In article , Steve Walker
writes
On 04/12/2017 23:17, bert wrote:
In article , Bill
writes
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
* Bill wrote:
Just for interest, because there's no way I can afford one, why are
these relatively heavy hybrid 4 x 4's so lacking in towing performance
compared with a petrol or diesel vehicle?
The diesel Outlander is lighter, but can tow much more.


Because towing can require a fairly constant power output. A hybrid can
provide bursts of high power, but not sustained. They are basically town
vehicles.

I well remember hiring an early Prius. MPG around town was amazing.
But on
a long journey with a full load trying to keep up with motorway speeds,
MPG was abysmal* - far worse than an equivalent performance petrol car.
let alone diesel.

OK, but my first LR 110 with its ancient, low powered but utterly
reliable 2.25 petrol engine could barely reach motorway speeds on its
own, let alone keep up.


It was rated for towing 3.5 tons and we towed lower weights with it
fine. I always thought that the towing rating was based on structural
strength and weight of the towing vehicle rather than power.

I think they were 3.5 tons normally and 4.5 tons with a linked braking
system on the trailer.

4000kg on road and 1500kg off road according to my 90's handbook
I have heard of someone towing a 13 ton narrowboat along a private road
with one!

I take it it wasn't in the water at the time.
SteveW

--
bert