Trucks, unibody or body on frame

[TomcoPDR]

The Ridgeline’s got 2 ladders, Dodge only carried 1

[Sugarphreak]

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[speedog]

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The Ridgeline’s got 2 ladders, Dodge only carried 1

Yeah but the Ridgeline is on it's bump stops.

[Darell_n]

A real truck can have the bed easily replaced with a service body or utility deck. Can’t see a unibody doing that.

[ExtraSlow]

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A real truck can have the bed easily replaced with a service body or utility deck. Can’t see a unibody doing that.

So a Tacoma.

[firebane]

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A real truck can have the bed easily replaced with a service body or utility deck. Can’t see a unibody doing that.

Could do it on a Commanche

[Tik-Tok]

Can't do it on a Avalanche, but it still has a 1500 frame

[Darell_n]

A ladder frame also allows for easy add-ons like a winch or snow plow, which are pretty common around here. A winch in action on a unibody would be comical, yet horrifying.

[rage2]

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A ladder frame also allows for easy add-ons like a winch or snow plow, which are pretty common around here. A winch in action on a unibody would be comical, yet horrifying.

Like this?

[speedog]

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Like this?

Sure it can be done but how much hacking on a unibody versus a body on frame. One has to be much more careful of where attachments are made, a body on frame doesn't have the same concerns but as such, gives up others things like handling.

I can honestly say I've never seen a unibodied vehicle hauling things into a job site aside from the occasional minivan but maybe that's just because the more knowledgeable general public believe that a body on frame is more capable. Personally, if I am bolting/welding accessories on to a vehcle's frame I would be much more comfortable doing so to a body on frame versus a unibody.

[rage2]

Like I said, don’t know too much about trucks. The ridgeline has a frame integrated into the unibody (same with the avalanche apparently), is that not good enough?

[Sugarphreak]

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[Darell_n]

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Real trucks have manual transmissions

So, basically only a Toyota. Lol

[Sugarphreak]

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[Tik-Tok]

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Like I said, don’t know too much about trucks. The ridgeline has a frame integrated into the unibody (same with the avalanche apparently), is that not good enough?

Avalanche has a unibody-on-frame (you could remove it if you wanted), while the new Ridgeline is pretty much just an extra strength uni-body.

I'm hard pressed to call the Ridgeline a truck, just because it can only tow 5000lbs, and it looks like a car, lol. Maybe it could actually haul more if they would just put a decent engine in it. 250 ft-lbs is just not enough.

[ShermanEF9]

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Avalanche has a unibody-on-frame (you could remove it if you wanted), while the new Ridgeline is pretty much just an extra strength uni-body.

I'm hard pressed to call the Ridgeline a truck, just because it can only tow 5000lbs, and it looks like a car, lol. Maybe it could actually haul more if they would just put a decent engine in it. 250 ft-lbs is just not enough.

the new tacoma only has 15 more, so its really not much different. it'll also tow 6500 pounds.

[killramos]

Real trucks have Diesel engines.

#stirthepot

[rage2]

So towing capacity is interesting, it seems like vehicles here can actually tow way the fuck more than rated, but some conspiracy out there by car manufacturers to push more truck sales. Interesting read:

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...ng-conspiracy/

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...lives-edition/

TL;DR: In Europe, Golf, Tiguan, CRV are all rated to tow, and wins award for best tow per $ cost of vehicle. In NA, Honda and VW does not recommend towing.

Interestingly enough, same issue with our E Wagon. In Europe, rated to tow 4600lbs with the OEM hitch kit. Not recommended for towing in NA, no hitch possible without cutting into metal. Euro retrofit has a completely different ball size with no receiver so can't be used (and ridiculously expensive). The kicker is warranty is fully voided if used for towing.

I know @speedog argues that the unibody can't handle the stresses of plowing, hauling, etc. but I've yet to find any unibody damage from such that's not accident related.

[killramos]

I would not tow 4600lb with an e class even if it was an option.

[rage2]

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I would not tow 4600lb with an e class even if it was an option.

Why not? It's literally rated for that in Europe, in a frickin' E200 lol. To be clear, it's 750kg (1653lbs) unbraked, and 2100kg (4630lbs) braked. The C is rated at 750kg/1800kg, and even the A is rated at 725kg/1400kg.

The cars are engineered to do it, but somehow it's going to destroy the car in NA? Makes no sense to me. Shit can even do an AutoX while towing haha.



The OEM tow hook is fucking awesome too. Still trying to retrofit that into our E just for a bike rack.