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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
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Subject Topic: Slow Tow
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05/3/2016 at 8:33pm
 Location: Aberdare
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 545
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Hi all. I'm new to towing. I bought a Swift Charisma 545, hitched it up to my 03 plate Freelander TD4 expecting it to pull it well. To my surprise it struggled. I stopped to make sure I'd taken hand brake off...it felt as if the brakes were on. Can anyone offer any advice ? Thanks


05/3/2016 at 8:57pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
 Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4
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Hi
Should tow ok good match of outfit only problem i can find is it may
On most motorways inclines (1:20) driving is easily possible in the 3th gear with 50 mph and even full throttle with 55 mph. Hill starts are possible on steep slopes up to 17%. While driving the engine has enough power to drive on every normal road.
Are the caravan brakes binding?

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







05/3/2016 at 9:10pm
 Location: 
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Check if brakes are binding, coast to a stop on a flat road without applying brakes, window open you will hear the noise if they are. 03reg TD4 is 110bhp, not a huge amount of power for that weight so probably ok. Use gears & don't let engine labour.


05/3/2016 at 9:22pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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It's probably quite a heavy van. Yes it's a 4x4 so should tow it, but the engine is pulling a heavy van and a heavy car.

I always feel the most effective outfit is a well matched one where the tow car is not heavier than it needs to be.

You may also find there is a lot of wind resistance with caravans. This really slows them down. If you aren't used to it, it will feel sluggish. Wind resistance is the by far the biggest factor requiring power on level ground restricting the speed.


05/3/2016 at 9:25pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
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The freelander td4 doesn't have much grunt. It will tow but I would expect it to struggle somewhat. Worth checking the caravan brakes aren't binding though as this will make progress and fuel consumption challenging.


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06/3/2016 at 4:39am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Tow the same van with a Skoda superb 1.9tdi with 105 bhp NP at all, don't be afraid to put your foot down a bit more, give it more revs, after you have checked the breaks are ok on the van, easy way to check van if its on a level let hand break off and try to move it yourself a few feet, it should move easily


06/3/2016 at 5:16am
 Location: Aberdare
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 545
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Thank you all. I could have been wrong to assume my Freelander would mean I'd coast it...ill try your suggestions. Thank you all again.


06/3/2016 at 9:32am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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I had 04 freelander towing a swift carisma 565, not a nice experience to be honest. Slow and very under powered.

After the landy broke down and i changed the external high pressure fuel pump thats when it be came a better tow vehicle. More power better rev range.


06/3/2016 at 5:49pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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Quote: Originally posted by Ray Clayton on 05/3/2016
Hi
Should tow ok good match of outfit only problem i can find is it may
On most motorways inclines (1:20) driving is easily possible in the 3th gear with 50 mph and even full throttle with 55 mph. Hill starts are possible on steep slopes up to 17%. While driving the engine has enough power to drive on every normal road.
Are the caravan brakes binding?



That sounds gruesomely underpowered to me! Not my idea of a good match of towcar to caravan. My 1.8 ASX would tow my 1300kg caravan all day on a motorway in 6th gear at a steady 56mph, yet if needed I could drop down to 3rd and still achieve 56mph.


06/3/2016 at 7:28pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
 Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4
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Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 06/3/2016
Quote: Originally posted by Ray Clayton on 05/3/2016Hi
Should tow ok good match of outfit only problem i can find is it may
On most motorways inclines (1:20) driving is easily possible in the 3th gear with 50 mph and even full throttle with 55 mph. Hill starts are possible on steep slopes up to 17%. While driving the engine has enough power to drive on every normal road.
Are the caravan brakes binding?



That sounds gruesomely underpowered to me! Not my idea of a good match of towcar to caravan. My 1.8 ASX would tow my 1300kg caravan all day on a motorway in 6th gear at a steady 56mph, yet if needed I could drop down to 3rd and still achieve 56mph.



Yes but this is the problem. Great match on paper & within the recomendation of 85% but still under powered. You got to drive it at full revs to gain anything, i know someone with this model of freelander and they tow, but with a lighter van ok.
As for 6th gear whats that, to get into 6th, when towing, i have to use manaul shift command , or go over the speed limit of 60mph.

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







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06/3/2016 at 8:39pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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My 1.8 would do 50mph in 6th gear. 56mph was a comfortable 2000rpm, hence why its been a really good towcar.



07/3/2016 at 12:50am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Get it chipped 30% more power


07/3/2016 at 9:29am
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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150BHP is absolutely fine thanks Bob.


07/3/2016 at 10:03am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Just a thought does the Freelander have a selectable high and low range gearbox??????????? like a Landrover, can you change from 4 wheel to 2 wheel drive.
If any of the above, select high, and 2 wheel drive , might make a big diference


07/3/2016 at 10:35am
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
 Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4
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to be honest Bob, the early ones did not have great engines, so without high reving as you said earlier it may be on its towing limit.

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







07/3/2016 at 10:45am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
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Freelanders do not have hi-low range boxes,they have 4wd which switches front to rear on demand and hill descent control.

A Landie such as Defender,Range Rover or Discovery in low ratio would be lucky to reach 30 mph on road!Its not for prolonged road use.

My mate had a TD4 Freelander which towed well,his had a BMW diesel in it.An 03 should have the same.

The 1.8 petrols struggled and had head gasket issues as it was Rover k series.

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



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