If a Touareg can tow a 747, a Tundra can tow the shuttle

[vwpiloto]

How about a Peterbilt instead of a Big 3? There would have been no concern whatsoever.

[Shomegrown]

How about a Peterbilt instead of a Big 3? There would have been no concern whatsoever.

They are owned by the Dutch now.

I wouldn't have any worries if you hooked up a 1-ton domestic diesel to it.

[slirt]

Japanese thing towing America's Pride!

per Wiki, the Tundra has never been made in Japan, only U.S.A.

Assembly Princeton, Indiana (TMMI ended in 2009)
San Antonio, Texas, USA (TMMTX)

[koko12]

There's a huge different between pulling or moving an object and towing it. What the Touareg and the Tundra are doing is just moving these things. The same stunt could probably have been done using a Polo and a Yaris.

[RennbahnPolizei]

Still got a Japanese badge on the grill...

[SSLByron]

Still got a Japanese badge on the grill...

Then one of the Big 3 should have been sponsoring the California Science Center.

People need to get over the political stupidity here. Toyota cultivated a relationship over the years that gave them this photo op. Deal with it.

[RennbahnPolizei]

Then one of the Big 3 should have been sponsoring the California Science Center.

People need to get over the political stupidity here. Toyota cultivated a relationship over the years that gave them this photo op. Deal with it.

You know what. I am from Europe, so to me it looks just weird to see a Japanese branded truck tow the American flagged shuttle.

[MCTB]

per Wiki, the Tundra has never been made in Japan, only U.S.A.

Assembly Princeton, Indiana (TMMI ended in 2009)
San Antonio, Texas, USA (TMMTX)

Exactly. There isnt much "American" anymore

[Shomegrown]

There's a huge different between pulling or moving an object and towing it. What the Touareg and the Tundra are doing is just moving these things. The same stunt could probably have been done using a Polo and a Yaris.

Uh, no. Not a chance in hell.

[MCTB]

Uh, no. Not a chance in hell.

With enough gearing, theoretically, anything can move anything. But I agree, this guys completely wrong. The hard part is getting it moving.

[SSLByron]

With enough gearing, theoretically, anything can move anything. But I agree, this guys completely wrong. The hard part is getting it moving.

Bingo.

That's the real trick. You need a truck with a low-range gearbox.

[NoXenons]

Exactly. There isnt much "American" anymore

Why do the Japanese companies try so hard to source their parts from America? The domestic fans are never going to care.

[koko12]

With enough gearing, theoretically, anything can move anything. But I agree, this guys completely wrong. The hard part is getting it moving.

As you said "the hard part is getting it moving" but on a level surface it's not even that hard. Even the strongest man in the world does not have even close to the pulling power than either a Polo or a Yaris? This guy is far from the strongest man on the world yet he can get this 280 ton cargo plane moving.

[1.8Tquattro]

As I said, it was likely a calculated move. The GM/Ford/Chrysler PR departments probably all passed on the opportunity because the risk/reward probably wasn't in their favor.

I personally think that one of the Big Three should have done it too, but the damage to their reputation with thousands of people lining the streets and being televised by a national audience towing an American icon would be huge IMHO.

I disagree, sort'a.
I don't know how this was arranged but any of the big 3 could have easily put together a test rig to see if their trucks were capable of towing the weight if NASA or whoever is responsible for the move put the offer out there. I seriously doubt that slowly towing this thing around would be outside of one of the Big 3's trucks capabilities. I see this as Toyota's marketing team stepping up and putting the offer to NASA, or whoever was responsible for the move. And good on them for doing it. The result is some impressive pics and videos that will surely get them tons of attention.

[unimogken]

That's nothin!

[emmettlodge]

Man that truck really got that thing rollin fast.

Now I want a Tundra

[SSLByron]

As you said "the hard part is getting it moving" but on a level surface it's not even that hard. Even the strongest man in the world does not have even close to the pulling power than either a Polo or a Yaris? This guy is far from the strongest man on the world yet he can get this 280 ton cargo plane moving.

Human beings don't have transmissions.

But seriously, the typical small-car transmission isn't set up to put lots of torque to the ground at very low speeds. That's exactly what a low-range gearbox is designed to resolve; it lets you exploit the engine's full powerband at much lower speeds.

[Shomegrown]

Even the strongest man in the world does not have even close to the pulling power than either a Polo or a Yaris?

Really?

A friend of mine is one of the top strongmen in the world. I would bet a month's pay he could hold either car at a standstill with LITTLE effort.

This guy burned the clutch out of one Lambo and held the other for seconds while it burned out. A Polo/Yaris would have only a fraction of that pull.

