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i completely disagree - both rigs show the ass drooping - that is bad for a number of reasons - NEVER have the rear lower than the front when towing



also, people do not seem to realize that at that max load, it also affects the carrying capacity of the vehicle - if you are at max load, it had better be empty



while the new model is up from 3500 to 5000 rating, and a max tongue weight of 500 lbs, it is still a unibody, and by definition, NOT good for towing



i would look at the hitch class too it is only a class 3 on that rig, which is limited to 5000 as well



clearly any time you get close to the limits, you are running risks and you must drive accordingly - the problem is that people who run near the limits are generally also the people who drive beyond the limits - i am constantly seeing some nut with a sagging toyota pickup dragging a huge loaded trailer running down the road at 70mph



yes, certainly idiots tow things they shouldn't all the time - people do stupid things - just because disaster has not struck does not make it a good idea or the right thing to do - i see people over loading their hitch class all the time too - stupid - i see idiots towing their own weight without trailer brakes - stupid



all of which is all fine, and they can do what they want with their own rig - unfortunately when these idiots do wreck their rig, they usually take someone else with them



towing is no joke - ask jim - that's why tickets are so expensive when you are towing - it's dangerous, difficult, and not to be taken lightly



all that being said, i have no issues with the MDX - we looked at that one too - nice car - easy to drive - lots of features - but, being a unibody, it was immediately ruled out for towing, which was our main concern - in the end, it was a car, not a truck - that was the defining characteristic - we found out the hard way that 300 hp wasn't enough either, but that's a whole different oprah

Flash is right, more often than not I don't laugh when people are talking about towing.



HAHA

<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

lol - yeah - it's one of those weird things that seems to escape logic - kind of like "i feel fine to drive - those 6 long island ice teas were weak - i've had that much to drink before and gotten home fine"



ouch

Ahh long island ice teas.. That brings back some spring break memories...

groan - brings back some mug shot memories for me

I just bought an LR3. Dark blue/tan leather /every option. Had it off road this weekend..great in the mud/snow. Press a button and it rises about 3 inches above normal height. Tows more than 5000lbs easily. Big box frame. Engine a little weak at 300 hp, but the gearing can go so low that it really does not matter too much. Too many off road choices for tranny select. Went over the rock crawl three times at the dealer!



Very comfortable interior, tons of room, (although,cheesy plastic from Ford or Tata)... but I like the interior finish of my 98 Disco better. Also, land rover uses this heated windshield and it takes a little while to get used to the heater wires. Can;t get windshield without it <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Upgrades soon to be had: true off -road tires, front ARB fender w/winch, roof rack, rear light guards, and skid plates.



If you want highway cruiser: Range Rover...if you really do go off road: Land Rover

We can agree to disagree, the MDX in the first photo is hardly drooping imo. The second with the sport package is def. sagging a good amount in the rear, but again...thats a sports package in comfort mode.



In any event, with a 968/trailor out back, i highly doubt there would be any sag...considering the first MDX is hardly sagging with 4500LBs, with 500LBS less weight..there shouldnt be any issues.



But as i've stated, Luxo ute's arnt the best bet for towing either way you cut the cake. And knowing how to tow/drive properly is just as important.



Lastly, i didnt see any mention of towing in the op's original post, so all of this is a moot point anyway.

lol - agreed that it may be moot, and i also agree that knowing how to drive a towing rig is important



on the subject of the photos, i can't understand how you cannot see the sagging - it seems so obvious from both the body line and the wheel arch in both pics - clearly the rear end is lower than the front - it cannot ever be lower in the rear and be safe - in fact, it should be at least 1" high in the rear - having the front get light is VERY dangerous



side note: a 968 on an open trailer will be about 4800 lbs - if you manage to find a featherlite, you can possibly get that down to about 4400 - gene?



full sized SUVs can tow very well, as long as they are fully framed, and not uni-body, and you only tow a max of 80% of the stated rating - i have zero concerns with the denali and the 6500 lbs i am towing - that being said, in stock trim it would have been more questionable



mid sized SUVs can tow "ok" for short trips at lower speeds - the wheelbase, load ratings, hitch type, brake size, power, and tire load ratings all play into how well



if towing is not an issue, i would still look at a hybrid, even if it meant the new yukon (now they have a MUCH better warranty)

[quote name='flash' post='64037' date='Dec 9 2008, 07:14 PM']lol - agreed that it may be moot, and i also agree that knowing how to drive a towing rig is important



on the subject of the photos, i can't understand how you cannot see the sagging - it seems so obvious from both the body line and the wheel arch in both pics - clearly the rear end is lower than the front - it cannot ever be lower in the rear and be safe - in fact, it should be at least 1" high in the rear - having the front get light is VERY dangerous[/quote]





I do see the sagging. Maybe i didnt make myself clear. It isnt sagging nearly as much as the MDX in the second photo. It seems to be slightly sagging. The rear wheel arch on the MDX is slightly lower then the front in general. So any sag would exagerate that look. But yes, in both pics the rear is sagging. As for the front getting light, i agree its dangerous. IIRC the MDX's weight distribution is somewhere around 55/45...so being slightly nose heavy without anything in tow, in addition to having an extremely smart AWD system that will transfer 70% of the power to the rear when towing during normal conditions, its not as bad as it may seem.



But yea, i am no export on towing. But i doubt 4K lbs would be any issue for an MDX. Not unless it spends a lot of time towing...in which case..i wouldnt buy an MDX. For the occasional the occasional tow to the track...it should be fine.

the power transfer is not the issue - the front getting light is dangerous because of the reduction in steering and braking control - when the tail is lower than the front, under braking, it goes even lower, further reducing the control up front - this is what causes jack-knifing under braking



at a minimum, that rear suspension needs to be improved, or a load leveling hitch applied - valley makes a very nice one - i have it on my rig

I remember my old 8ft bed F150 in high school when I had it loaded down with about a ton or so of logs in the back. The hitch was only a couple inches from the ground and the front end was almost hopping going down the road and the lights shooting into the sky. Ahh the good old days..

You were a pioneer of the lowrider craze! if you had only dropped it a few more inches, you could have had sparks from the trailer hitch- total prediction of the future!