Then your parents are idiots.
I don't know if you meant they tow the Civic with the Caravan, or the Caravan with the Civic, but either vehicle (particularly the Civic) would be WAY overloaded, FAR past the factory specs.
Anyone who does that, regardless of how careful they are, is stupid, plain and simple. They are risking not only their own lives, but the lives of everyone on the road around them.
Idiots, plain and simple, and it doesn't matter how "careful" they are or how long they've been doing it with no problems. All it takes is once.
Towing isn't about power. It's about having a tow vehicle that is heavy-duty enough to pull/handle the load. That means bigger brakes, heavier springs, tires, etc.
Power is irrelevant....you can change gearing to make up for a less-powerful engine.
Forget power and transmissions, think police and insurance. Here in the land of fruits and nuts, if you exceed the GVWR, no matter how you've modified the car, you get a ticket. If you're involved in an accident, and over the cars GVRW, your insurance company says "tough break".
DivideBYZero
Lifer
- May 18, 2001
- 24,117
- 2
- 0
I think DBZ lives in the UK. The caravan he's referring to isn't the Dodge Caravan but a trailer that people there often go vacationing in.
daw123
Platinum Member
- Aug 30, 2008
- 2,593
- 0
- 0
I've got to agree with you. In the UK, plenty of people tow caravans using 'normal' cars, such as Peugeots, Citroens, Hondas, Volvos, etc.
You do not need a truck to tow a caravan and there simply isn't that many trucks (non- goods vehicles) in the UK any way.
You aren't going to get into the specifics, because all the facts will agree with ME. So you simply tuck tail and run, because you are completely wrong. Provide some info, and stick with this thread, you can really learn something here.
I'll edit out the info in this one, since I just noticed someone else's post explaining that DVZ meant a different type of Caravan.
Exactly. It IS a solution to a chassis rated to tow X pounds that is equipped with, say, the smallest available engine.
Such as: Ford F-350. Comes standard with a 5.4L V-8. Same 5.4 that you can get in the F-150. But that engine can pull more in the 350, because the chassis is heavier......and they gear it lower so the engine can do so.
But if you had the same F-350 with a V-10, it might not be geared so low. They even used to come with a straight-6, and could tow a lot of weight, courtesy of gearing.
Speaking of the S2000 in the OP, I don't care what gears you put in it....it's not rated to tow that boat, no matter what.
It's not about POWER. It's about whether the chassis is rated and SAFELY capable of towing the load.
ViviTheMage
Lifer
DivideBYZero
Lifer
- May 18, 2001
- 24,117
- 2
- 0
PCFW, you made three epic errors in insulting me incorrectly.
1) You incorrectly assumed I meant they were towing another car, a Dodge Caravan. :facepalm:
2) You incorrectly assumed the towed item was un-braked.
3) You shot out with insults before understanding what happens in the real world, where not everyone uses a 15 ton vehicle to tow a dozen eggs.
Daw123 has posted a link to the Caravan Club, the largest and most respected club of it's type in the UK. One that both my Grandparents and Parents have been members of for decades. I've seen the best part of eight different Caravans (not Dodge...) towed by all types of family car. They are all very experienced and if you were to discuss this issue with them, they would laugh so hard at you milk would come out of their collective noses.
Here's a link so you could learn a thing or two, but you won't. You'll claim it's all wrong, false, fake, stupid and dangerous or plain lame. None of which will really matter.
http://www.campingandcaravanni...ar%20and%20Caravan.pdf
1) You incorrectly assumed I meant they were towing another car, a Dodge Caravan. :facepalm:
2) You incorrectly assumed the towed item was un-braked.
3) You shot out with insults before understanding what happens in the real world, where not everyone uses a 15 ton vehicle to tow a dozen eggs.
Daw123 has posted a link to the Caravan Club, the largest and most respected club of it's type in the UK. One that both my Grandparents and Parents have been members of for decades. I've seen the best part of eight different Caravans (not Dodge...) towed by all types of family car. They are all very experienced and if you were to discuss this issue with them, they would laugh so hard at you milk would come out of their collective noses.
Here's a link so you could learn a thing or two, but you won't. You'll claim it's all wrong, false, fake, stupid and dangerous or plain lame. None of which will really matter.
http://www.campingandcaravanni...ar%20and%20Caravan.pdf
That's great and all but this is a vehicle that has a 400lb load limit (that's including the weight of the driver and passenger their cargo and the trailer tongue load). I'm not sure that is enough for towing with just a driver let alone a passenger and a gear.
Next, the owner's manual states "Your vehicle is not designed to tow a trailer. Attempting to do so can void your warranties."
1. I won't learn anything from that link. I just looked at it, and it says pretty much EXACTLY what I've been saying the entire thread.
2. I did ASSume a Dodge Caravan when you first posted. I already acknowledged that, and for that, I'm sorry. However, you COULD have just told us that's what you were talking about, instead of being a baby and doing what you did.
3. I did not assume the towed "item" was unbraked. I do remember saying that is SHOULD be.
4. You keep throwing generalizations and exaggerations about "everyone using a 15 ton truck to tow eggs", and other such utter nonsense. Let me just give you some info: I AM in the real world....the one where nobody should exceed their factory towing specs.
FYI, your parent's Civic isn't rated to tow much of anything. In fact, that link you gave most likely spells out WHY they shouldn't be towing with it. I could tell you if you had posted exactly WHAT "Caravan" they have and WHAT model Civic they have. Maybe their trailer only weighs 200lbs. (doubt it)
So, take that link and why don't YOU read it?. It'll tell you exactly what I've been saying. You have to do the math. If your parent's trailer load falls within the limits after doing the math, then they are good to go. I seriously doubt that it will, though. Then again, you COULD have just told us what trailer it was, right? Instead of jumping to lots of bullshit conclusions, like you just did. So go ahead.....tell us what trailer it is and how much it weighs, LOADED.....and what Civic they have, and let's all do the math. That'll settle the whole thing, right? And if they're within specs, I'll be the first to say so.
Because your parents HAVE actually WEIGHED their trailer, LOADED.......right? Right? Like anyone who tows something that's obviously going to be near their towing capacity SHOULD do?
My 2 cents:
The lawyers in America have caused car makers to drastically underrate tow ratings for everything but heavy duty trucks which the marketers demand have high tow ratings since that is one thing they are sold for.
All over Europe you see small cars towing campers and trailers. I know that in Germany - they are limited to the right lane and low speeds - probably like 55 mph or so and possiblely they are restricted entirely from some roads. And in my opinion it is perfectly safe.
A S2000 towing a 3000 lb unbraked boat trailer however sounds a bit more extreme than a VW Golf TDI towing a 3000 lb braked trailer. It seems from the other thread that he only drove a mile or so. My last thought is - I've seen plenty of people doing stupider things on the road.
The lawyers in America have caused car makers to drastically underrate tow ratings for everything but heavy duty trucks which the marketers demand have high tow ratings since that is one thing they are sold for.
All over Europe you see small cars towing campers and trailers. I know that in Germany - they are limited to the right lane and low speeds - probably like 55 mph or so and possiblely they are restricted entirely from some roads. And in my opinion it is perfectly safe.
A S2000 towing a 3000 lb unbraked boat trailer however sounds a bit more extreme than a VW Golf TDI towing a 3000 lb braked trailer. It seems from the other thread that he only drove a mile or so. My last thought is - I've seen plenty of people doing stupider things on the road.
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