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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Tow Car Post Reply Post New Topic
Personwonga
26/6/2012 at 8:01pm
 Location: Hull
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman Caravan View wonga's Profile View Profile   Reply to wonga Reply   Quote wonga Quote  
Joined: 20/6/2012

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Hi everyone,

We have just bought a Lunar Clubman 470-2 and are towing with a Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 diesel, travelled to Wales and the car appeared to " have no guts" when needed, anyway we are thinking of changing the car and would appreciate any advice you are able to give us regarding the " best towing car " bearing in mind we are now in our early 60s and finances are quite limited

 

 

 

 

 



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live long and prosper :-)


Personredz
26/6/2012 at 8:20pm
 Location: south wales
 Outfit: Avondale Eagle 2005 + Mondeo TDCi View redz's Profile View Profile   Reply to redz Reply   Quote redz Quote  
Joined: 31/12/2004

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Have a look Here


PersonGrampian91
26/6/2012 at 8:48pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
Joined: 11/5/2008

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Age of the car and caravan?

What engine spec is the car?

Have you weighed the caravan whilst loaded?

Modern diesels need to be revved a bit more than old fashioned diesels. Maybe your not using the gears correctly.

On my mondeo 6th gear gives worse fuel consumption at 60mph than 5th gear. At 70mph+ 6th is better.
So when towing although it copes fine in 6th, Its better for the car/clutch/fuel in 5th.


PersonOpensauce
26/6/2012 at 8:48pm
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If your funds are limited & the car you have is ok then keep it. It does seem odd to want to pay out money just because you think the car is a bit slow on hills when towing. Just drop a gear, keep it revving & those behind you can wait.

All you are going to get here is recommendations of every average diesel car you can think of. Any diesel car you like thats 6 or more yrs old can be an utter dog unless you can find low mileage, full main dealer service history & even that is no guarantee its not going to go expensively wrong.


PersonAngus1215
26/6/2012 at 9:21pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Angus1215's Profile View Profile   Reply to Angus1215 Reply   Quote Angus1215 Quote  
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Lunars tend to be a little lighter than the norm, so your car shouldn`t really have any major problems towing this van.

The 1.9CDTI is a decent engine, you don`t say if it is the 120 or 150 bhp model, but even the smaller unit should cope OK.

Is this your first caravan and your first towing experience? It can take a while to adjust to the lack of acceleration with a one-and-a-half-tonne shed behind you, and as has been suggested just hang onto the gears a little bit longer, change down much earlier when the revs start dropping and don`t worry. As long as you are making progress you are OK.


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PersonGrampian91
26/6/2012 at 10:34pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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I have a mondeo diesel 130bhp, I thought it was adequate for a caravan of under 1200kg. No ball of fire.

A few mods and a remap brought the power to just over 160 bhp.

Much better, 6th gear still a bit tall for best economy at towing speeds though.

30's mpg when towing with roofboc etc, Not bad I think.


PersonSkoda Bob
27/6/2012 at 10:47am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4 View Skoda Bob's Profile View Profile   Reply to Skoda Bob Reply   Quote Skoda Bob Quote  
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Instead of changing the car why not get it chipped and gain around 30 more horses, there are loads of diesel tuning company's that can do it for around £400 or less

Mind you with a diesel they live on revs, so as some have said give it a bit more welly


Person664DaveS
28/6/2012 at 11:07am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75 View 664DaveS's Profile View Profile   Reply to 664DaveS Reply   Quote 664DaveS Quote  
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I have a Saab 1.9Tid which is 150bhp. It is the same engine as the Vauxhalls. It has plenty of poke! It could tow our caravan. If is the 120 bhp I'm sure a remap or chipping would help.

I don't tow with it as we also have a Sorento.



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