at least 2x a month for many many years...
threads about marginal or inadequate potential tow vehicles appear here...
in years past the mods and senior members were
more than willing to point out the issues...
and describe exactly how ridiculous most of those combinations might be...
as mods they were allowed to post using words like 'troll' or 'crazy' or dangerous...
but times change here.
some of the older threads worth looking at are here...
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...f150-7593.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...dstar-849.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...epid-3636.html
there are literally 100s of them but the windstar threads are especially relevant.
since not long ago
most of those w'stars driven in the
northeast and rust belt...
were found to have rusted/defective axles and suspensions about to fall apart.
the recall affects 100s of thousands of these things after a few 100 did lose axles...
imagine what might have happened IF many of them were used for towing.
_________
the volvo in question has axles rated to 2800 lbs and 2600 lbs.
the volvo in question has a gCvwr of ~7500 lbs (less than the trailer solo)
the payload is 1200 lbs (less than the tongue and hitch combined without people)
and so on...
'towing capacity or rating is not a legal/official determination but axle rating and gCvwr are.
using the newly formulated SAE towing tests/standards, TOYOTA has RErated their trucks...
this has resulted in DErating by 400 to 1000 lbs on the newest t'dra.
_________
there is a concept in public health called herd immunity, google it.
basically herd immunity means that if MOST of a population are protected via immunization,
those FEW who don't immunize (for what ever reason) will be protected by the 'herd' of immunized folks around them.
we may NEVER read about accidents or vehicle failures that originate at canAM...
because their pool of rv'rs (even 40 years worth) is
tiny relative to the larger world of rv'rs.
the shop owner claims that
no 0ne using one of his favorite C rated tires (in D rated applications) has ever had an issue...
in fact
no one has ever had a flat using the tire.
how amazing is that?
as we all know 1000s of rigs go down the road every day with dangerous, broken or improperly hitched trailers...
and seldom do those folks suffer.
the
lack of braking down or crashing is not proof of right.
___________
there was an infamous doc early in this century who developed a cure of male impotence.
he and his clinic became WILDLY famous, so much so that he may have been elected governor...
IF all the write in votes had been honestly counted.
his "cure" was totally bogus and yet 1000s of men and their wives offered testimonial to the good.
it was in the early days of radio and he had his own radio show, then his own radio tower and station.
this was just like NOW in terms of discovering the value of direct media to promote a business.
he was doing media politics before anyone else even knew it was happening.
the now internet is a radio tower with 2 way links and webbed party lines.
when the establishment tried to control this guy, restrict his license and curtail his BIZARRE medical cures...
he simply moved the radio tower to mexico,
amped up the power and broadcast right back to the same american midwest audience...
it's an amazing story really,
and the average person jmay ust love an antiestablishment rebel...
John R. Brinkley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Story of John R. Brinkley
The Best Darn Story Of The Whole 20th Century
________
for those that don't get it, here is just ONE of the points...
these threads are simply
advertisements.
they are basically viral postings/exchanges and do everything that viral media intends...
but without having to pay for the airwaves or air space.
sometime the o.p. isn't even aware that's it is viral...
till the 2 sides start REplie'n
_________
unfortunately a few totally naive folks may get sucked into the vortex and become customers.
that is after all the entire purpose behind viral media.
most see/realize the ridiculousness of some of these towing combinations...
even if welding makes them possible.
_________
liability IS an issue, there are NO shops doing this stuff in the us of a, like there were 40 years past.
the states all have basic statues on a few of the Noncommercial towing issues...
but largely it's left up to the LEO to interpret and determine what is safe or UNsafe.
that is gradually changing.
what is also changing is how/if/when the a/s MOTHERSHIP becomes responsible for the actions performed by one of it's dealerships.
in days past they could have legitimately claimed NOT 2 know what is being done...
but now, with everyone knowing that the CORPORATE folks read and use this social/political/advertising knowledge sharing stuff...
it would be very hard for them (a/s corp) to claim they are UNaware of some of these grossly inadequate towing combos.
this eventually connects them (a/s corp) to the rigs and merchant welding those rigs and selling the streams.
once aware of some of the many rigs set up which violate most of the accepted towing standards...
a/s becomes a partner in these rigs by suppling the streams for sale.
pleading ignorance or non involvement is about to vanish.
__________
100s of us here (that's all that really left, still using this outdated forum tool) care and know some of these rigs are silly.
but
the single best thing everyone can do who has concerns about marginal or grossly inadequate rigging combos...
is to simply
ignore the post/thread or rigging combo question.
sure we care and certainly some of the combinations are wildly dangerous...
but most folks choosing to avoid public health issue (like immunizations) are protected by the herd...
even when their
personal actions or behavior is dangerous.
so by
ignoring and
not posting even a sensible reply...
it will be as if no one was listening when doc brinkley signed on with the goat gland hour of radio...
forget about the popup ads or sidebar ads,
it is the posts/threads that are blatant viral adverts we should avoid.
cheers
2air'