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Hi all,

We have just bought our first second hand caravan. It's a Avondale Ulysses 4/5 berth  1995 and it's really nice and clean. (would anybody know the wheel size for the spare please). We go and pick it up next Saturday and can't wait to get out in it.

I have left a message about a month ago, about my Laguna 1.8 petrol. I have been in touch with a lot of people over the weight. Max tow in the book reads 950kg. Most agree and say the max tow weight is 950kg. So we have decided to buy another car. If there is anybody out there, that can recommend what we can tow our Avondale Ulysses with, that would be great.

    Thanks alot,

           gibbos1

Hi there,

Hope you have loads of great holidays away in your new van!

In regard to your car, basically most good sized 4x4's ie Land Rover, Shogun, Pajero, Nissan Patrol, Fourtrak etc etc will tow just about anything.  Alas, they can be quite thirsty. - Big old Volvo's also tow great! (but i am biased) ;o)

All the best,

Grub.

Hi Gibbos1, welcome to UKCS.

I've got a '97 Ulysses, they're great vans. Tow mine with a SWB Shogun - very thirsty - but the MTPLM is only 1,100 Kgs so you don't need a big 4 x 4. I got the Shogun before the caravan, wasn't sure how heavy a van I was going to get. If I'd got the van first I'd probably have gone for a more economical car, something like a Mondeo, Galaxy, Picasso, Avensis.

According to the handbook the tyre sizes are 175-R13-89R and the pressure is 42. If you need any more info, just shout.

Thanks to you all,

The whole family is very excited about taking the caravan out, will keep you all posted.

As for the car, I'm thinking maybe a Mondao, not sure on the Petrol or Diesel?

CAZ thanks for the tyre size, have not picked the van up yet, so can't look at the wheel size.

Anybody know where the best place to get a spare tyre from????

Also need some help with stabilisers, what's good, what's not?

Thanks again all,

                 gibbos1

Ive towed with a 1.8ltr Citroen Picasso and a 1100kg caravan and it was quite acceptable. I upgraded to a 2ltr turbo diesel vectra and the expense didnt necesasrily justify the end result.

Id give it a try with the Laguna for a few months before you shell out on another car - if thats your only reason for thinking of a change

Also need some help with stabilisers, what's good, what's not?

see here....... stabilisers

Quote: Originally posted by mattyg on 25/1/2006

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 Id give it a try with the Laguna for a few months before you shell out on another car - if thats your only reason for thinking of a change

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I wouldn't do this even tho' it may well tow it because the max tow weight of the Laguna is only given as 950 Kgs. The unladen weight of the Ulysses is 850 Kgs so it doesn't leave much for loading.

Afraid I can't help re the stabiliser 'cos I've never used one.

Thanks to all for all the help.

We can't wait to go on our first trip.

             Carl

From our experience, 4x4's are not the best for towing. Whilst they are great when in slippery conditions like on snow or mud, they are lumpy on the road because of the hard suspension and tyres, noisy and less comfortable than a real car with a modern diesel engine and an auto box.

We tow a folding camper with a VW Golf auto diesel and it is brilliant both with and wuithout the trailer. Previously we had a dico manual and a disco auto but both new,  and both were heavy on fuel and not that stable either with or without the caravans.

We often wondered about buying or borrowing a big car like a Ford Granada to compare but sold the lot instead after one fright on the M1.