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Subject Topic: tow car advice
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Persontrigano575
06/9/2015 at 10:08pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Hi
We are just about to take delivery of a sprite major 6td with maximum laden weight of 1480, and we are wondering about a mondeo estate with a kerbweight of 1592 which gives a 93% match. The mondeo maximum towing capacity is 2000kg. So it is capable of towing more but I believe more novice towers are best sticking to the 85 % rule. We have towed a folding camper so not completely novice but we accept a caravan is a new departure and harder.

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this match? We've found a mondeo estate which is within our budget and we're just unsure as we've had conflicting advice regarding the 85% match. Clubs recommend adhering to it. But someone advised me it's more than about kerbweight as it is about what the car can legally tow and also that when it is plated to be able to tow more, this reflects the better mechanics and brakes etc and capacity of the car to tow well.

I'd love your views - we want to be safe.

Thank you for reading

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Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


PersonWobbly Box
06/9/2015 at 10:36pm
 Location:  Scotland
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welcome to the world of wobbly boxes. ;-)

I would be quite happy towing that caravan with a mondeo assuming it is a 2.0tdci.You have some towing experience but the caravan will feel totally different on the car than a folding camper.

Load it sensibly and try to get to near the max noise weight for your car and im sure you will be fine.


PersonPaul B
06/9/2015 at 10:37pm
 Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
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Great choice of van (I'm biased!).

We tow with a Kia Sportage and have no issues at all, however I would be wary of the Mondeo... my in-laws tried towing with their 08 plate Mondeo hatchback (father in law is hgv driver so plenty of driving/towing experience) and had real issues with stability of the van. We checked all tyre pressures, loadings etc etc. Never got to the bottom of the issue and they eventually changed their car to a Sportage as well.

The estate will give a bit more weight - there was also a potential explanation of budget tyres on the car, but based on experience you may want to look at other options.


Persontrigano575
06/9/2015 at 10:42pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Yes it is a 2.0 tdci diesel - should have added that.

Two conflicting posts! Arrghh this is hard!

Thank you both

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Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


PersonWobbly Box
06/9/2015 at 10:49pm
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Strange I tow 1400kg and am not long back from a 1000 mile trip and didn't experience any stability issues. I think the number on mondeos on the road towing caravans speaks for itself.
i am on my 2nd mondeo tow car and wouldnt have bought another if there were stability issues.


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Persontrigano575
06/9/2015 at 11:24pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Well, that's what we thought. We have seen a lot of mondeos towing. Clearly I don't analyse the caravans that are being towed by them and weights etc but they seem to pull big vans. I'll be interested to hear other people's experiences.

Thank you for replying again!

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


Personjanus
06/9/2015 at 11:50pm
 Location: Rochdale
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I tow a 1450kg Hymer with my Mondeo Hatchback, it is superb and incredibly stable. You should have no problems with that van and a Mondeo Estate. I also towed the same van with a Mk3 Mondeo Hatch kerbweight 1496kg and that was also superbly stable.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Personjanus
06/9/2015 at 11:54pm
 Location: Rochdale
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Quote: Originally posted by Paul B on 06/9/2015Great choice of van (I'm biased!).

We tow with a Kia Sportage and have no issues at all, however I would be wary of the Mondeo... my in-laws tried towing with their 08 plate Mondeo hatchback (father in law is hgv driver so plenty of driving/towing experience) and had real issues with stability of the van. We checked all tyre pressures, loadings etc etc. Never got to the bottom of the issue and they eventually changed their car to a Sportage as well.

The estate will give a bit more weight - there was also a potential explanation of budget tyres on the car, but based on experience you may want to look at other options.


If he had a problem with the Mondeo he either overloaded the van and put the load in silly places, or there was a mechanical problem with the suspension, or he was being a boy racer. The platform is so incredibly stable that to get problems there has to be some absolutely stupid problem That caused it.


Post last edited on 07/09/2015 09:59:41

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


PersonGrampian91
07/9/2015 at 3:40pm
 Location: Midlands
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On my 5th Mondeo and towed with them all, petrol and diesel.

The diesels do pull better with far fewer gear changes being required. But never had any issues with stability.

I would probably want a slightly heavier car but if it was the car i had i would just double check the loaded weight and go on my travels.

