Haha,
The best line up there "lower to the ground so its better for conventional and cross over vehicles"
No wonder why they shut it down. A CUV can not tow 10- 12ft pups, nor carry the required gear, and that includes the 2011 Ford Explorer CUV.
The CUV shift has killed Somerset's operation, and may shutter other pup manufacturing lines as well.
FTCA was killed by it's ownership - a private equity firm that specializes in buying mid sized companies that are distressed or their parent is under distress (i.e. Fleetwood). Fleetwood was doing a nose dive before the economic downturn and still ended up in bankruptcy. Blackstreet Capital has pulled the plug pretty quickly on other ventures too. In this case, they had negotiated a new contract with the employees for 4 years in 2009 and had recently released the new model in this topic.
Those campers have been coming out of that plant in Somerset PA since 1967. There were second and third generation employees there. And they left a major dealer network high and dry. I'm a proponent of free enterprise, but this is the kind of company that gives corporate America a bad name.
We purchased our first of 4 Coleman Pop Ups in 1984 and the last in 2005. I've always been impressed with the fact that while features came and went, the guts of the camper - frame, lift and cabin structure have never changed. There is something to be said for that and it's a shame that it's gone.
CUV: bloated FWD car
1000lb to 3500lb towing if properly equipped.
I depise the CUV even called by the media as an SUV. FWD and not one bit offroad nor towing built into them.
Larger CUV? crossovers:
The new exlpore/traverse will be travesty with aftermarket hitch debacles.
The 2011 traverse has a 2000lb towing capacity w/aftermarket hitch or 5000lbs with factory tow package.
The 2011 explorer also has 2000lb capacity w/aftermarket hitch or 5000lbs with factory tow package
We all know how little tow packaged equipped CUVs are ordered. We will be seeing the same questions over the next few years....."What can my Traverse/Explorer tow? I installed a class 3 hitch but my dealer says no way!"
This is the nail in the coffin for a lot of pups!
Head on over to the traverse forum to get a laugh ;D
[quote author=KJcachers link=topic=343.msg3487#msg3487 date=1297123366]
back to the SV3....what do you think these are going to end up being proced at? I mean the leftovers that are sitting on dealer lots? my local delaer has 3 of them! :whistle:
I'd stop in and ask them. See if they offer up the fact that FTCA closed down and a factory warranty is most likely not a possibility. That all being said if they have 3 they should be marked down quite a bit. however depending on the dealers arrangement. they will probably want top dollar which they will get. Sooner or later they'll find someone who does not know the situation. That is unless they are a 100% honest dealer. Those are hard to find.
Box Size Classification 12ft
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 3,500 lbs
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 2,175 lbs
Unloaded Hitch Weight 180 lbs
Maximum Carrying Capacity 1,325 lbs
Bed Capacity 1,100 lbs
Total Storage Capacity 37 cu. ft.
Dimensions Closed (Length x Width) 16' 4" x 7' 5"
Front Bed Size 6' 5" x 5' 10"
Rear Bed Size 6' 5" x 5' 10"
Water Storage Capacity 20 gal
Water Storage Capacity with Water Heater 26 gal
Water Tank Location Under Floor
The trailer was designed to be towed by cuv/crossovers. Yeah Right!
CUV with 3500lb capacity Driver, and NO GEAR!
Not even the highly praised 2011 Explorer/Traverse which will be mass produced 10 to 1 without the tow package.
Not even the highly praised 2011 Explorer/Traverse which will be mass produced 10 to 1 without the tow package.
Very interesting comment. Where did you get your info?
I just checked 5 local to me Ford dealers and out of 6 - 2011 4wd Explorers, 3 of them had the tow package. 50% of them.
Anyhow, I don't know what your problem is with CUV's but, they are perfect for most smaller Pups when properly equipped.
And for years now I have seen posting on many vehicles asking questions on how to prepare vehicles for towing. People are always buying a pup or trailer when they have an existing vehicle they want to tow with.
Now to properly equip the new Explorer is no harder than most TV's of the past. The Explorer tow package consists of a class 3 hitch, an oil cooler, and wiring for the trailer. All of these can be added afterwards if the vehicle didn't come with them.
As for the GM tow vehicles, I don't know how the dealers are ordering them. I do know however within the past week, I have been in contact with General Motors customer representatives looking for some mpg info on their vehicles with tow packages. They do not provide it by engine like the other major companies do. I am working on a project for members to be able to search on a program that lists things like mpg, tow rating, hp and torque, by engine and 2wd and 4wd. So if you want to find out TV's are available in a specific towing capacity, ie 4500 lbs, it will list those sorted by mpg as well. The GM rep was absolutely no help, nor did they care. So it's quite possible, my towing chart will not include them. Currently, I have info compiled on Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Lincoln, currently Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep as well a Honda are being compiled. This task is a huge undertaking and I don't plan on including companies that won't assist me when I can't find it anywhere on their websites.
[quote author=KJcachers link=topic=343.msg3513#msg3513 date=1297181654]
But I can tow it with my lifted Jeep Liberty with tow package!
Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk
Of course you can! You have factory equipped 5,000lb rating.
I had a diesel liberty, cJ8, and three TJs.
The article stated it was created for CUV/crossovers.
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