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Last year ago we bought an old sprite muskateer which has become the wife's pride and joy. Unfortunately we bought a 1999 Rover 420 TDI as a tow car. It pulls the caravan with ease until we get to a hill live in constant fear of having to stop and not get started again. We also own a 1992 Volvo 440 glt which we were thinking of using as our tow car but the towing ratio for this is 87% and the Rover is 73% which apparently makes its better than the volvo. Any help from anyone who has used either of these cars to tow',

When towing with a turbo diesel does anyone have trouble with hills ours struggles in 1st gear may be normal but never towed with any other car. 

2 litre turbodiesel wins on paper. If it can't tow in first, there is something wrong with it.

What size engines are they and what is the BHP?

It's normal to have to change to a lower gear for hills but I've only ever met one hill where I had to go to first. It was very very steep, in a 30 mph limit, with no run up to it and I was towing with a 1.4 petrol at 85%.

Both 2 litres

Gary

It sounds as though there may be something wrong with the car then. Certainly if they are both as powerful then better to stick with the heavier one as this gives a more stable outfit.

We used to tow a Sprite Major (bigger & heavier than the Musketeer) with a 1991 Rover 820i 2 litre and that flew up hills, but of course that was petrol. My experience of diesels is limited to my Shogun which is 2.5 but I would have thought that a 2 litre diesel should not struggle with such a light caravan.

Have had the Rover in and out of the garage and seems to be working fine now.  Pulls the caravan with no problem on the straight and slight hills.  It is only when we stop on a hill we have a problem, going to Woolacombe next week and worried about getting stuck in holiday traffic especially on a hill !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is £300 to have a tow bar put on the volvo which is a gamble as we don't know how it will tow. 

    £300 for a tow bar fitted i suggest you shop around it seams a bit exspensive to    me i've just had one fitted duel elecs for a xantia charged me £180

Hi all

Whats all this talk about tow cars?

I have a 1 man business and use my Renualt Traffic van (1.9 TD) to tow my Bailey Burgundy

Brill, just chuck everything in the back and off we go, never failed on a hill yet and 30+ miles gall

I have had 4x4s and other tow cars but none tows as sweet as the Renualt

ChrisS

Hi Caz

Not had any problems to date

The van is quite new and has my SUPERKEY LOCKSMITHS logo all over it

Cheers

ChrisS