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anniecat
Newbie
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 2
Caravan: monza abi
Towcar:vauxhall astra 1.6
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roboughton
Moderator
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 899
Location: North Wales, Near Colwyn Bay
Caravan: Buccaneer Caravel (06)
Towcar:Jeep Grand Cherokee (02)
Medals: None
Status: Offline
Referred By: Other Search Engine
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 Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:23 am Post subject: Re: towing weight match |
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| anniecat wrote:
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The dealers we have visited are national companies. surely they would not give inaccurate information just to get a sale, or am I being naive?
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In a word the person trying to sell you the van probably has very limited knowledge of towing if any. do not take what dealers say on face value they would sell you a dead horse if they thought they could.
www.whattowcar.com for good advice |
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Happy Camper 
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jimw
Part Timer
Joined: Jan 13, 2008
Posts: 97
Location: Aberdeen
Caravan: Swift Corniche 17/3
Towcar:citroen c4 grand picasso
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theflyingscot
Weekender
Joined: Sep 20, 2007
Posts: 48
Location: bonnie scotland
Caravan: swift arran / corvette
Towcar:grand vitara
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anniecat
Newbie
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 2
Caravan: monza abi
Towcar:vauxhall astra 1.6
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Status: Offline
Referred By: Google
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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:)Thanks for all advice. As ithought buyer beware! |
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Pliskin
Newbie
Joined: Jan 15, 2008
Posts: 2
Caravan: Sterling Eccles Searcher
Towcar:Volvo 850 T5
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: Towing ratio |
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Hi and hello to everyone,
Sorry to hijack this threat a bit, but can I pose this question, which by reading your previous replies, I probably already know the answer to.
I have been offered a very nice twin axle Sterling Eccles Searcher at a very attractive price, together with the option to purchase a 2000 Discovery to tow it.
The Disco isn't so cheap, but has low mileage and is in very good condition.
I am very tempted to go for the van, but I am loath to change my Volvo 850 T5, which used to tow our old Sterling Europa, because in the current economic conditions the amount I will lose on it will probably cancel out the saving I will make on the van.
The Volvo and the Searcher, weightwise are a 100% match, as opposed to the recommended 85%.
I have got a storage facility in the Cotswolds for the van and the sites we use are fairly local to it.
In view of the short distances I will be towing the van, what do you all think about sticking with the Volvo?
Regards to all, |
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Pliskin
Newbie
Joined: Jan 15, 2008
Posts: 2
Caravan: Sterling Eccles Searcher
Towcar:Volvo 850 T5
Medals: None
Status: Offline
Referred By: Google
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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bmp |
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jurid6
Newbie
Joined: Jan 21, 2008
Posts: 2
Caravan: Sterling eccles opal
Towcar:c4 grand picasso
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Status: Offline
Referred By: Google
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:11 am Post subject: |
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jimw what does your c4 picasso tow like i persume its the 2l hdi as ive just bought one |
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Raggy
Newbie
Joined: Jan 29, 2008
Posts: 5
Caravan: Fleetwood Meridien
Towcar:Saab 9-5 270bhp
Medals: None
Status: Offline
Referred By: Google
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:01 am Post subject: Re: Towing ratio |
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| Pliskin wrote:
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The Volvo and the Searcher, weightwise are a 100% match, as opposed to the recommended 85%.
I have got a storage facility in the Cotswolds for the van and the sites we use are fairly local to it.
In view of the short distances I will be towing the van, what do you all think about sticking with the Volvo?
Regards to all,
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What is important to remember that the 85% rule is just that, a rule or a guideline and it is borne out of experience not tests and experiment.
The rule is more forcefully recommended with novices and more experienced towers are advised to not exceed 100%.
When I changed my caravan I had to change my car to as the Saab 9000 I had was a 97% match to the Fleetwood; a Vauxhall Omega estate was purchased and used a bit last summer on 2 long trips, but we never got on with it and sold it on, reverting back to the Saab 9000 and its last towing trip was Christmas with upteen rallies in between.
So how did that work out, the inferior match on paper tows better?
Primarily careful loading; backed up by putting as much in the car as practicably possible. So once all the essential habitation stuff was loaded in the 'van [about 60kgs] with some clothes and light food [crisps, bread and such] all other stuff [tinned food, liquids, the barbie and its wee gas cylinder] was in the boot the only other heavy item in the caravan was the awning fabric as this was used to trim the noseweight by careful placement near the axle.
So though my MTPLM is 1460kgs I was towing barely over 1320kgs; I know still not 85% but a lot better. I see no reason why some people sneer at this practice, at least I did take great care in a well trimmed load the applied the correct weight to the nose too.
Of course I treated it with due respect too.
As for matching, the Camping and Caravanning Club perform this for nothing, to members and non members too, via their website. |
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Hvae Saab will tow a tin tent.
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roboughton
Moderator
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 899
Location: North Wales, Near Colwyn Bay
Caravan: Buccaneer Caravel (06)
Towcar:Jeep Grand Cherokee (02)
Medals: None
Status: Offline
Referred By: Other Search Engine
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Towing ratio |
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| Pliskin wrote:
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Hi and hello to everyone,
Sorry to hijack this threat a bit, but can I pose this question, which by reading your previous replies, I probably already know the answer to.
I have been offered a very nice twin axle Sterling Eccles Searcher at a very attractive price, together with the option to purchase a 2000 Discovery to tow it.
The Disco isn't so cheap, but has low mileage and is in very good condition.
I am very tempted to go for the van, but I am loath to change my Volvo 850 T5, which used to tow our old Sterling Europa, because in the current economic conditions the amount I will lose on it will probably cancel out the saving I will make on the van.
The Volvo and the Searcher, weightwise are a 100% match, as opposed to the recommended 85%.
I have got a storage facility in the Cotswolds for the van and the sites we use are fairly local to it.
In view of the short distances I will be towing the van, what do you all think about sticking with the Volvo?
Regards to all,
|
As you are experienced you should be fine but just make sure you load he van up well and the car for that matter. Remember the car maybe able to tow the vehicle no problem it may not be able to stop the caravan thats where most of the problem lies and once the heavy caravan is out of control its taking your lighter car with it. So take it easy and all should be ok so long as you don't brake the maximum weight limit the car can pull. |
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Happy Camper
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jimw
Part Timer
Joined: Jan 13, 2008
Posts: 97
Location: Aberdeen
Caravan: Swift Corniche 17/3
Towcar:citroen c4 grand picasso
Medals: None
Status: Offline
Referred By: Google
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Hi can anyone give me advice regarding the towing weight match. We bought a small old abi monza this year to try out caravanning. We have towed it with a 1.6 vauxhall asrta without problems. As we like caravanning we would like to upgrade to a slightly bigger and more modern caravan. I would preferr not to change the car as well.The caravan club say we are very limited to what we can tow safely [85% rule] however when we look around some of the dealers they assure us that we can tow much heavier outfits. The dealers we have visited are national companies. surely they would not give inaccurate information just to get a sale, or am I being naive? Any advice would be grately appreciated.
