anyone tow a caravan?

[kwak zzr]

i know its a bikers worst hate but were thinking of getting a 2 berth tourer and awning aprox weight 750kgs to 1000kgs. i am thinking of a new motor to to tow this sucker because i dont think the 1.8 focus ive got now will be enuf :roll:
any ideas? anyone into caravaning?

[mattSV]

PM Teejay - he has a tin tent and uses it regularly.

[Viney]

The focus will be fine for towing a van of that size.

[kwak zzr]

i didnt want to slog the gutts out of a really nice car :wink:

[northwind]

If it could be damaged towing a ton of caravan, it's not a really nice car :)

We towed an old-school iron-frame 3-berth caravan all over the UK behind a 1.2 (I think) Vauxhall Viva. Admitedly it did explode in Devon one time.

[kwak zzr]

:lol: :lol: :lol: was thinking about a 2.0tdci mondeo but i'm about 9 grand short :roll:

[Aurora]

When did you pass your test?

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

[Balky001]

1.8 petrol or diesel? I think petrol 1.8 can tow up to 1200kg and diesel 1500 depending on - towing weights are on the Ford website under specifications

[kwak zzr]

When did you pass your test?

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

this is news to me :? ? good job i passed in 1989 :wink:

[kwak zzr]

1.8 petrol or diesel? I think petrol 1.8 can tow up to 1200kg and diesel 1500 depending on - towing weights are on the Ford website under specifications

1.8zetec petrol 2001

[Balky001]

1.8 petrol or diesel? I think petrol 1.8 can tow up to 1200kg and diesel 1500 depending on - towing weights are on the Ford website under specifications

1.8zetec petrol 2001

New 1.8 petrol one's are 1200Kg for flex-fuel and 1400 petrol - but check the VIN plate under the bonnet and it will tell you - there's a bunch of numbers on there for unbraked trailer weight etc so check you handbook which one applies!

[Aurora]

When did you pass your test?

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

this is news to me :? ? good job i passed in 1989 :wink:

Thought it was worth mentioning, as I know of some people who have been caught out, towing trailers.

[Wadda]

I have a Passat TDI for sale mate if your intrested. Already got a tow bar fitted! Was on ebay but did not sell. So I would be open to an offer. I know its high milage but to drive it you can not tell and them engines are good for 250000.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&item=280015332599&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEUS%3AIT&rd=1

[14990]

get a long wheelbase 4x4 like a defender 110 or similar! oh and once you've got the caravan remeber to burn it!

[Biker Biggles]

Is this a revival of the Pikey thread?

[Law]

You can mod a Goldwing to tow stuff.

Metacafe vid (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/95244/retriever/)

[Richie]

1.8 zetec focus wil be fine towing 750-1000kg...
as long as you dont ride the clutch... :wink:

[Well Oiled]

Used to have a 16ft caravan and towed it fine with a Rover 216 (1.6 petrol). Focus 1.8 will be fine as a towcar.

although there's a max towing weight the general rule is the overall wight of the van and contents should be no more than 80% of the car and contents.

HTH Keith

[DoubleD]

I do beleive that it will tell you what the car is able to tow in the user manual :)

[Andy Lewis]

Forget the caravan and buy a VW Camper, the only down side is you have to love spending time on the hard shoulder of the M5 waiting for the AA.

[northwind]

But you'll be very comfy, and extremely cool :)

[kwak zzr]

Will check the tow weight in the haynes manual.

[kwak zzr]

1.4 models 940kg
1.6,1.8 and 2.0 models 1200kg
diesel models 1000kg
trailer nose weight 50kg :?


so my 1.8 petrol is a better tow car than a diesel?

[Wadda]

Reading towing weights is fine in practise but in reality its a whole new world. I would only ever tow with a diesel as you really do need the torque. Come to a hill towing a caravan or decent size trailer in a petrol and you know about it.

I used to tow my MX bikes around. On my Toledo Tdi I forgot they where there most of the time. On my 306 1.6 I had before I knew about it.


Caravans are a big weight and have **** poor aerodynamics.

[Viney]

1.4 models 940kg
1.6,1.8 and 2.0 models 1200kg
diesel models 1000kg
trailer nose weight 50kg :?


so my 1.8 petrol is a better tow car than a diesel?

Told ya.

Yes towing with a diesel will be slightly better, but in all honesty, if you satrt worrying about fuel consumption etc, then caravaning isnt for you. 50kg nose wieght is a good figure. All you have to do is balance the laod out in the caravan, centering it over the wheels mainly. Id also buy a stabiliser (If they are still available) this stops the van swaying when in cross winds, and lorries overtaking you etc.

[kwak zzr]

cheers peeps. :D

[KrZ]

depends on where you want to go, generally you need a heavier car to tow especially if there are hills about. also most people got stuck at the begining or towards the end of their journey, usually on mud or wet grass so some sort of diesel 4x4 would be my suggestion.

[kwak zzr]

my mate tow's with a range rover 3.5tdi and its a massive money pit! the last thing to go was his power steering pump £375 fitted :roll: this year to date he's already spent over 1k on keeping it running.