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The avoirdupois system was instituted in English speaking countries, thus Sweden would probably have never seen/heard of it.
Up to and including the pound, the two systems are the same. The Americans never use the stone as a weight, which is in universal use in England (especially to weigh people). The hundredweight (cwt) in England is always 112 pounds, or 8 stone. In the US, the hundredweight is 100 lb, unless noted as otherwise. It is proper to call a 100 lb hundredweight a shorthundredweight, and a 112 lb one a long hundredweight. As there are always 20 cwt to the ton, in the US it is normal to use a 2000 lb ton (a shortton), and in England a 2240 lb ton (a long ton).
@Dunks, yeah our gallon is 4 quarts, 128 ounces. And that raised a question I talked about in another thread about mileage discrepancies. I experimented with and found there is no difference in setting the Jag to U.S. Or Britain on the readouts. My assumption was if set to Britain, m.p.g. Would be altered because of your larger "imperial" gallons, but to my chagrin, the m.p.g. readout remains static. I found that an oddity. Obviously the miles (5,280 feet) you get from a 128 ounce U.S. "gallon" is different than the approx 153 ounce Britain "gallon".
So Dell you are saying that the X has a switch to go from US to Imp?
Interesting I remember on my old XJ40 2.9 with the digital dash had the Imp/metric change over, worked on (from memory) on all the functions except the speedo would not show the comparison.
Not a switch but yes, you can change the readout information to specific countries. This is not to be confused with just the language change available. They are 2 distinct and separate functions.
Getting back to the original question, when manufacturers rate towing capacity, they only look at the physical mating between tow vehicle and trailer.
That is, they look at where the tow hitch or receiver will attach to the car, and determine how much stress those points can take before failure. Those stresses are both static (weight added to non-moving vehicle) and dynamic (forces imparted to vehicle from the movement of the trailer). Thus, you have two ratings -- tongue weight and towed weight -- calculated against highway speed. They then derate the towed weight a LOT to account for variability of road conditions, driving habits, etc.
They do NOT attempt to calculate the ability of the car to move, stop or steer with a trailer attached, as these factors are completely outside of their control. With enough gears and some patience, you can make a washing machine motor pull a freight train. An X-type will do the same thing, despite the towed weight rating in the manual. But accelerating, braking and steering will vary based on traction, speed, combination weight, wheelbase, load balance, etc. That same 15mph turn that snaps you into your driveway coming home from work will spin you into the dirt if you have a full-rated-load trailer attached.
The X-type has about the same curb weight as the family cars did in the 1960s, when they finally got the whole trailer-towing science psyched out and stopped tearing hitches off. The improvements in braking, steering and power trains work in our favor, but those older cars were a steel body on a steel frame, so were built stronger.
I would have no hesitation about using an X-type as a tow vehicle WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. I won't go outside of the written specs by a POUND, though. And I will think WAY ahead of the car, slow down well before stoplights or turns, and accelerate as smoothly as possible.
I have been towing trailer caravans for recreation here in the Uk for 40 years or more.
General consensus of opinion is to never tow a trailer which is heavier than the kerb weight of the car. 75% is a perfect safe max. This assumes a braked trailer!
Also what MUST be bourne in mind is the recommended max hitch weight.
And I will think WAY ahead of the car, slow down well before stoplights or turns, and accelerate as smoothly as possible.
I wish people would drive with that attitude whether towing or not. Most don't think past their phone (or whatever their distraction of the day may be)........
I've decided to go with a 4x8 cargo trailer that weighs 850 lbs empty and has a max cargo of of 1600 lbs (I doubt that I will get anywhere close to that).
I've decided install a Curt 11339 hitch (2000 lb max trailer and 200 lb tongue). It's made specifically for the X-Type and after watching the X-Type specific installation video; Installation is a piece of cake and removal is simple too.
Though the trailer does not have brakes; I'm experienced with trailering, and 'was more concerned with damaging my car.
