VUE -- Towing Capacity

[TimberWolfe21a]

Question, of course.

Not having the manual in fron of me, I'll use round numbers here.

Let's say that the vehicles towing capacity is 2500 pounds. A trailer on wheels an bearings, really isn't 2500 pounds. Going up hill is still not quite 2500 pounds, and going downhill is less for sure.

So, if the rating is 2500 pounds, what in the world are they talking about? Is there a formula out there somewhere?

[ssicarman]

2500 pounds is 2500 pounds. Mass is mass. When they say 2500 pounds they mean that is the GVW of the trailer that you can tow. On bearings or not it still weights 2500 lb, going up hill you pull 2500lb, going down 2500lb pushes you.

[TimberWolfe21a]

Ok, so towing uphill? If it's already moving, it's not 2500 pounds. Closer to 1800 pounds or so. Going downhill? IF that's what's considered 2500 pounds and that's the max vehicle towing weight, then the VUE is a real WEAKY! And I know otherwise. Hooking up the VUE to a solid object that won't move unless it has 2500 pounds of towinig force? That's the perfect situation. So, thank you for your response, but I think logically. Still puzzled. Of course I won't try to tow something that weighs more than mfg specs. But, some times I get a question floating around in the ole bean, and I've gotta get the most correct answer.

Have a nice day.
RickyDee
(VERY PROUD VUE OWNER)
(Saturn -- Not just a car, an experience)

[ssicarman]

A 2500lb trailer behind you is a 2500lb trailer! IT DON'T matter moving or not, it is still 2500lb. Tires and wheel bearings change the rolling resistance of it but not the mass. On earth the weight of the trailer doesn't change to any great degree any where. You hook up your trailer and go to the moon and the weight will change, the mass will not change. Saturns highly paid engineers have decreed that the the 4 cylinder shall pull a max of 1500lb and the 6 cylinder 2500lb. Personally I think that this is fairly good for a unibody car. Also consider that the V-6 auto AWD comes in at 3470lbs. It pulls 2500lbs, not bad I think.
Something like this could turn into a real interesting debate.

[SATURNFAN13185-2]

That's why this class is called "Cute Utes." They aren't good for towing vast amounts, but can tow if they need to. I think 2500 lbs is fairly good, too. It can tow most boat trailers and U-haul trailers. Most people wanting a VUE probably won't tow too much anyway.

Ed

[David Harleyson]

[QUOTE=TimberWolfe21a]Ok, so towing uphill? If it's already moving, it's not 2500 pounds. Closer to 1800 pounds or so. Going downhill? IF that's what's considered 2500 pounds and that's the max vehicle towing weight, then the VUE is a real WEAKY! And I know otherwise. Hooking up the VUE to a solid object that won't move unless it has 2500 pounds of towinig force? That's the perfect situation. So, thank you for your response, but I think logically. Still puzzled. Of course I won't try to tow something that weighs more than mfg specs. But, some times I get a question floating around in the ole bean, and I've gotta get the most correct answer.

Timberwolfe21a you are overthinking this and your "logic" is flawed. Vehicle manufacturers figure a tow rating based on the Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer. One must then add that weight to the Gross Vehicle Weight of the tow vehicle. You then have the Gross Combination Vehicle Weight. Usually, the weakest link in the vehicle determines what the towed ammount can be. The weak link may be the trans, brakes, subframe etc., it is usually NOT the engine. There is NO difference between uphill, downhill or flat when talking about tow capacities.
It seems to me you have confused INERTIA with WEIGHT. It is true that it takes less POWER to keep a given weight moving than it does to start it moving. BUT THE MASS DOES NOT CHANGE. However, vehicles use mechanical advantage (lower gearing) to start a load moving. Thats how a car moves ALL of its weight with low RPM from a dead stop. Dont' believe it? try starting off in 4th gear... (and BTW who really uses a Vue to tow loads that don't have wheels and bearings?)
Lastly, CAN a Vue tow more? sure. SHOULD any vehicle, (Vue's included) tow more than their rating, NO. I doubt that either the Saturn warranty gods or the personal injury attorneys of the people you rear ended with your overloaded tow vehicle, will be impressed with your "logic" and formulas.

[Bill Murray]

Brakes stressed downhill
Trans stressed uphill and upwind
If I had a VTi or Honda 5 speed Vue I would shy away from anything more than incidental towing (a trailer load of lumber for 20 miles is no big deal, a 3500 lb boat & trailer for 10,000 miles may well be)