Towing with a small car?

[angib]

Lots of people here in Europe tow with cars like yours and even smaller.

But before we get into a US .vs. Europe towing thing, you should also add that Europeans tow at slower speeds than Americans and with tongue weights that would be considered dangerously low in the US.

Clearly a Lancer can tow something and the no-tow rating is just Mitsubishi covering their backside.

[Yota Bill]

Regardless of what the car can handle, or what it is rated for in other parts of the world, if you exceed what it IS RATED for, you can be facing some hefty fines and a day in court. Take the risk if you want, but dont get mad if/when you get busted for it.

Look at it this way...just because your vehicle can safely travel at 100MPH, that doesnt mean you can do it LEGALLY.

[jhanlon]

Somewhere on my computer hard drive array I have pictures of a Smart4two pulling what looks like a motorcycle size pull behind fiberglass trailer.
I guess it just depends on weight, the owner's attitude about safety and the vehicle.

Smart4 two is defined as one anorexic with briefcase.

[2bits]

Regardless of what the car can handle, or what it is rated for in other parts of the world, if you exceed what it IS RATED for, you can be facing some hefty fines and a day in court. Take the risk if you want, but dont get mad if/when you get busted for it.

Oh my gosh.. all of the actual subject matter aside, no cop in the world is going to pull you over and check your dang trailer hitch rating. Maybe I misunderstood an unspoken intention, but this seems just a wee bit alarmist. I would never tow above a stated rating, but it would be for safety, not because I am worried about the trailer hitch police.

[Yota Bill]

not the trailer hitch rating, but the vehicles rating. Yes, they do check that, I've had them check mine, and know many people that have been checked, in multiple states, and a few have had thier trailer impounded due to being overweight. It doesnt take much to check it either, since the ratings are printed inside the drivers door jamb, and the DOT officers (and others, sometimes) carry mobile scales in their vehicle.

Take the risk of having your stuff impounded, or a fine, if you want. Personally, I would not go over the vehicles tow rating.

And in case anyone is wondering, there is no modification you can make that will change the vehicles rated tow capacity. It goes by how the vehicle was equipped from the factory, and is printed inside the door jamb, as already stated.

[Danny]

Regardless of what the car can handle, or what it is rated for in other parts of the world, if you exceed what it IS RATED for, you can be facing some hefty fines and a day in court. Take the risk if you want, but dont get mad if/when you get busted for it.

Oh my gosh.. all of the actual subject matter aside, no cop in the world is going to pull you over and check your dang trailer hitch rating. Maybe I misunderstood an unspoken intention, but this seems just a wee bit alarmist. I would never tow above a stated rating, but it would be for safety, not because I am worried about the trailer hitch police.

...LOL.. Trailer hitch police is funny Sir, we observed you towing with a small car and decided to pull you over and check your tongue weight..

[jss06]

Regardless of what the car can handle, or what it is rated for in other parts of the world, if you exceed what it IS RATED for, you can be facing some hefty fines and a day in court. Take the risk if you want, but dont get mad if/when you get busted for it.

Oh my gosh.. all of the actual subject matter aside, no cop in the world is going to pull you over and check your dang trailer hitch rating. Maybe I misunderstood an unspoken intention, but this seems just a wee bit alarmist. I would never tow above a stated rating, but it would be for safety, not because I am worried about the trailer hitch police.

2bits,

I can understand the spirit of what you are saying. Living in Texas, I can tell you for a fact they have been masively cracking down on trailer violations in the last couple of years.

Will they target a vehicle with a small trailer behind it. Maybe not, but if you give them ANY reason to suspect a problem they will stop you.

[Kevin & Sandy]

Lots of people here in Europe tow with cars like yours and even smaller.

But before we get into a US .vs. Europe towing thing, you should also add that Europeans tow at slower speeds than Americans and with tongue weights that would be considered dangerously low in the US.

Clearly a Lancer can tow something and the no-tow rating is just Mitsubishi covering their backside.

Just wondering angib or H@nk, can you tell us a little about towing for the average European teardrop camping trip?
How fast you tow? How many miles is an average trip? A long trip?

I tow with a VW Jetta diesel, cruise around 60-65 mph. My average campout is about 30 miles away, longer campouts are 200 miles, but I have been on a 1700 mile jaunt. Most all where I live is really flat terrain on very straight roads, but I have been up and down 8% grades.

A little insight would be fun to know !!

[Py0tr]

Was this the picture?