Pulling A Caravan

[winnie]

Many years ago I had a Audi 1800, estate automatic, and I pulled a Swift challenger 5 berth caravan but alas the gearbox packed up and I had to move on to a jeep.

Then I sold the van, but now am toying with getting a caravan again but have got to convince the wife.

I would like a twin axel but am put off with the Audi gearbox going.

Now this is just a idea so far but second hand ones are dirt cheep this time of year.

Would my car (2001 2000 cc, automatic estate) be man another to pull it and would this be a strain on the gearbox.

This is only a idea so far so just opinions so far, not to technical will do.

Thanks Reg 

 

[Sixchannel]

It will depend much on the weight of the caravan. Do you know the weight of your Tourer? Its a good idea not to pull more than appx 80% - if you can.

That might let a lot of twin axle caravans out.

[paul.h]

Your car is not heavy enough to pull a twin axle caravan and none of the C5s are heavy enough. You need to be looking at a car around 1900 kg kerb weight since twin axles are about 1600 kg.

 

The handbook will give the car towing weights but from a 2003 brochure it gives for the 2.0 hdi auto estate the kerb weight (not inc driver) 1464 kg, the max towing weight as 1500 kg but check this in the handbook since it may be reduced if the car is loaded to its max payload of 600 kg, the tow hitch load as 85 kg. Your V5C will give the mass in service which is the kerb weight plus 75 kg for the driver and is the weight now used in the 85% recommended limit by such as the Caravan Club for towing a caravan.

 

If these weights are correct for your car - applying the 85% ratio, the MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) of a caravan your car can tow is 0.85 x (1464 + 75) = 1308 kg. Such a caravan is likely to have a MIRO (mass in running order) of about 1100 kg.

[winnie]

Thanks all, it is much clearer now.

Will have to have a re-think.

Thanks again Reg

[seefive]

I think I'm on the wrong website. 

Keep getting stuck behind bloody caravans!!

[paul.h]

Towing a caravan is like the good old days of motoring, nothing in front just nice open clear roads and nothing behind since you can not see anything :)

[Johndouglas]

Keep getting stuck behind bloody caravans!!

That's enough Jeremy... :rolleyes: