MacGregorSailors.com

That's for sure. Something happened with their QC after my old 98 Cherokee with the straight six that went 250K with no problems and the post 2006 models . I'm sure someone out there has had a good experience with their new jeep, but I sure didn't, and won't take a risk buying one again.

ROAD Soldier wrote: You know people said my wifes liberty would never last pulling our and 150,000 miles later it is doing just fine. However I will say as I get older sliding through lights that turn red all of a sudden while towing the is not as exciting as it used to be

haha hahaha

Well after all this it's back to Lexus for our next tow vehicle. Had an RX-300 felt unsafe towing with that, so we got a GX 470. Now here is a sweet tow ride http://www.lexus.com/models/GX/

Since the original topic of this post was about a Diesel lets see if we can't get a little back on track here is a comparison of two Diesels for those of you looking for an SUV instead of a Truck. Why a SUV instead of a Crew Cab truck these days I don't know, but for those of you who are, here you go two very capable contenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODVcjl3S90k

I like the "Jeep uses a LOT of Mercedes parts but costs a lot less".

As I recall, some vehicles (Mercedes) have.had a "stability bar" or something which really enhanced towing control.

ROAD Soldier wrote:Since the original topic of this post was about a Diesel lets see if we can't get a little back on track here is a comparison of two Diesels for those of you looking for an SUV instead of a Truck. Why a SUV instead of a Crew Cab truck these days I don't know, but for those of you who are, here you go two very capable contenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODVcjl3S90k

The Jeep is the same platform (suspension and unit body geometry) as the Benz GL class, also shared by the Chrysler Aspen and the Dodge Durango. However the Chryslers do not use the Benz engine.

The Benz has both mechanical stabilizers and electronic stability assist for towing. When it detects rear sway, it uses per-wheel counter braking to damp it. Works astonishingly well--On my 8200mi tow across country and back, you could feel the wind hit the trailer after passing a rig, but the TSA would damp it in a single-half rock. So fast it felt unnatural.

We have the 350 Diesel. Overall MPG on that trip was 15.0, and that included going over the continental divide twice. Typical flat towing was about 20MPG.

These all tow 7500# with a 600# tongue weight.

mastreb wrote:
it uses per-wheel counter braking to damp it. .

You avoided my pet peeve by using the correct word "damp" instead of "dampen". It's amazing how many technical publications out there talk about "dampening the vibrations".

Forum members could easily dampen any vibrations felt on a Mac...not sure what good it would do, but might make you feel better.

Starscream wrote:

mastreb wrote:
it uses per-wheel counter braking to damp it. .

You avoided my pet peeve by using the correct word "damp" instead of "dampen". It's amazing how many technical publications out there talk about "dampening the vibrations".

Forum members could easily dampen any vibrations felt on a Mac...not sure what good it would do, but might make you feel better.

Would this be the wrong time for me to bring up the fact that there are a couple of parts on the UH-1 Huey Helicopter called Dampners

"damp" means to control or restrain, which is what the trailer assist is doing. "dampen" means "to make less intense", which would be a lot less correct, but I don't think it would rise to the level of a pet peeve for me, like the apparent impossibility of distinguishing there, their, and they're amongst the facebook set.

Something I did not know: (from Urban Dictionary) "A dampner is a hydraulic device used to reduce pulsations in a hydraulic system. This differs from a damper which is a hydraulic device used to damp vibrations in a physical system that the hydraulics are connected to." So I think dampner is likely correct usage for the Helicopter, but its hard to know without knowing the exact system.

I'm a bit of a stickler about usage myself, but I try to hide it:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... w%20strebe

mastreb wrote: The Benz has both mechanical stabilizers and electronic stability assist for towing. When it detects rear sway, it uses per-wheel counter braking to damp it.

I don't mean to dampen anyone spirits here but that system is not exclusive to Benz. In fact it is almost hard to buy a new 1/2 ton and above truck without it.

In fact it is almost hard to buy a new 1/2 ton and above truck without it.

Yeah, that was my thought too, it's been around long enough now, and the majority of the hardware needed for it is already present - it's mostly a case of writing code for the trailering application. I haven't looked into it yet, but the system must have to somehow detect the presence of the trailer (through the lights?) to change the reactions of the system.

I wouldn't consider buying a new tow vehicle without it.

I would imagine that it detects the differential speeds of the the wheels due to the influence of the trailer.

Yeah, could be; - it would take more throttle for the accelerometers to detect the same amount of acceleration when a heavy trailer is there. But you would want the same reaction schema if it were a light box trailer, too.?

These days when you need to fix something you need to be one part mechanic and one part computer programmer. With the Ram you have towing stability control, hill assist control, towing brake control, and air suspension level height control. There is even a control feature that as soon as you let off the accelerator the brake pads take in the little space between them and the rotor without touching. This allows the brake to grab without hesitation as soon as you push the brake pedal. What does all this control mean to me? If it isn’t broke don’t fix it. If it does break suck in your mechanical pride and take it to the dealer.

seahouse wrote:

In fact it is almost hard to buy a new 1/2 ton and above truck without it.

Yeah, that was my thought too, it's been around long enough now, and the majority of the hardware needed for it is already present - it's mostly a case of writing code for the trailering application. I haven't looked into it yet, but the system must have to somehow detect the presence of the trailer (through the lights?) to change the reactions of the system.

I wouldn't consider buying a new tow vehicle without it.

It detects the presence of the trailer through resistance of the brake lights, which is why you can't use LED lighting on the trailer. Tried it. instability is detected by an electronic 3-axis accelerometer.