Skip to content
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Forum Login
Lost password?
sp_TopicIcon
Frontal Area limitation - Towing an HTT or TT
Avatar
666 Posts
(Offline)
1
May 22, 2015 - 1:04 pm
Print

Do you know what frontal area limitation is?

Do you know what your frontal area limitation is for your TV?

Do you know that it is as important as your towing weight limit?

Avatar
255 Posts
(Offline)
2
May 22, 2015 - 6:57 pm
Print

Yes

Don't have one

I think about how much more it affects gas mileage,  than trailer weight, a case could be made for it being more important

Avatar
33 Posts
(Offline)
3
May 24, 2015 - 12:33 pm
Print

I worry more about the amount of weight I throw on my truck in the form of bumpers, sliders, skidplates, winch, etc...

Avatar
33 Posts
(Offline)
4
May 24, 2015 - 12:34 pm
Print

[quote author=R00 link=topic=3333.msg32816#msg32816 date=1432485184]
I worry more about the amount of weight I throw on my truck in the form of bumpers, sliders, skidplates, winch, etc...

Hell, I lost 2 mpg with a simple 2" lift and tire size bump!

*note self, use edit button, not quote button*

Avatar
336 Posts
(Offline)
5
May 24, 2015 - 12:53 pm
Print

We tow with an F-350......never crossed my mind. Lol

Avatar
666 Posts
(Offline)
6
May 24, 2015 - 1:41 pm
Print

This would be the thing to come back to bite you if you're ever in an accident and a smart lawyer knows about this.
SAE has set the standards for towing and most auto manufacturers have accepted it and are labeling their vehicles as compliant.
The standard for frontal area maximum is set by vehicle class as I understand it.
I've been trying to get a copy of the SAE J2807 which is the standards by which towing capabilities are measured with, but have been unsuccessful at this time.
This sets the maximum frontal area for towing with full size pickups at 60 sq ft. for trailers and full size suvs at 60 sq ft for trailers. All full size SUVS or Pickups apparently have the same standard. Mid size SUV's seem to be set around 32 sq ft. which means TT's or HTT's will be out of the question.

The vast majority of us never have an accident while towing the trailer, but I can see someone with a Chevy Traverse or Ford Explorer (any other mid size SUV) towing a small HTT or TT  being involved in an accident that was not their fault. All an opponents lawyer will have to do is see that your are exceeding the FAL (frontal area limit) for the vehicle class and he will try make you responsible or partially responsible for the accident. He doesn't have to know any weights that may have been in excess to prove (very difficult) that you were overloaded. All he has to do, is get a copy of the vehicle class and trailer type SAE standard and voila, the SAE has made his case.

With everything on Lexus-Nexus or the like for lawyers, if the first case hasn't happened, it will.

Besides that, I and my family be more secure in knowing that a particular class of vehicle has not only been certified (maximums)  to tow a trailer by the SAE, but also by the automaker. They have taken some liability when they set the standard.

Avatar
666 Posts
(Offline)
7
May 24, 2015 - 1:43 pm
Print

Wizfisher, I don't believe SAE has set any standards for 3/4 ton and up. Just 1/2 ton and below.

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
All RSSShow Stats
Administrators: CampingPhil, JoeCamper
Forum Stats:
Groups: 6
Forums: 70
Topics: 3700
Posts: 37115

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 2689
Moderators: 0
Admins: 2

Most Users Ever Online
769
Currently Online
Guest(s)
221
Currently Browsing this Page

1 Guest(s)