Towing with amazon

[gillberry]

Hi all , we towed our classic cheltenham nyala (1000kg) with our amazon estate this weekend and it was fun . Compared to our modern cars the rear end sat a lot lower . Now we have just had new springs (10%uprated) shocks and bushes fitted does anyone know about things like noseweight , the 85% rule for these . Other than that she was fine .

Thanks Jayne and Simon .

[amazondean]

We used our estate to tow our caravan for a while but realy we was limited to about 100 miles as sometimes we were down to 30mph on an incline. We now use our 850 estate diesel.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/amazondean/family/family059.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/amazondean/family/family014-1.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/amazondean/family/family057.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/amazondean/family/family058.jpg

[classicswede]

Always found the amazon great for towing - even when over weight. The heaviest thing I can think of having towed is a 240 estate on a car trailer.
With the B20 pleanty of pulling power without loosing much speed on hills.

With the caravan I thing a draw bar weight of 80 kg worked out best. (from memory)

[gillberry]

This is what she sat like (as he did not add photos)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m214/gillberry_2006/101_1645.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m214/gillberry_2006/101_1644.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m214/gillberry_2006/101_1642.jpg
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m214/gillberry_2006/101_1643.jpg


and that was without these two in the back - another reason to get an estate
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m214/gillberry_2006/phone170509013.jpg

[classicswede]

Personlay I would have gone about 25+ uprated but that is me and our cars tend to often carry weight and tow. The best bet for you could be to try some spring assistors when towing.

[Lucien]

Slight tangent: I remember towing an Amazon with an 100,000 miler 1100cc VW Golf Mk1, including some 'interesting' hills.

In hindsight, I'm not surprised I had to put a new engine in that car! (the Golf :-) )

[Brian M]

Your estate does look very front end light.

Last year I fitted these "Load Assister Shocks" to my Amazon and they have lifted the rear so much when pulling my 1000kg Safari caravan that I now have a nose up angle to the caravan.

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/29229/2674179040058258802S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2674179040058258802aStwnM)

I have just completed 700 miles in Europe and did not have any bottoming out even on ferry ramps and some very bumpy camp site tracks.

[gillberry]

Just an update , have now fitted some spring assistors , sat the caravan on the back and she sits a lot better . Will see about getting some pics .