• the_seven_sins@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    Deutsch
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    7 months ago

    2 - People bitch all the time about Giant Dually Trucks™ that are just used for daily driving. Well, pulling trailers on the weekend is why a lot of people have the excuse for this. If we can eliminate the need for the heavy tow vehicle, then you can just drive a small sedan and still be able to go glamping on the weekends.

    How do you think this ‘little towing-robot-car thing’ is going to tow, steer and break a heavy trailer safely on the highway?

    It got to be heavy for itself, needs a big battery pack, powerful motor… It’s basically got to be an F150 itself. Nice if you don’t need daily drive it, but it cost almost as much and won’t actually be very environment-friendly either I assume.

    • travysh@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      7 months ago

      The brakes are part of the trailer. I’d imagine laws are different everywhere, but where I’m at trailer brakes are required for 3000+ pound trailers, though it’s a bit more complicated than that and even a 1500 pound trailer could require them.

      Anyway, the point is that big 5th wheel travel trailers are way heavier than even a huge dually truck. A 7,000 pound truck can tow a 25,000 pound trailer. I’d imagine the towbot would be limited to something a bit more sane, like 6,000 pounds (class 3 hitch). Since the towbot doesn’t also have to carry passengers etc, I’d imagine 1,500 to 2,000 pounds for it.

      • the_seven_sins@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        7 months ago

        (since you are using pounds, I’m just gona assume you are American?)

        In Germany (and most of Europe) every car model has a its with/without breaks trailer wight limit in the paperwork, in general this is about the wight of the car and half of it if your trailer has no overrun breaks - no matter your license.

        Without a special trailer or heavy duty license, you may not carry more then a metric ton (or 3/4 of it without breaks). Car+Trailer combined have to be below 3.5 metric tons - no matter the car you drive.

        For your giggles: There are Hummers in Europe, but they are not allowed to carry more load then a Seat Ibiza if they are not registered as a heavy vehicle.