Driving tips for towing with a manual

[Paul240480]

I've towed with 2 2.0ltr 240's, and 2.5GLT 850 and a T5 850.

So with the T5 Est, I was towing a Swift 480SE Challenger, at something like 1385Kg MTPLM.

We we're a family of three, with 2 dogs (Collie Cross Heinz & a hefty Lab X) and three bikes on a rack on the roof.

The T5 was very much 'at home' with that weight.

5th gear motorway cruising is not an issue at all, you will need 4 on some hills. Some will require a 'peg down' to 3rd , you'll probably find your self in lane 2 pipping off the lorries, coaches and lower powered cars here. Infact you need to keep an eye on the speedo, as it will still be easy to exceed the limit.

The thing to allow is 'time' , prepare for every hazzard early, allow for the extra braking time needed and for the extra time when pulling out etc (not being sucky eggie, I hope).

Mpg, well its a T5, so youll just have to lump it. I took my van from Pompey to The Orkneys one year.... Probs 17/18 mpg on a good day, lol

One thing I learnt to watch for on A roads etc, was the 'overtaker' who thought the caravan was holding up the flow.... only to find once he got side by side, that I was just keeping up with the vehicles ahead of me. Leave room for them to get in... cos they will be there.... always allow for the berk!

Finally enjoy it, I loved towing. Caravan sold now.

[MikeS100]

Thanks for all the replies guys, it's given me a lot to think about. I think a trip to the local weighbridge might be in order to see how much of the 230kg I have left, I didn't think about things like the gas bottles and all the little extras that are already in the caravan. I'll be disappointed if we can't go in the C70 but with the bits we need to take with us it may not be possible

Fuel economy I can live, if we can pack everything we need I can put up with a few hundred miles of sub 20 mpg to be able to cruise around with the roof down when we are away, but the more I think about it I can see us ending up in the V70.

[heyskull]

Originally Posted by volvo145

What model of twin axle Bessacarr caravan have you got that only weighs about 1250 kg fully loaded ?
You can pull a van up to 100% of the towing vehicles plated weight.
If you are a novice its better to stick to the 85% limit for safety imo.
You should also if the combo is well balanced not notice much difference with a caravan on the back or not. The exceptions to that is high sided vehicles passing or going down hills and cross winds.
MikeS100 you should be fine with your combo therefore enjoy and relax your time away.

My Bessacarr 500 GLD 1991
Mass in Running Order weight: 1045 kgs
Maximum allowable weight is: 1300 kgs

My actual loaded weight after being on weigh bridge: 1252 kgs

I am very fussy to get my noseweight just right and heavy stuff over the axles. I even move gas bottles and awnings to the centre of the van.
The twin axles make it very steady but you still know you have a caravan on the back!
Fuel consumption drops from average 33-35MPG to 21-23MPG.

SC

[volvo145]

Originally Posted by heyskull

My Bessacarr 500 GLD 1991
Mass in Running Order weight: 1045 kgs
Maximum allowable weight is: 1300 kgs

My actual loaded weight after being on weigh bridge: 1252 kgs

I am very fussy to get my noseweight just right and heavy stuff over the axles. I even move gas bottles and awnings to the centre of the van.
The twin axles make it very steady but you still know you have a caravan on the back!
Fuel consumption drops from average 33-35MPG to 21-23MPG.

SC

I thought it must be an older model with the weights you quoted.
It just goes to show how things have advanced.Some caravans with single axles are now nearly six mtrs in internal length.
You say you know you have the van on the back of you.Is it not that you have everything over the axle because you need weight on the towbar of the towing vehicle.
Does the rear of the car drop much when you attach the van?
Your car might be like the one my nephew bought a number of years ago which he described as the worst car to put a towbar on. He towed with it a few times and then got rid of it. He hated it and i'm not saying yours is like that.
Iv pulled a lot of vans and the only one that has ever given me grief was a twin axle Elddis,it would have thrown you off the road if you didn't watch what you were doing .They changed the wheel spacing the following year which cured the problems

[rogerthechorister]

Apparently similar cars can vary. My 740GLT (twin cam) tows well, both my Sport Editions are twitchy, my 760T is fairly OK but thirsty as the autobox does not go up until 60 mph and keeping in the 2 to 4 mph gap between changing down and getting kodaked is exercising. I haven't tried my 960 yet.