[SSLByron]

Really?

A friend of mine is one of the top strongmen in the world. I would bet a month's pay he could hold either car at a standstill with LITTLE effort.

This guy burned the clutch out of one Lambo and held the other for seconds while it burned out. A Polo/Yaris would have only a fraction of that pull.

He nearly ripped that poor dude's arm out of his socket near the end there.

[MCTB]

Why do the Japanese companies try so hard to source their parts from America? The domestic fans are never going to care.

Its not so much for the customer but for themselves. Why build something in a foreign country and ship it (where damage can occur) to the States when you can just build it here and then truck them to where they need to be? When you dont have to add the cost of shipping to the customer, you can lower the proce and sell it for less

[justanotherusername]

Not really the same IMO. VW just rented a plane and airstrip and tugged it around. The retirement of something as significant as the space shuttle is something completely different.

Personally I think an American truck should have done the pull, and I don't consider the Tundra an American truck.

I agree, or better yet just use a damn aircraft tug and leave the marketing BS to sports.

[koko12]

Really?

A friend of mine is one of the top strongmen in the world. I would bet a month's pay he could hold either car at a standstill with LITTLE effort.

This guy burned the clutch out of one Lambo and held the other for seconds while it burned out. A Polo/Yaris would have only a fraction of that pull.

Even the strongest man in the world can only muster about 6 hp for a very, very short time. Had his arm been attached to that rope he would have been pulled apart in no time. Also a high power rwd car would just spin the tires in place when you do an aggressive launch without anyone holding it back. Had the driver pull away slowly that dude pulling on it may as well have been a fly.

[koko12]

I agree, or better yet just use a damn aircraft tug and leave the marketing BS to sports.

So when VW does it they are hail as if they were the second coming or this stunt would have been perfectly OK if one of the big three did it, but because Toyota did it it's marketing BS?




This is far from marketing BS, it's marketing genius and the fact that we're here discussing it and it is in the front page of every major news outlet proves it. I do agree that is nothing more than a marketing stunt, but I applaud Toyota for it rather than shoot them down. They saw a good opportunity, they took it and ran with with. I see nothing wrong here.

[justanotherusername]

So when VW does it they are hail as if they were the second coming or this stunt would have been perfectly OK if one of the big three did it, but because Toyota did it it's marketing BS?




This is far from marketing BS, it's marketing genius and the fact that we're here discussing it and it is in the front page of every major news outlet proves it. I do agree that is nothing more than a marketing stunt, but I applaud Toyota for it rather than shoot them down. They saw a good opportunity, they took it and ran with with. I see nothing wrong here.

I don't give a rats ass about what VW did. You shouldn't have a national icon being towed around by anything other than a vehicle built by an American company. Whoever was in charge of this and allowed that to happen made a bad move. You'd NEVER see an American vehicle in a situation like this in Japan or Europe. NEVER.

[gonzo08452]

Hmmm. I wonder if the eggshell tranny and rear end in my SS will hold up if I tried that.....

[emmettlodge]

I don't give a rats ass about what VW did. You shouldn't have a national icon being towed around by anything other than a vehicle built by an American company. Whoever was in charge of this and allowed that to happen made a bad move. You'd NEVER see an American vehicle in a situation like this in Japan or Europe. NEVER.

First of all, you act like WWII just ended last week or something. We have no ill will against the Japanese. They're a trusted ally of ours.

Second, Toyota employs 36,000 people directly in the US, and 166,000 indirectly. They build a number of their vehicles in the US as well. It's a privilege and an honor to have companies such as Toyota investing their money and effort in our country. It benefits us tremendously. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, as they say.

Third, the Japanese have had a HUGE involvement in our Space Shuttle Program. It's important for you to remember that all along our space program has been an INTERNATIONAL effort. Many contractors, both domestic and foreign, have built the shuttles and the space program we have today. Did you know that JAXA (Japan's NASA) partially funded several shuttle flights when NASA thought they couldn't do it due to budget cuts?

So stop making Americans look bad by being an ignorant backwards whiner, and get with the global economy that is both your future and the country's.

[Shomegrown]

Even the strongest man in the world can only muster about 6 hp for a very, very short time.

HP is irrelevant in a task like this. You need to apply a force. The rate (hp) in which you apply it doesn't matter. A human is good at applying high amounts of force at low rates.

Also a high power rwd car would just spin the tires in place when you do an aggressive launch without anyone holding it back. Had the driver pull away slowly that dude pulling on it may as well have been a fly.

Uh, did you watch the video? That's what they tried with the first Lambo. The strongman held it in place until it fried the clutch. That's why they had to launch the 2nd one.

