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the future we will get (quokk.au)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/mop
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[–] 5 points 9 months ago (5 children)

You could tow anything with an economy car instead of a large truck.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Not unless the towamajigger weighs as much as a large truck! It's an intensely stupid idea for a bunch of reasons not interesting enough to break down here

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago

    A camper or boat trailer large enough to need a big truck to pull it will already have is own brakes.

    The biggest reason for a heavy vehicle aside from the pulling ability is that the trailer can overpower the main vehicle when quickly changing lanes due to the whiplash caused by the sometimes 20+ ft distance between the front (steering) wheels of the truck and the hitch. It's actually why there have been a few experiments with 4-wheel steering for trucks over the years.

    A remote towing vehicle would be able to significantly reduce the distance between the steering and the hitch.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Nope! How would it know if it has to turn on its brakes/turn signal (required by law)? This will either be put into specific models for more than a tow hitch costs, or presumably an adapter can be made that goes into an existing tow hitch but then the fuck is the point?

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago

    I never said it was a good idea and you can ask the designers how it works if you want to know (btw it's probably the same way other automated braking systems work that many modern cars already have).

    But not needing a big truck to tow would be a benefit whether you like it or not.

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago

    Tow lights connectors aren't magic. Any car can be outfitted for electronic braking and turn signals super, super cheaply. You literally splice into the wires going to the tail-lights. Then you have signals for the turn indicators, brakes, and hazard lights.

    I rigged my vehicle for lights and brakes on a trailer for like 12 bucks.

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