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Subject Topic: Help please with loading Post Reply Post New Topic
Personrobdawn12
19/3/2013 at 10:05am
 Location: sheffield
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my father in law is having to change the way he loads his car this summer. Because he will have 2 grandchildren and their seats in the back of the car, he will be unable to drop half the back seat and carry the awning in his car.

he is worried that he will over load the caravan , but more worried that the extra weight will make the caravan harder to pull uphill, especially the A38 hill at the end of the M5 where he really slows down. He has mentioned that it will burn his clutch, is this true, i thought as long as clutch fuly engaged this would be fne and only be a problem if he tried slipping it.
any help and answers would be much appriciated

he Drives a 2000 peugeot 406 2.0 HDI 90 lx and pulls a 1987 swift challenger bounty (challenger 475/4 I think)

any help is much appriciated



-------------
Never argue with an Idiot, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!!!!


Persontango55
19/3/2013 at 10:23am
 Location: Lichfield
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You are quite right in saying that when the clutch is fully engaged it won't slip (providing it's in full working order and not worn) but more to the point is about being in the right gear at the right time especially proir to climbing any hill with a caravan in tow. Also it depends on how he drives too as on many occassions drivers don't use their handbrake at traffic lights or junctions etc. which is bad practice, that's the reason why you would fail a driving test whenever the vehicle becomes stationary for any reason. Basically it's all about being in control. There shouldn't be a problem putting the awning in the caravan providing it is places low down directly over the caravan axle as sometimes the extra weight can gain stability plus if there are extra persons being carried in the towcar then this would help to balance the outfit providing that the limits for the towcar are not exceeded.


PersonOpensauce
19/3/2013 at 10:45am
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It will make no difference to drive, the weight will be the same, as stated place awning over axle. Important is not to allow engine to labour uphill, particularly with dual mass flywheel, keep it revving freely, also keeps temp down as it pumps water around more quickly.

However, overloading of caravan is possible ie exceeding mtplm, so he will need to check total weight of gear in caravan, but unless he is already carrying exceptional weight like several bikes or extra batteries the awning should not be a problem.


PersonDaveCoaches
19/3/2013 at 1:27pm
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The weight will increase by the weight of the grand children.


PersonGrampian91
19/3/2013 at 1:53pm
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+ their luggage.

If in doubt then get the caravan weighed. Make sure adding the awning and any extra luggage wont take it over its gross plated weight.

Dont slip the clutch. Once your moving the clutch wont be under a lot of strain.

If he says it slows on the hills he isnt making proper use of the gears.

Just because its a diesel and has more low down torque than a petrol doesnt mean you should sit at 1000rpm and let the poor thing hammer its way to the top of the hill.

My diesel car has 6 gears. But i have now stopped using 6th when towing. Not because it lacks power. It will pull up the hills all day long in 6th. But i actually get better economy in 5th.

The engine is working more effiently.

In my older cars i would drop down a gear or maybe 2, Before the hills to build the revs before it starts to slow.

As long as your not in the red on the rev counter its better to use more revs than let the revs drop.


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Persontimtheenchanter
19/3/2013 at 2:15pm
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
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it really does depend on the car, alot of diesels produce maximum torque in the 2000-2500 range, THIS is where you want to keep the engine on hills, below this your labouring the engine, above this your revving the engine more than required.


PersonAndy Higham
20/3/2013 at 6:50pm
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Slipping the clutch will soon kill it. A lot of modern cars are expensive to replace the clutch as its an engine out job


PersonGrampian91
20/3/2013 at 9:13pm
 Location: Midlands
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Engine out to do a clutch? What cars are those?

Gearbox out you mean?


Personjohnjory
20/3/2013 at 9:29pm
 Location: Lowestoft Suffolk
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".....he Drives a 2000 peugeot 406 2.0 HDI 90 lx and pulls a 1987 swift challenger bounty (challenger 475/4 I think)....."

90 bhp sounds a little marginal to me but, I as do not know the weight of the 'van, suggest consulting What Tow Car to match car and 'van.

Also, as previously suggested, use gears to keep revs up to somewhere between max torque and max power. Find these figures from drivers hand book or local dealer, and take a test run.



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