Explain different Gladiators tow capacity?

[MPMB]

Take a look at some of the cars today - all covered with plates to make them smooth as a baby's butt under the car. In fact, you have to remove panels or access covers to change oil and filter. There are air dams and ground effects to prevent air getting under the car.

My Q3 had a huge one. It took me longer to take the underbody panel off than it did to change the oil. Now I know why my local oil shop won't touch Audis.

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[Sdswingr]

So...any definitive answer as to why the manual transmission is rated so much lower for towing capacity?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Has to be the clutch. Automatics are bathed and cooled clutches and can have hellish hydraulic pressure holding those multi-plate clutch packs tight. Manual clutch has no such luxuries. To keep that clutch applied with the same forces that the automatics apply would mean you'd have trouble releasing the clutch to shift. Some racing clutches I have trouble pushing the pedal.

 

[PeterGriffin]

edit: I just wanted an excuse to say "unladen." Using words like that make me feel so Monty Pythonish. :D

What do you mean, African or European...?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Oh this SO reminds me of some of our discussions....... HAHA

 

[spectre6000]

I'm no one, so I wouldn't consider this "definitive", but I believe it's a limitation of the clutch.

 

[be77solo]

Has to be the clutch. Automatics are bathed and cooled clutches and can have hellish hydraulic pressure holding those multi-plate clutch packs tight. Manual clutch has no such luxuries. To keep that clutch applied with the same forces that the automatics apply would mean you'd have trouble releasing the clutch to shift. Some racing clutches I have trouble pushing the pedal.

I agree, I'd assume the same. Just seems funny that the Rubicon gets +500 lbs rating. Marketing is all I can assume? It's the same clutch/transmission after all.

EDIT: And yes, I have the factory tow package on my Willy Sport manual, which I guarantee is a good bit lighter than a Rubicon ha

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm no one, so I wouldn't consider this "definitive", but I believe it's a limitation of the clutch.

I think therefore I am.......

 

[xpcdoojk]

I think therefore I am.......

Of course, you are my little star. I’ve miles and miles of files. Pretty Files. Of your forefather’s fruit. And now to suit our great computer, your magnetic Ink.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Of course, you are my little star. I’ve miles and miles of files. Pretty Files. Of your forefather’s fruit. And now to suit our great computer, your magnetic Ink.

Wow, he got it. In the beginning...........

 

[NachoRuby]

I agree, I'd assume the same. Just seems funny that the Rubicon gets +500 lbs rating. Marketing is all I can assume? It's the same clutch/transmission after all.

EDIT: And yes, I have the factory tow package on my Willy Sport manual, which I guarantee is a good bit lighter than a Rubicon ha

Yours is definitely lighter, but the suspension is different, as is the final drive ratio. It's the same reason the automatic Rubicons have a higher tow rating (7000 lbs) than other automatic Gladiators (4500 lbs-6000 lbs), except the max tow (7650 lbs). Also, GVWR on the Rubicon is 6250 lbs and is 5800 lbs on the sport/sport s without max tow. Payload is also different.

It's the same transmission, yes, but all the autos have the same transmission too, and yet they have varying tow ratings.

 

[xpcdoojk]

Wow, he got it. In the beginning...........

I think our musical tastes are similar. ;-)

 

[spectre6000]

Wow, he got it. In the beginning...........

And here I thought it was a reference to Descartes...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think our musical tastes are similar. ;-)

I'm more than that, I know I am, at least, I think I must be.

There you go man, keep as cool as you can.
Face piles
And piles
Of trials
With smiles.
It riles them to believe
That you perceive
The web they weave
And keep on thinking free.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And here I thought it was a reference to Descartes...

Je pense, donc je suis

I'm sure it was an expansion and modernization of that for the "computer age", it's from a 1969 album, On the Threshold of a Dream

They were into the space program, exploration of space and one album was based on our space program. They wrote and sang of "the human condition" more than anything else.
The later 1969 album, To Our Children's Children's Children, was a concept album about space travel.
It was one of those listened to by the crew of Apollo 15


Blasting, billowing, bursting forth
With the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes
Man with his flaming pyre has conquered the wayward breezes
Climbing to tranquility, far above the cloud
Conceiving the heavens, clear of misty shroud

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