Why Cant i tow with a mirage

[Littlestan]

Littlestan, have you attended any driving schools? I had the good fortune to take part in the performance driving school held at Mid-Ohio. My takeaway is to do my risky driving on a track.

I think you would enjoy and appreciate some instruction geared toward racing.

I have, now that you mention it! Mission Raceway had a program I enjoyed several years back.

What I'll be testing on will be long stretches of lonely backroads and giant empty church
parking lots in the wee hours of the morning, so I'm only putting myself at risk.

[Eggman]

I keep bringing it up, but the Yaris in the UK has it printed in the manual that it can safely tow 2000lbs+.

In the UK.

[m4v3r1ck]

To be on the safe side, your car SHOULD be able to brake within safe range (short) WITHOUT any assistance from the trailer's brake should the assisting brake fails.

There's a long discussion like this as well on Yaris forum:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13056

Really no one recommend towing with these mini cars.

[m4v3r1ck]

In the UK.

Even then, it's just said that it CAN, not recommended.

[inuvik]

From what I've gathered, a properly setup brake controller will be adjusted so there
is no effect on the tow vehicle. The electric brakes are designed to brake
3000lbs, so 1400lbs would be nothing.

Regardless of how well the trailer brakes are set you can't overcome the physics of the extra mass and the torsitional forces that it generates. Loading 1400 lbs of weight inside of a Mirage is far safer than placing 1400 lbs additional weight outside the vehicle concentrated to a single focal point (the trailer hitch). The Mirage isn't even rated to carry that much weight. Could you tow that much weight (probably). That's not the issue because while you are accelerating the extra weight is just physical weight you are dragging so there is only resistive force. The problem is when you are NOT accelerating. Then all that weight acts like a pendulum at the point of the trailer hitch. I would say that it's the stuff nightmares are made of.

[Littlestan]

In the UK.

Yes. And I'm fairly certain people aren't flying all over the road and causing disastrous situations
over hauling a tent trailer or small camper.

[Littlestan]

Regardless of how well the trailer brakes are set you can't overcome the physics of the extra mass and the torsitional forces that it generates. Loading 1400 lbs of weight inside of a Mirage is far safer than placing 1400 lbs additional weight outside the vehicle concentrated to a single focal point (the trailer hitch). The Mirage isn't even rated to carry that much weight. Could you tow that much weight (probably). That's not the issue because while you are accelerating the extra weight is just physical weight you are dragging so there is only resistive force. The problem is when you are NOT accelerating. Then all that weight acts like a pendulum at the point of the trailer hitch. I would say that it's the stuff nightmares are made of.

What you are saying is true with an unbraked trailer. The trailer has it's own suspension and axle
that handles the majority of forces, with some residual weight being shifted to the tongue during braking
and cornering. Just some.

[Eggman]

What I'll be testing on will be long stretches of lonely backroads and giant empty church
parking lots in the wee hours of the morning, so I'm only putting myself at risk.

Using public roads inherently includes others in the experiment, no?

[Littlestan]

Using public roads inherently includes others in the experiment, no?

Not where I'm talking about at 3am. It's as desolate as it gets.

[Eggman]

Please check with your insurer and police and let us know what they say.