As I said before, there's no way a small/light low torque car could come anywhere near moving an airplane. It doesn't have the traction or wheel torque.

VW calculated the Touareg could pull a maximum of 200,000 kg based on the torque, gearing, and traction (with thousands of pounds of ballast to assist the traction). You start working those numbers backwards on a Polo and I'd be surprised if you could come to 20,000 kg.

I'm guessing you've never tried to pull anything before with a small FWD vehicle.

[gonzo08452]

Edit.....nevermind

[surefooted]

Why is this so hard for people to believe? EVen the Toureg's BS tow stunt could have been done by an S-10. Towing a bunch of weight at 3 mph is easy.

That' why you see humans towing plains with their teeth and other stupid things. No if the Toureg or Tundra could tow the shuttle/747 up a 5% grade at 70 mph and down a 5% grade AND stop it with no problem, then that would be impressive. This? No.

[justanotherusername]

First of all, you act like WWII just ended last week or something. We have no ill will against the Japanese. They're a trusted ally of ours.

Had nothing to do with "ill will" toward the Japanese or Toyota. I lived in Japan for several years and I've owned several Toyotas. I love both. It has everything to do with national pride.

Second, Toyota employs 36,000 people directly in the US, and 166,000 indirectly. They build a number of their vehicles in the US as well. It's a privilege and an honor to have companies such as Toyota investing their money and effort in our country. It benefits us tremendously. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, as they say.

You have it backwards. WE are the hand doing the feeding here. You act like Toyota is doing us a favor by being here. That's naïve at best. They're here for one reason...PROFIT.

Third, the Japanese have had a HUGE involvement in our Space Shuttle Program. It's important for you to remember that all along our space program has been an INTERNATIONAL effort. Many contractors, both domestic and foreign, have built the shuttles and the space program we have today. Did you know that JAXA (Japan's NASA) partially funded several shuttle flights when NASA thought they couldn't do it due to budget cuts?

Japanese investment in the shuttle programs is a fraction of a percent compared to what the US has spent on it, and it damn sure doesn't give them any rights to it.

So stop making Americans look bad by being an ignorant backwards whiner, and get with the global economy that is both your future and the country's.

If anyone's ignorant here it's you. I work in the global economy, and I've lived all over the world, but it still makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to sell the rights to pull a national icon around to a foreign company for them to use as marketing against American owned companies.

As I said earlier, they should have left the marketing out if it and pulled it with an aircraft tug. Selling the rights to something like this cheapens it and it was a bad decision.

[Shomegrown]

Why is this so hard for people to believe? EVen the Toureg's BS tow stunt could have been done by an S-10. Towing a bunch of weight at 3 mph is easy.

If you believe this, then you don't understand the physics at hand. A 340,000+lb object sitting on pneumatic tires takes an enormous amount of force to break free from a standstill. An S-10 doesn't have anywhere near enough torque, low enough gearing, or enough traction to accomplish this.

I hooked my S10 Blazer to an 18-wheeler once, I could barely move it.

[koko12]

As I said before, there's no way a small/light low torque car could come anywhere near moving an airplane. It doesn't have the traction or wheel torque.

You seriously trying to argue that a man no matter how strong has more pulling power than a small car like a Polo or Yaris?

[Shomegrown]

You seriously trying to argue that a man no matter how strong has more pulling power than a small car like a Polo or Yaris? :screwy::screwy::screwy:

Yes, a small FWD car with tiny tires does not get enough traction to pull anything substantial. Nor the gearing. You're delusional if you think either one of those cars could have pulled the 747 on a cold wet damp airstrip.

[Shomegrown]

As you said "the hard part is getting it moving" but on a level surface it's not even that hard. Even the strongest man in the world does not have even close to the pulling power than either a Polo or a Yaris? This guy is far from the strongest man on the world yet he can get this 280 ton cargo plane moving.

In all of these human pull type events, the person is given "infinite" traction. He can pull on that rope which is attached to an immovable object (that big yellow tug).

Cars/trucks don't have infinite traction. Hooking a Yaris or Polo up to a 747 would result in wheelspin. Mechanically, cars aren't designed to translate their power into a slow speed lateral force.

If you could wrap that same rope the strongman used around the front tires of the Yaris/Polo, you could probably use the engine to wind forward like a winch and my bet is you could move the plane.

[SSLByron]

You seriously trying to argue that a man no matter how strong has more pulling power than a small car like a Polo or Yaris?

You're not listening.

It has nothing to do with power. It has everything to do with the ability to convert that power into forward motion with a large load--something that you can't do with a transmission geared for day-to-day, over-the-road driving.