I have a Honda Jazz 1.2 ivtec which has a maximum towing weight of 1000kg.
I'd like to buy a Freedom caravan with the following specs:
Unladen Weight – 700
Laden Weight – 750
Can anyone tell me if my car will be able to cope? I can load all the heavy stuff in the car as it's just me and the dog.
I would much appreciate any advice.
Are you sure about those weights Lynnek? Caravan payloads are not the most generous in the world but I've never seen one as low as 50kg before. You'll be getting close to that just by adding a leisure battery and a full gas bottle.
You can legally tow the caravan if it's actual weight (note: not necessarily maximum permissible weight) is less than the towing limit of the car (1000kg in your case). However, when loaded up for a holiday the "heavy stuff" in the car plus the weight of the caravan behind will probably equate to over a tonne of weight in addition to that of the empty car, which is asking quite a lot of 1.2 litres and 88bhp. I agree with Grampian91 regarding likely performance, but how much that matters really depends on how far and how often you plan to tow.
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Thanks for replying.This is just the type of information I needed.
The poor performance is what I was worried about especially as I will be towing mostly in Scotland so need to be comfortable on hills.
It looks like it won't be possible which is a pity as the car was a recent present .... seems rude to trade it in.
The payload is correct for that van though there are also lighter Freedoms but all with a max 750kg.
Ah well ...
What matters here is not so much the weight of the caravan as the gross train weight. This is the combined weight of car and caravan when loaded.
After all, this is what the engine has to drag up the hills. With one person plus a dog in the car that leaves more power available to help drag the van along.
I used to tow with a Skoda Felicia 1.6 which had less horse power but a little more torque all the way from Norfolk up to Scotland with a heaver caravan every year for nine years without any trouble at all, that was with two people two small dogs as well as clothes a lot of food and an awning and even towed up Berrie dale brea more than once.
We would go via the A17,,A1 then the A68 which has plenty of hills (both up and down) Plenty of gear changes but never broke down or had any sort of trouble.
From past experiences of owning a Jazz 1.4 sport manual, and now have the Auto model as a second car, l think that you would struggle towing a Caravan with a 1.2 Jazz.
My 1.4 was ok with a large camping trailer on the back as long as there were no steep hills to climb. Porlock hill was a strict no go area, for example. Witb a Caravan. Wind resistance is also an issue, plus stability.
Back in the 80s l once owned a 1.3 Honda Civic twinned with a very lightweight Monza 3.6os. Long Motorway inclines in 3rd gear are not Fun, and neither are strong headwinds, and having to plan every detail of your journey to avoid doing hillstarts on loose gravel surfaces or waiting to turn at traffic lights ect.with heavy clutch wear and burning involved.
Julia
Post last edited on 13/03/2019 19:42:06
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Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
I can see no probs towing a Freedom with your Jazz. Used to tow a Freedom Bijoux with a Hyundai i10 1.2 engine. Plenty of get n go n not sure loads of gear changing, did Cornwall to North Yorkshire with no probs n cruised along nicely. Enjoy yourselves is the most important thing. ITT