this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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This is actually almost environmentally motivated. Instead of driving a pickup truck because you need to pull a trailer for your once a year road trip, you get a self driving tow to follow your fuel efficient compact car.
A compact car is already perfectly capable of towing a trailer, no pickup truck needed. Just ask the Dutch.
Yeah, I don't see why this small tow car should be more capable of towing than a small person car...
Look at the size of a fifth wheel truck or tractor, and what a vehicle like that can tow, compared to something like a bus, designed to carry passengers.
Vehicles designed to tow as their primary purpose are very compact.
Dedicated tow vehicles are compact but powerful. Powerful engines and strong drivetrains are expensive, and especially if they're going to run unattended these would have to be powerful.
Otherwise can you imagine having this thing chase your light, fast car up a big hill, slowly falling further behind until it loses connection?
Or roasting itself on a long climb until it boils coolant, blows a head gasket, depletes its batteries or one of the many other things that could happen to an unattended motor working at 100% load.
You'd need a way of slowing down the lead vehicle, for sure.
European towing standards are ridiculous, manufacturers decide what their car can tow. It's one of the only places where the American standard, which requires testing the vehicles and passing actual tests, is much better and safer.
Trailer design is also different with European trailers having their wheels further forward, putting less weight on the hitch, this in turn makes the assembly less stable which is why the speed limit when towing will often be lower.
How fast are you allowed to tow?
Speed limits are the same, towing or not in North America.
Your average compact car, if you're lucky, can tow 1200 kg braked. A midsize SUV can typically tow 2,000+, and a large SUV 3500.
Renting a gizmo like this would possibly be a lot more cost effective than owning a large vehicle that you only use the full capacity of a few times a year.
The only stuff I need to haul is furniture and firewood, and my Yaris with a tow hitch manages that just fine.
I can't think of a scenario where I would ever need to haul anything heavier than 1200 kgs, and if I did, I would just rent a van.
I've come to the conclusion that people like you are genuinely, colossally, thick. You're completely unable to imagine someone leading a different life to yours, and having different needs from a vehicle to you.
For example, a number of people have trailers that they only use a few times a year, caravans for example, and this would be a great solution for them.
Try and expand your mind a little, and see past your own needs.
if you're already renting something to tow a trailer just rent a truck and leave the car at home. if you're moving or something and need to bring your car, put the car on a trailer and pull it behind a box truck. I guarantee it's more efficient having one vehicle towing one trailer than having two vehicles towing one trailer.
That seems far simpler than having a self driving tow bot show up to tow your caravan. Why didn't I think of that?
Everybody is driving SUVs nowadays. Toyota is making SUVs.