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Posted

This model has the "spring" suspension. Since 1993 I have loved the hyraulic sus on my two Xantias as it was self levelling.

Does the C5 need any suspension asistance (add springs etc?) or is the ride height at the back not particularly affected please.

The caravan, single axle Bailey Champagne, has an all loaded "Weighbridge" weight of c1350kg.

cheers

sixchannel

Posted
I also have a 2010 VTR+Nav Tourer which I've had since last March and it is equipped for towing. So far my two trips have covered 850 miles of towing. Before getting the present car, I'd used hydropnuematic Citroens for 23 years and I spent some time wondering whether I could live without the oily suspension. I've been pleasantly surprised. In fact, I think the car on it's steel springs rides better when it has the caravan attached. Fuel consumption is also better than my previous C5 136. For most of a towed journey I find I can put the car in 6th gear and apply the cruise control set for 60mph. The only time I miss the hydraulic suspension is when hitching and unhitching the van.
Posted

Only thing from the handbook is the trailer nose weight is a bit low, recommended at 67 kg. By recommended though I am not sure if this means it is ok to go higher.

 

As mentioned in your other topic, the handbook can be read/printed/saved from the service.citroen site (pity the dealer did not mention it) http://service.citroen.com/ddb/

Posted

Thanks for the info AND the link! Pity you can't DL it from there. Looks like you can "save" only the page/s you are looking at.

The Dealer was a Mitsubishi one, not Citroen, so perhaps can be forgiven for not knowing. I shall keep that link as a "fave".

The noseweight on the caravan comes out about 80kg and both my Xantias have towed sweetly at this. The diesel, which was only the 2.0HDi 90bhp towed this mass superbly, if a bit out of puff at the top of a long hill. Lets hope Ethel is just as good.

Can you see a downside to this slight increase in Nosweight?

cheers

sixchannel

Posted

Can you see a downside to this slight increase in Nosweight?

No - unless your towbar manufacturer forbids it. Or unless you carry a mass of gear in the load area of the car. I used to worry when I set off to spend the winter in Spain, that I was too heavily loaded. A couple of years ago I decided to weigh every container that I loaded into the car. I started with 90Kgs for myself, then the tool boxes, followed with every other item including the awning and poles. The final total came out at just over 350Kgs. The payload for the car was nearly 600Kgs. I think our VTRs on steel springs is a bit less than the hydraulic suspension.

Posted

Hi

Interesting comment re loading the car.

I've always thought that I should put heavier items in the back of the car so that the car was heavier and therefore the caravan would be lighter, thereby improving the car/caravan ratio.

Is that thinking not right?

Posted

Is that thinking not right?

Yes - I don't put anything in the van that could go in the car. Only bedding and food for journey and fridge stuff goes in the van.

Posted

I agree with John.

 

Since our caravan is kept in storage I have to put everything in the car and collect the caravan on the journey so the caravan stays light . The lightest car I have used was a Xsara Picasso which has good write ups for towing, the ratio was ok but on the road it was the worst for stability with the caravan controlling the car.

Posted

Yes - the Picasso is a very popular tow car with our European caravanners, especially the Dutch. There were two Dutch caravanners arrived on my site in Spain last winter. Both newish PICASSOS so must be 1.6 HDIs (unless Citroen do 2.0 Ltr models on the Continent?) but they were towing Hobby Excellent models, so would be heavy. Maybe they don't worry too much about 85%

  • 6 months later...
Posted

An extra note - I have "discovered" that my trusty old Maypole extension mirrors will not fit the highly tapered wing mirrors on the Mk3 C5.

Any ideas?

(Also posted in "Technical")

Ian

  • 2 weeks later...

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