In a message dated 1/30/2010 12:20:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
N197TR4@cs.com writes:
Low tech answer: Generally speaking the final product weight limits are
established by the weakest component rating installed from the supplier.
Tire ratings
axle ratings
transmission ratings
spring ratings
==AM==
I guess most modern manufacturers now consider the clutch of a manual
transmission to be one of those "weakest components"! I'd special-ordered my
1991 Ford Explorer with full towing package AND five-speed manual, which
dropped the max. recommended towing weight by something like 700 lbs. That
never
bothered me, since I was towing mostly Triumphs (ok, there was that one
Peugeot wagon....). The clutch and gearbox never gave me any trouble in over
200k I put on the beast, and I only had to replace one propeller shaft
u-joint.
There were plenty of other bits that I had to replace, and I long wished
I'd gone for the manual transfer case and manual front hubs, but the
then-wife didn't like the idea of getting out in mud and snow to lock the
front
hubs. (I found I didn't like the idea of replacing the automatic front hubs at
$300 or so each!)
To its credit, though, that little V-6 Explorer towed beautifully at
highway speeds (and, uh, then some), and it suffered almost no loss in fuel
economy doing so (about 19.5 mpg average towing, and about 20.5 mpg average
without trailer).
Sometimes I still miss that old beast.... ;-)
--Andy Mace
*Mrs Irrelevant: Oh, is it a jet?
*Man: Well, no ... It's not so much of a jet, it's more your, er, Triumph
Herald engine with wings.
-- Cut-price Airlines Sketch, Monty Python's Flying Circus (22)
Triumph 10 / Herald / Sports 6 vehicle consultant, The Vintage Triumph
Register: _http://www.vtr.org_ (http://www.vtr.org/)
Check out the North American Triumph Sports 6 (Vitesse 6) and Triumph
Herald Database: _http://triumph-herald.us_ (http://triumph-herald.us/)
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation $12.96
http://www.fot-racing.com
Fot@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/fot
Brought to you by Team.Net consulting - Unix software specialist.
|