Here's what I captured today:
(click to embiggen)
Yes, that is a Saab 9-3 convertible towing a landscaping trailer. A $40K+ car being used as a landscaping truck. What, you couldn't afford a $1,000 beater for your side business? Here's the real kicker - I'll bet this dude bitches like crazy when the roof leaks. And leak it will - the Mrs. had a convertible right out of college, bought new/used (it was less than a year old) and we had it adjusted two or three times before the roof finally fit correctly. Add in the extra wear and tear from towing a trailer, he might as well just leave the top down.
Here's a friendly MArooned tip for anyone out there looking at used cars. If it is anything less than a full-sized truck and it has a tow hitch, walk away from it (unless you know the history, of course). If it's something like the above Saab, RUN away from it and erase all memory that it ever existed. That trailer is empty now, but who knows how much weight will be added later. Oh, and even if it's a full sized truck, check it out very carefully - I helped a friend avoid a very costly mistake when I pointed out that the Chevy Silverado he was eyeing might have been all shiny and such up top - but the rust-covered tow hitch and rotted out exhaust meant that it was dropping a boat in the Atlantic on a regular basis...
Ah, stupid people doing stupid things is always good for blogfodder...
That is all.
15 comments:
I'll point out that my truck has a tow hitch... even though it's not full-sized. :-p
Well, I'm tired of people who claim they need a pickup truck because they go to the dump once a month - and then complain about the gas mileage and scratches in the bed.
I'm a big fan of utility trailers. No, you don't use a Saab convertible to run a landscaping business. But it can be a hassle to deal with a once-or-twice-a-year task like a load of mulch; a utility trailer makes a lot of sense.
I've installed hitches on several of my own vehicles - plus some for friends. I've loaned my trailer to people I wouldn't trust to borrow a truck.
For the record, I own two trailers (a utility trailer and a popup camper) - but don't own a truck! Both trailers have thousands of miles on them - and have saved me great grief more than once.
I'll also point out those trailers are used to haul a lot more then landscaping equiptment. Hate to ruin a funny mental image, but it's quite possible that rather then running a landscape biz out of his Saab, he's actually an occasional or even one time trailer user. He might have just used the trailer to move his kid's dorm stuff home from college, or some mulch for his garden, or a playset for his children. The wife has a hitch on her Honda that generally is just used to plug in a bicycle rack or one of the "hitch hauler" platforms that carries a cooler, but in a pinch it could tow a little trailer like this without adding any appreciable wear and tear to the car. The trailer I have weighs all of 400lbs empty so it's no more strain then a few adults in the back seat.
All the "but did you think about this...?" aside, it's still a funny picture.
The best/worst misuse of a functional vehicle I ever saw was a Camaro with a snow blade on the front.
On the 'full-size truck', does it count if your car is built on a full-size truck frame? (Yay for the GM B-bodies!)
Zercool,
You'll note that I stated that if one was looking at a used vehicle. Not if one owns a vehicle < full size...
Phil,
I think trailers make a *ton* of sense. I have a truck because I have a 26' travel trailer I pull with it - and I am very seriously thinking of buying a small car for commuting because the mileage *does* stink on ice... :)
I will stand by my comment that a turbocharged, front wheel drive sporty car is about the worst choice for a tow vehicle short of a Trabant...
Mopar,
Doubt it's a one-time use deal - it's a LOT cheaper to rent a U-Haul truck than to put a hitch on (I've put hitches on the past four vehicles I've owned).
Garrett,
First tow vehicle I had was a 1983 Cadillac Coupe DeVille!
And again, I'll point out that my comment only applies for buying a used vehicle that you do not know anything about...
I've seen FAR too many Exploders towing 30+' trailers down the highway with the rear bumper mere inches from the ground to *EVER* buy a used mid-size with a hitch...
Like I said Jay, the hitch is useful even if you NEVER tow a utility trailer. The one on our Honda is used mostly for the bike rack that plugs into it, and occasionally for a picnic holder. A friend of mine just this week purchased one for his new convertible sports car and a cool little trailer for his 2 kayaks. Every car or truck I've ever owned, from muscle car to subcompact to truck has had a trailer hitch of some sort; they are just that useful in my book. Once you have the hitch, borrowing the neighbor's trailer or even one of your own is not that big a deal. Even if I only used it a few times a year, I'd take owning my own small trailer over the hassle of renting a uhaul any day. I actually looked into renting a small trailer years ago to bring the 2 motorcyles to bike week and still have the truck for rainy days and such. The cost of renting one for 10 days was almost the same as buying one. Now I have it whenever I need it, and can loan it to friends if I want.
The bigger problem is when you load a 1/2 ton of mulch/feathers/dorm room on to your trailer behind a short wheel based car, finally get up to speed,
and get cut off by some idiot.
Let the rodeo begin!
Gerry
No brake lights?
Well, I'm tired of people who claim they need a pickup truck because they go to the dump once a month - and then complain about the gas mileage and scratches in the bed.
Indeed.
It's the combination of the two that is irksome in its stupidity.
(Especially that last one! It's a truck. It's for using, not for stroking its pretty pony mane.
My old Toyota is beat to crap in the bed area, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's what it's for.)
(Especially that last one! It's a truck. It's for using, not for stroking its pretty pony mane.
My old Toyota is beat to crap in the bed area, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's what it's for.)
It is because of this that I could never buy a new truck. With one that is already beaten up, who cares about scratches and dents? But with a new 4-wheel-drive Cadillac masquerading as a truck, I would feel pretty bad.
That's what I get for reading without a full load of caffeine on board. Hrmph.
Point well taken.
There was a guy who would routinely come to Lowe's and pick up twenty sheets of plywood or drywall in a trailer ... behind a Camaro SS.
Fucking imbeciles.
And the car is just past stupid, there's NO excuse for it, but the ones that get me ( As a professional driver), are the retards that hook a 40' camper/trailer/whatever to an SUV. Look dumbshit, just because you can pull it, doesn't mean you can STOP it.
Also getting an honorary mention, people that go out and buy a friggin BUS, and then can't drive it. Seriously, the average new diesel pusher motorhome is in the exact same class as my damned tractor trailer, but because it's an RV any yutz can drive it. Stupid.
I had a Mustang GT back in the 90's. Under towing recommendations it basically said Ford makes a fine line of pickups....but if you had to, 1000 lbs limit.
Here on the South Texas Gulf Coast we get the annual snow-digger migration. There is always some lame brained retiree bumper pulling a 30' trailer with a quarter yon truck. Combine that with the excreta for brains Civic drivers who cut you off and then slam on the brakes and the daily commute is exciting. I do not understand how compact car drivers expect a dually pulling a gooseneck with a forklift or bobcat on it to stop in the same distance it takes them.
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