• Snackette@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Glad someone said it. Just because you can pull something doesn’t mean you can stop or maintain pulling said thing. That being said yeah I agree you don’t always need a truck.

    • Schmuppes@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If the car is rated for towing the weight of the trailer, of course it can stop it. That’s what the authorities are going to test, among other things, before greenlighting a car with those specifications.

      • mean_bean279@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        They’ll test it for the weight, however it’s important to understand the testing cycle. Were the tests only setup on flat ground? Did they adequately test braking? Did they ride the brakes for a while? Is there a difference between haulable weight with trailer brakes vs without? It’s also important to note that in the US tow ratings are setup by the manufacturer… which means that numbers are super subjective and simply a circle jerk of who is willing to legally put a larger number on the vehicle.

        All the new 3/4 ton trucks can tow more than US drivers with a class C license in most states could legally carry. The numbers are kind of useless IMO.

          • mean_bean279@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Thank you, thank you! 100% here in California we have incredibly strict emissions testing, but absolutely ZERO maintenance checks. Which is more of what I worry about since there’s loads of vehicles on the road that have balding tires, abysmal brakes and cracks all over the glass. We’re somehow one of the few states without this kind of testing even though our vehicles need a bi-annual emissions test.

            Also, definitely wish people had to remove their tow hitch here in the states. Loads of people’s drive with them in and nothing on it. They’re shin busters on sidewalks.

            • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              but absolutely ZERO maintenance checks.

              Yes, I was always surprised by what I saw in /r/rolledintotheshoptoday. Many of those cars would be instantly condemned, and not let back on the road except on a trailer to the scrap yard. But still people considered it to be normal to drive those things.

        • GbyBE@discuss.tchncs.de
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          1 year ago

          As far as I know, the maximum unbraked trailer mass is 750kg in Europe, although for some cars it can be lower.

          With a braked trailer the limit is up to the manufacturer (and your driver’s license).

          • mean_bean279@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Thank you! How long has the trailer brake been common/mandated over that size in Europe? I tried looking it up but the closest I could find was some UK government website mentioning the 90s (or maybe early 2000s).

        • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          They’ll test it for the weight, however it’s important to understand the testing cycle. Were the tests only setup on flat ground? Did they adequately test braking? Did they ride the brakes for a while?

          Well, it seems that you are not familiar with European road safety testing and certification. My BIL was working in that area, and his executive summary of that was: if it passes European tests, you can sign the American test papers, too, as it would pass them with flying colors.

    • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      In Europe, it would not get a rating for a certain weight if it was not able to safely handle and stop it.