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Old May 17th 05, 06:21 PM
Steve
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Steve wrote:


> Does anyone have any experience towing with the 300M or any other cars with
> the same body like the LHS, Concorde, Intrepid?
>
> What do you think?


Well, I don't have any direct experience with towing with an LH car- but
then I wouldn't want to. Personally, I think any FWD vehicle is a very
poor choice for towing, both from a durability point of view AND from a
vehicle dynamics point of view. Engine braking with a FWD/trailer
combination is like balancing a pencil on its tip- just not a great
situation. FWD cars do 90% of their braking with the front wheels, and
if you've ever looked at the rotor/caliper size on the rear wheels
you'll see that they're just not going to be much help in stopping the
trailer. I'd definitely look into trailer brakes, even though 1400 lbs
is WAY below where you really need trailer brakes for a RWD car, truck
or SUV tow vehicle. Trailer tongue weight tends to take weight OFF the
driving wheels of an FWD, whereas it ADDS weight to the driving wheels
of an RWD vehicle.

That said, I don't necessarily think that the owners manual grossly
overstates the capabilities of the car- its not going to immediately
kill it to tow 1400 lbs (by the way, that better be your LOADED trailer
weight, or else you're not going to have much payload and stay below the
2000 lb limit.) Its certainly OK for flat-land towing- I wouldn't
venture into the mountains with it. But a rear-drive car, truck, or SUV
would be a better choice all-around.
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