Quote:
Originally Posted by honda03842
For some reason in Europe cars are rated for much higher trailer loads.
|
Because in Europe trailers are towed at lower speeds and with much lower hitch weights.
Most countries limit trailers to 50mph or under special circumstances 60mph - for example, to tow at 60mph in Germany requires dampers to be fitted to the trailer suspension. European vehicles are typically limited to hitch
weight percentages as low as 4% of trailer
weight - a level that is considered dangerous in North America.
And, a little more contentiously, I suspect European tow-ers are expected to drive with more care and attention than North Americans - they are driving near the limit of their vehicles and are expected to behave accordingly.
If you compare the allowable hitch weights on vehicles in North America and Europe, they are surprisingly similar - which suggests that maybe it isn't total trailer
weight that is really the limitation, but trailer hitch weight?