Message Forums

As promised herewith an update and report on my first tow with a 1.6 Zafira and the Elddis Wisp:

After a handover consisting just over an hour, the demonstration began on hitching up. All well and good the van was hooked up and the car was ready. Not to much sag at the rear viewable externally (although you did notice when first sitting in the drivers seat).

So this was it. I was fully expecting a load of revs a bit of wheelspin and not much else but a little tug on the back and we were off. Hardly any abuse of the clutch to get things moving (albeit this was on gravel not grass) First obstacle was get out of the car park (carvan dealer is situated at the rear of a Garden centre with loads of little units and the car park is a park where you can find a space affair - so it was alittle tight) fine  next up turn right onto a fairly busy road. The car handled it all fine. Down to a tight little mini roundabout turned right. All this took about two minutes and now I am feeling a lot less stressed, we have a long straight road ahead with only a couple of sets of lights.

The first set was on red and we slowed and they changed green. Then what the F>>> was that. A horrible metallic scraping noise coming from the rear.

All my towing fears faded all the graceful and slow considered use of the wheel went out of the window I pulled the van quickly down a left hand turn (luckily just after the lights) and slammed on the brakes. Jumped out of the car and had a look.

The wheel had come clean off !!! The guy had obviously forgotten to do up the wheel nuts after servicing the caravan wheels. (a quick serach down the road and three wheel nuts all in close proximity proved this)

This happenned at all of 4 mph so no real damage done (apart from a rear stay and a plastic wheel arch cover) and in the dealers defence, he was straight out out picked up the van, back in the yard for all the repairs, no fuss, no questions and humble apologies all round. I should have been livid but for some reason I was very calm (probably shock). Mistakes do happen and they way he dealt with this when it went wrong was impressive. 

So all in all a very eventful first tow.

Looking back the Zafira towed far better than I thought it ever would. Yes I would probably struggle up a very steep hill and I dare say that I may need to drop a cog where another car may not need to, however once rolling along it wasn't that noticable that I had what is effectively a huge shed attached to the back of my car.

I do not like the mirror extensions though.

 well done that dealer,not an experience with your 1st tow really,but you have coped and got thro it.

 from here on it should be plain sailing or caravanning i should say,put it behind you and look forward to many years of happy vanning.

 atb

Blimey! If you can cope with a wheel falling off then you should be fine! I remember picking up our first van in August and was nervous enough towing that without something like that happening to us!

I am sure you will find the Vauxhall fine as a first towing vehicle. We have had 3 months towing with our Vectra but have decided to p/x it in this week for a nissian x-trail as we wanted more room, a heavier tow car for the future and I miss not having 4WD for the winter months (just a personal thing as have had landrovers before!).

Sadly our van is now away in storage until April but we have already penciled in 5 or 6 weeks away next year and intend to make full use of it!

I know what you mean about the mirrors BTW..........I think I may not need them with the X-Trail as its a bit wider than the Vectra and our Ranger isn't that big, will need to see in the new year!

I am sure you will make a few mistakes but that will all be part of the learning experience.......so far I have pulled away with the breakaway cable attached and nearly drove off once with the handbrake still on..........as they say "check, check and then check again!!!"

wow thats not a very good start.

but having said that some good will come out of your experience. like.....

before you move off with the van behind the car, make sure you check the wheel nuts, you are hiched up properly, and your electrics are plugged in.

the check again. its all about learning.

as for the dealer,,, well that should have been done on the pre delivery inspection. shame on you dealer.

now just get out and practice and enjoy your van. happy days to follow eh.