Pulling the weight wont be an issue if you go for a diesel, I towed my caravan with a turbo pipe off and it would still hit 70mph if you wanted to.

My latest one has the self levelling suspension and it seems even better when towing, but never had any issues with the standard setup.


PersonPaul B
07/9/2015 at 8:00pm
 Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
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Quote: Originally posted by janus on 06/9/2015
Quote: Originally posted by Paul B on 06/9/2015Great choice of van (I'm biased!).
We tow with a Kia Sportage and have no issues at all, however I would be wary of the Mondeo... my in-laws tried towing with their 08 plate Mondeo hatchback (father in law is hgv driver so plenty of driving/towing experience) and had real issues with stability of the van. We checked all tyre pressures, loadings etc etc. Never got to the bottom of the issue and they eventually changed their car to a Sportage as well.

The estate will give a bit more weight - there was also a potential explanation of budget tyres on the car, but based on experience you may want to look at other options.


If he had a problem with the Mondeo he either overloaded the van and put the load in silly places, or there was a mechanical problem with the suspension, or he was being a boy racer. The platform is so incredibly stable that to get problems there has to be some absolutely stupid problem That caused it.


Post last edited on 07/09/2015 09:59:41


Easy to make assumptions!

The van weight was checked using a caravan weigher, nose weight using calibrated milenco gauge. Instability was happening about 40mph - heavy items over the axle. Put it straight onto the Sportage without changing anything else and it was rock solid. The issue was therefore something to do with the car. It didn't appear low at the back either with just an awning and few bits in the boot, and a passenger on the back seat.

Logically I would agree that there a great many Mondeo out there on the road towing big vans - I had directly observed (and riden in the car) with almost the exact combination the op was discussing so was happy to share views. As I mentioned the only other thing we could find to do was swap off the budget tyres... Living at the top of a hill they decided to swap to the 4x4 for the winter anyway so never put that theory to the test.


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Personjanus
07/9/2015 at 11:39pm
 Location: Rochdale
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I would still maintain that there was some stupid fault that was not thought of. I tow a similar van and have done with a Mondeo for 10 years now and the one thing I can always say about it is that it is planted on the road and nothing disturbs its flow down the road.


-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Persontrigano575
10/9/2015 at 9:35am
 Location: Lancashire
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Good to hear that there are plenty of mondeo supporters.

Thank you,

If anyone has any other thoughts on whether I should get closer to the 85% rather than be at 93% then that would be welcomed - I want to explore that a bit but sounds like the mondeos are twoing cars at 90 odd% stably, and ot fourse we would be putting weight in the boot like food which is heavy

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


Personjanus
10/9/2015 at 9:59am
 Location: Rochdale
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If you put heavy weights in the boot then you risk making the rear end of the car sag. If the caravan's payload will take it put the food in the caravan in the places dedicated to it. Doing this has been my preferred solution over the last 23 years.

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


PersonWobbly Box
10/9/2015 at 10:07am
 Location:  Scotland
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I usually chill the fridge before I go and put the food in it to keep it nice and cool. Other lighter food goes in the overhead lockers. The box of beer and bottles of coke on the floor near the axle. Same with clothes they go into the drawers and cupboards. It will help spread the load.
This has worked fine for me the last 7 years


Personjanus
10/9/2015 at 1:32pm
 Location: Rochdale
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A bit of weight in the van ( as long as you stay within the payload ) I have always found leads to a smoother tow, the weight reduces the bouncing that an unladen trailer can suffer from.

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Persontrigano575
11/9/2015 at 2:49am
 Location: Lancashire
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Right, I'm glad I mentioned that as I had wrongly assumed ballasting the car with some weight would balance things out so clearly that's a mistake. When it comes to loading etc I think I will ask on a thread for help and advice.

I know about the heavy stuff being round the axle and about getting the nose weight right, and how good loading is essential for stability but I think seeking advice on tricks of the trade is a must.When I work out what we need to take etc I shall seek advice. I want to get this right. Thank you for your comments. I think we will likely go for a mondeo estate tdci diesel model, unless my husband can swap from car scheme (a payment) to a company car then we will likely have more choice due to an increased budget.

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD



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