I'm still new to this caravanning lark. Previously I have always used Land Rovers or Range Rovers for towing and therefore never really worried about the capability of my towing vehicle. My circumstances have now changed and I am looking for a "normal" car, preferably diesel, for towing my Elddis Whirlwind. Any suggestions for an ideal motor (second hand)? What is the minimum sized vehicle that will safely cope with this outfit?
Never had one myself but a lot of folks use the Peugeot 307 diesel for towing, or an Astra or Focus would be fine. That's assuming the caravan is light.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
My Focuus TDCi estate tows an ABI Jubilee Diplomat with a max weight around 900kg and has no problems at all. And as a car for two of us its great as it has a good carrying capacity with the rear seatrs folded down, and even with them up still has lots of space for luggage. the 1800cc engine has lots of poke and on long runs will do 40+ to the gallon of diesel
I can recommend it.
------------- Trunkles
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Why is there always something just where I can bang my head on it?
There is a very simple answer to the question "What is the minimum sized vehicle that will safely cope with this outfit?".
As always, you start with the weight of the van and then look for a car with a higher KW. If you're an inexperienced tower, it is advised that you keep the MGW of the caravan to 85% of the car's KW.
So I'm looking for a vehicle over the tonne? I'm am a very experienced tower having towed trailers up to 26ft long and weighing over 3 tonnes (not caravans). I regularly use a low-loader with a total all up weight of around 3.2 tonnes (behind a LR). The normal car would be towing just the caravan or a small 300kg camping trailer. In my experience wheelbase is often as important factor as KW of a tow car. So any mid sized saloon should do it?
Sorry, but other than in the case of some 4x4s, where the swb version can give a bit of a choppy ride, I've never heard of wheelbase having any bearing on towing capabilities.
I repeat again, it's a simple issue relating the car's KW to the caravan's MGW