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Subject Topic: Towing with Reliant Rialto
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06/5/2015 at 11:48pm
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may sound ridiculous but I`m serious......

Hi I'm a newbie, I was wondering if my car was able to tow any trailer tent or something similar, I have a reliant rialto 1984. This may completely put me out on any t.t but I was wondering if I made my car heavier would I then be able to tow one? It weighs 485kg approx but I was hoping if I put most of the stuff inside the car to add the weight would it then be possible? If so how much weight would I need to add? (I don't have rear seats so there is plenty of space and it only needs to be for 2 adults) Thanks.


07/5/2015 at 1:33am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4
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I once bought a Robin Reliant that had a 1.3/4 inch towball on the back of it and it towed a camping trailer. As I have since never come across that size of towball, I would guess that it was specifically made for the Robin.

My guess is that while you can tow up to the Kerb Weight of the car, you should aim to tow no more than 85% of the car's kerb weight.
IE the car with half a tank of fuel and the weight of the driver.
Adding weight to the car will not alter the official kerb weight of the car.

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Lobey.


07/5/2015 at 7:07am
 Location: west country
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well Derek Trotter towed a Volvo with one in the Chandeliers episode lol.

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Steve




07/5/2015 at 7:41am
 Location: north wales
 Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB
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Motorbikes sometimes tow trailers so it can obviously be done.


07/5/2015 at 10:10am
 Location: West Yorks
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Fit a trailer that is fitted with an outboard motor and it could push you.



Seriously though, if you can get a very lghtweight trailer you shouldn't have any problem.

Here's a sample.

-------------
Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.

Goodbye tension, hello Pension!


       


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07/5/2015 at 11:07am
 Location: Auckland New Zealand
 Outfit: Toyota Hiace conversion
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Googling it I found that someone tows a Portafold with one, so certainly possible.

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Alan in New Zealand


07/5/2015 at 11:50am
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
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I think the examples may be before the days of Type Approval. I would be vaguely surprised if you can get a legal towbar. I have been wrong before though.

Worth checking.

Jim


07/5/2015 at 12:16pm
 Location: west country
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These people list towbars
reliant spares

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Steve




07/5/2015 at 12:46pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Holtkamper Kyte Karsten 300
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Hi these are designed for towing with motorbikes

Campmaster

sometimes see some on ebay

Regards

Bob


07/5/2015 at 12:54pm
 Location: Lichfield
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You could tow a small unbraked camping trailer but that's about the limit really but the biggest problem is where to mount the 7 pin socket to operate the rear trailer lights. Because the body is made of a fibreglass construction it would be difficult to attach the 7 pin electrical socket therefore you would be best to mount the towing socket via a 'L' shaped bracket fixed to the side of the towbar.


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07/5/2015 at 1:43pm
 Location: Shropshire
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Fix a coupling to it and us it as a trailer behind a bigger car!
Not many Reliants about these days.

My sister had a van version when she was a student,dad and I had fun changing the brakes,as we had to get it up high to get at the front wheel!

I drove it afterwards to test it,frightened me to death,horrible thing!
Would not like to have a crash in one.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


07/5/2015 at 2:03pm
 Location: North Essex
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Pre '97 cars don't need type approved towbars. You can make your own if you wish. So should be feasable with light trailer. Towbar wiring must be doable with wired earths.


07/5/2015 at 3:04pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
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You're right, I had overlooked the age of it. I still don't really see how you can tow much with it anyway. Even a trailer tent would surely be as heavy as the car.

I've had a couple in the past, and they were a lot of fun, but I wouldn't want to tow more than a small camping trailer.

Jim


07/5/2015 at 4:10pm
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4
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The Kerb Weight of a Reliant Rialto is stated as 436kg, so legally you can tow up to that weight.
However as the recommended towing capacity is 85% of the car's kerb weight, then, for safety, you should aim to tow no more than 370kg.
That suggests something like a loaded camping trailer.

-------------
Lobey.


07/5/2015 at 4:43pm
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Well I was hoping to get some form of easy set up t.t as I'm rather ill, I might struggle to set up even a simple tent however my partner should be able to put up a t.t. I only have a full bike licence hence the 3 wheeler, plus it has a lot of character and a personality.


07/5/2015 at 5:03pm
 Location: West Yorks
 Outfit: Gobur Carousel
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Have a look at a Cabanon Venus T/T. Max Gross weight is 500kg, but I don't know the basic weight. Phone Camperlands at Manchester and ask if they can help. They do have one in stock but it's a bit overpriced.

I'm nearing 70 and easily managed to erect it on my own.

-------------
Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.

Goodbye tension, hello Pension!


       



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