New C5 For Towing - Oldmicrochip

[Oldmicrochip]

I Have had a BX, C5 2.2ltr Mk1, C5 2ltr Mk 2, Saloons,  all with the Hydrolastyic Suspension, all worked very well for towing a Caravan.

I am thinking of buying next year a C5 Mk3, but all but the top of the range do not use this type of suspension, does anyone have any experience of non Hydro Suspension for towing. Many Thanks.

[Johndouglas]

I've been a caravanner for many years.   I've also used Citroens for the last 23 of those years.   First a BXTZD, then a 2.1 Xantia and lastly a C5 - always in the estate models.   Before that I used a Ford Sierra Estate and a Cortina Estate as a tow car.   I recall with those, I needed spring assisters fitted.   I needed to be more conscious of boot loading and nose-weight, otherwise the rear of the car tended to sag giving a nose up attitude.   With the hydraulic suspension, it just pumps up to carry the additional weight.  

[Oldmicrochip]

HI

I was talking only about C5 Mk3 non Hydra type Saloons.

I also had the same probs. with Focus Estate and Astra Estate, but as you see I am now a Citroen fan, hence that's where my interest now lies.

[Oldmicrochip]

My original post. Does anyone have any experience of towing with C5 Mk3 with Spring suspension and non Hydro type  suspension, Tanks 

[Parkesie]

Get the exclusive or i think the vtr models come with the hydractive suspension on the automatic models.

[Oldmicrochip]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't want the exclusive unless I have too.

All the VTRs have Springs so I am told, there must be someone who has driven the Mk3 with springs and not Spheres.

Thanks

[paul.h]

I have asked before for caravan towing experience using the new C5 but do not get any replies, so it appears new C5 members on here do not tow. There have been reports in the Caravan Club magazine but these had the hydractive suspension. I think the early 2.2 hdi new C5 also has the hydractive suspension on all models. Some time ago I was considering a new C5 tourer and sat in the boot to see how far the suspension would drop, it did a bit, but in the end I went for a mark 2 C5 estate, one reason being the new C5 was too wide to fit in our garage. You also need to check the nose weights on the new C5, they are quite low and vary with the different models and years. If you look at the car handbooks on the service.citroen website they are all listed.

 

You could also have a look on the Caravan Talk forum but there seem to be few, if any, using the new C5 as a tow car.

 

(I have edited the topic title)

[PICASSOCONVERT]

As paul.h says, there do not appear to be so many people towing with the newer C5's. However, I did find a positive review on www.TowCar.info which specifically referred to the sprung suspension:

 

Citroen C5 III Tourer - 2.0 HDi with a Buccaneer

http://www.caravantrekker.nl/images/logo/Buccaneer.gif

Keith B reviewed a Citroen C5 III Tourer - 2.0 HDi (100 Kw/134 bhp). Modelyear: april 2008 - april 2010) and a Buccaneer Elan 15 of 1418 kg.

The towing capability for this outfit is:

http://www.towcar.info/images/ster/groen40.gifhttp://www.towcar.info/images/bord_con_weegschaal_klein.gif = 84%* http://www.towcar.info/images/bord_leeg_heel_klein.gif = 99 km/u http://www.towcar.info/images/bord_steilehelling_heel_klein.gif = 18%

Towed around 1500 miles since I bought the car and had no problems at all whilst towing (mine has steel suspension). Very quiet and confortable for those long runs, with lots of space for the gear. Very economical to run returning about 30mpg whilst towing at 60 and 55mpg on a run solo at 70ish. Would recommend this car to anyone.

 

 

I am hoping that my Mk1 C5 will keep going for quite a few more years as I just don'y know what I would replace it with. I need a large estate to carry my model aeroplanes and most of the 4 x 4's and SUV's a lot of people are towing with are just not long enough or as comfortable as my C5 and cost a lot, lot more.

 

I wonder if anyone has towed with a 200bhp 2.2HDi yet (either C5 or Peugeot 508)? Or a Mk3 3.0HDi? A second-hand one of those could be an option ini a few years.

 

David

[paul.h]

Our C5 is a 173 bhp 2.2 hdi 2007 estate, replaced a 2004 136 bhp 2.2 hdi hatchback. The change was since we bought a heavier caravan, MTPLM 1499 kg but in use probably about 1350 kg (old caravan MTPLM 1300 / 1100 kg). I did consider a mark 3 C5 but in the end went for as young a mark 2 as I could get on a low mileage and wanted the hydractive suspension. The estate tows very well, better than the hatchback did with the heavier caravan. It also handles better than the old car so there must be some improvements made.