Chrysler PT Cruiser - low tow capacity?

[b_5110062]

Can anyone please shed light on why the official towing capacity of my petrol PT CRUISER is only 1000kg - which is only 62% of it's kerb weight. Also, the US sight has the towing capacity as 1000lb - considerbaly less??

Thanks in anticipation

Bri

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello B,

I can't tell you why teh PT has such a low quoted tow weight, but if teh manufacture tells you you vehicle is lmited to 1000kG then that is teh legally maximum you can tow. If you exceed it you are illegal and your insurance is void.

Your question should be put to Crysler.

 

[Icemaker]

It seems to be the norm for chrysler to give low tow limits on theire cars, the voyager is a car i have looked at in the past but the low tow limit of 1600 kgs makes this car pretty useless as a tow car as well as the pt.

 

[Lutz]

It's not just Chrysler but all cars out of US production. This is due to the fact that their cars just aren't used for towing there and consequently they're not designed for the purpose but also the US procedures for establishing the towloads are completely different. As I mentioned elsewhere in this forum, brakes of US cars are notoriously susceptible to fade when the car is fully laden so it's hardly surprising.

 

[354]

Dont have any problems with the brakes on our Grand Cherokee, and a towing limit acording to Jeep of 3500kg.

 

[Lutz]

When I said cars I specifically meant saloon cars and estates, not 4x4's as they are used for towing in the US just as over here.

 

[354]

Oops