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Subject Topic: bmw x1 Post Reply Post New Topic
Personbaxterpete
13/5/2018 at 9:31am
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: swift sline View baxterpete's Profile View Profile   Reply to baxterpete Reply   Quote baxterpete Quote  
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Hi all does anyone tow with a x1 2.0 xdrive . i had a elldis explore 540 which towed great but now have changed caravan to a swift s-line 580 the salesman says it is a perfect match for the x1 but have being towing it 4-5 times and it does not feel right. any thoughts please


PersonRob and Tina
13/5/2018 at 10:10am
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB View Rob and Tina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rob and Tina Reply   Quote Rob and Tina Quote  
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Firstly what are the weights for the car and caravan? You say it doesn't feel right but what feels wrong? Is the noseweight correct? Tyre pressures correct for towing?


Rob


Personbaxterpete
13/5/2018 at 8:18pm
 Location: sunderland
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hI Rob, the kerb weight is 1480kg with max tow limit of 2000kg,caravan weight is 1451. the car feels twitchy on the steering have only one lightweight gas bottle in front cabin lightweight awning in van.


PersonRob and Tina
13/5/2018 at 9:43pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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That is almost a 100% match so you would have to be very careful with loading etc. If the steering feels light it sounds like a nose weight problem. What is the nose weight limit on the car? What is the actual nose weight? Is the back of the car heavily loaded? Are the car tyres at the correct pressure for towing?

Rob


PersonJimff5
13/5/2018 at 9:59pm
 Location: Belfast
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I have a 2.0 X1 xDrive, which tows like a dream, but only a 1260ish caravan.


-------------
JimF


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Personbaxterpete
14/5/2018 at 8:00pm
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: swift sline View baxterpete's Profile View Profile   Reply to baxterpete Reply   Quote baxterpete Quote  
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I will check the nose weight of the caravan this weekend when i go away. nose weight of car is 80kg.


PersonWobbly Box
14/5/2018 at 9:08pm
 Location:  Scotland
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At nearly a 100% match it doesn’t leave much margin for errors when loading. I’d be nervous towing at 100% match.
As already said check nose weight and how much stuff your loading in the boot of the car and caravan.
Have you thought about taking your caravan to a weigh bridge with a typical load that you’d take with you and seeing what the actual weight of both the car and caravan are. You may be surprised at how easy you can push up the weight of the caravan once you start putting your belongings in it.


PersonDarrenElbrow
14/5/2018 at 9:38pm
 Location: Poole Dorset
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Your biggest problem was believing a caravan salesperson and not doing your own research before buying the caravan


PersonWobbly Box
14/5/2018 at 10:21pm
 Location:  Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo View Wobbly Box's Profile View Profile   Reply to Wobbly Box Reply   Quote Wobbly Box Quote  
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Yeah but how many of us would listen once our minds and hearts are set on something. Us humans only hear what we want to. No amount of research would change your mind, after all the person to who who look upon as being the “expert” said it would be fine.

Been there bought the T shirt.


PersonBaileyjake
17/5/2018 at 1:39pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4 View Baileyjake's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baileyjake Reply   Quote Baileyjake Quote  
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we all know that the 80% rule of thumb is just a rule of thumb. but in my experience its a very valid one.

i towed my light weight bailey ranger 1290kg MPLM with a mitsubishi outlander with a MIS of 1835kg. so thats a 71% match. it was great, no problems. i then upgraded to a Coachman Amara with a MPLM of 1600kg and an actual weight of 1560kg (measured with my Reich weight control system, think of that what you will ha ha) nose weight 90kg (reich digital nose weight gauge). this was a ratio of 87% the outlander was ok, plenty of power but it didnt feel nice to drive. any side winds or white lines or ruts would pulll the car from side to side and steep down hill sections were a white knucle ride. i never actually lost control but it didnt fill me with confidence and was a a constant worry. i decided i wanted to carry more bikes, boats and other stuff on the car so i upgraded to a shogun. this has a MIS of over 2200kg. the ratio then is 72%. the max nose wieght for the shogun is 150kg but the alko hitch head is 100kg. i have a nose weight of 90kg.

its grand and totally stress free by comparison. however i would never be as fake as to say "you dont know the caravan is there" i can certainly tell i have an additional 1600kg behind but on a straight road there is no discernable effect on the handling.

anyway my point is, regardless of the max tow weight the manufacturers give (mine is 3500kg)the stability of a long tall single axle caravan is all to do with kerb weight and no ammount of automatic stability control can compensate for the weight and wheel base length of the towing vehicle.

by towing 100% you are not breaking the law but i would go so far as to say not many do it for long before upgrading their towing vehicle.

Post last edited on 17/05/2018 13:43:06

-------------
First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara


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PersonColin21
17/5/2018 at 2:10pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by baxterpete on 13/5/2018
hI Rob, the kerb weight is 1480kg with max tow limit of 2000kg,caravan weight is 1451. the car feels twitchy on the steering have only one lightweight gas bottle in front cabin lightweight awning in van.


Definitely sounds like a nose-weight problem, i.e. too light. I remember when I picked up my latest caravan from the dealers, empty and without checking the nose weight, it felt quite twitchy on the way home despite being well within the car's capabilities. When I took it on it's first proper outing, properly loaded and nose-weight adjusted, it was absolutely fine.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Personbaxterpete
17/5/2018 at 6:13pm
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: swift sline View baxterpete's Profile View Profile   Reply to baxterpete Reply   Quote baxterpete Quote  
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Thanks everyone, I didnt know that the nose weight could be to light. I will put my other gas bottle in and try that this weekend cheers.


PersonBaileyjake
17/5/2018 at 6:38pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4 View Baileyjake's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baileyjake Reply   Quote Baileyjake Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by baxterpete on 17/5/2018
Thanks everyone, I didnt know that the nose weight could be to light. I will put my other gas bottle in and try that this weekend cheers.


I would wager, whatever your nose weight, towing close on 100% is never going to feel good. Perhaps a twin axle might be a little better mannered. But I doubt it. You could try carrying heavy items in the car to ballast it a bit. The awning, crates of beer, barbecue etc..


-------------
First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara


Personbaxterpete
21/5/2018 at 7:00pm
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: swift sline View baxterpete's Profile View Profile   Reply to baxterpete Reply   Quote baxterpete Quote  
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Hi all, bought a nose weight gauge and found out that is 50kg


PersonBaileyjake
22/5/2018 at 1:13pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4 View Baileyjake's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baileyjake Reply   Quote Baileyjake Quote  
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did you increase the nose weight?
did it tow any better?

whan i first started towing a caravan with a jeep compass 4x4 crd i thought a lighter nose weight would be better, for the car.

of course i was wrong, it was far too bouncy in the car. but perhaps because i had kerb weight on my side the towing was not particularly unstable. moving items into the front locker to give an 85kg nose wight improved it.

-------------
First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara


Personbaxterpete
22/5/2018 at 5:39pm
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: swift sline View baxterpete's Profile View Profile   Reply to baxterpete Reply   Quote baxterpete Quote  
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Hi,baileyjake , i will put two gas bottles in front cabin and hopefully this will improve the handling,



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