and Ford on their standards and how they test vehicles...



I was not aware that each of the big 3 use different test methods to rate their vehicles... . I was under the belief that SAE had standards and that each of the manufactures were using those standards in their tests so that you could believe what you were reading in their information.....



So GM has petitioned SAE to develop a uniform standard to measure towing...

 

[BimmerAgent]

Kinda like the horsepower rating? For some reason I thought the tow ratings were standardized. Bruce

 

[CRuth]

Sadly it doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[johncameron]

This explains why the new Ferds can tow 24K. Heck I guess if they throw enough flames out the back they could tow 30K

 

[Doubleclutch]

NO JOHN, it just STARTS out at 24k... :-laf How much do ashes weigh?



Jelag- I'll just bet that GM is going to lobby REALLY hard for their standard to be the "chosen one"! The world of loop holes...



Greg

 

[georgej]

It could be GM is afraid that the Ford half ton vs Toyota half ton towing ratings will be passing 20000 lbs soon!

 

[jelag]

I'm about ready to order, when available one or two 5500's but if Toyota said tomorrow they would offer a truck in this GVW class with a diesel I'd put my buying on hold and wait... . I'm impressed with them and their new pickup...

My real wish would be a Ford Cab and Chassis, a Cummins Engine with a Chevy interior... now that would be a nice truck... . but again isn't that what the new Toyota is in the smaller truck.

 

[RustyJC]

This is probably long overdue. Lots of uninformed individuals look only at the "manufacturer's trailer towing rating", never read the fine print and wind up over the truck's GCWR and way over the GVWR. It's unfortunate that SAE has to step in to bring some sense and order to this.



Rusty

 

[Doubleclutch]

Rusty- I'm not sure just how much John Q. will heed the SAE standards. To most, it seems no more than an advertising ploy for bragging rights. People tend to "mail order" a trailer to the truck's max weight, then pour in a houshold of "gotta-havits" to blow things way over. NOT EVERYONE>>> John Q isn't a TDR member.
Last May Madness, and probably this one as well, a VERY interesting seminar was put on discussing this weighty issue (pun ) Well received by all! THIS time I'll take notes.
Greg

Jelag- let's start the rumor that Mr. T is going to buy Dodge. I know that Chrysler and Nissan had a joint diesel venture years back, but agree on the Toyota. I guess there's a reason you see Toyota trucks everywhere.

 

[jelag]

Doubleclutch... ...

I just read of a new diesel for the CST or CTS Cadillac... . to be in the 09 production... . Penske and DC own a joint venture in Italy... . Penske owns 51 % and DC has 49 %... . this plant was signed to start production and deliver for this car... . to meet 2010 standards... and its not going to be a GM only motor... Looks like its going to end up in several other vehicles... . I can see it now... the Cadillac owners will say they have a Mercedes engine and the Jeep owners will say their V-6 is a DC engine.....

But your right... There's lots of Toyota's out there and not a lot of them on the used market... . and those rental cars from Thrifty, Dollar, etc go for a very high resale value... .