B21A in a tow car

paul4be · Jul 26th, 2006, 13:09

My 240 has a B21A. Runs really well and pulls well for a B21A (better than I expected). It has an M47 5 speed.

Anyway, we are looking into getting a trailer tent. Will a B21A be up to the job of pulling a trailer tent whilst car is fully loaded as well? I realise it would be under the max towing weight etc, but will it cope ok in the real world, or will it be so slow that it becomes a problem on the road? (Don't want to be creaping along the inside lane at 45!!!!!!).

Still trying to decide whether to go for a bigger motor or not.

Have a V cam waiting to go in (still) and intend to fit a skimmed 531 if I keep the car, as another option.

CTCNetwork · Jul 26th, 2006, 14:05

Hi,

I would think that your 240 should be able to tow a trailer tent.
Given the weight of the trailer is 1200 or less, shouldn't be an issue.

May be worth having a look in the Towing Forum for some further info..

Des. . .

Alec Dawe · Jul 26th, 2006, 14:52

Trailer tent no problem. Weight well under limit, plus low profile means that air resistance will be reasonable too.
No doubt will tow happily at the legal limit.
Only problem I ever had with low profile trailers was seeing if they were still attached! In a straight line, mine vanishes from the rear view mirror, so I attach a broom handle with a flag (!Sad!) to the trailer, just so I can make sure its still there (Other motorists seem to object to weaving over the raod to see it in the wing mirrors!)
Also, I found that small trailers are MUCH worse to reverse than a big caravan, again because you can't see enough of them in the rear view or side mirrors.
Happy towing.

Alec

molening · Jul 27th, 2006, 00:02

I tow with a B200F engined 240 which when I don't have the head in bits (se earlier post) performs verry well.
Large trailers are not a problem and the only problem I had with a large caravan I borrowed earlier this year was when I hit a gale force head wind, the caravan weighed 1600kg unladen.
It will pull another 240 on a trailer, the trailer weighs 750kg so that one is over 2 tonne.
I pulled a trailer tent (made by combi camp) earlier this year and you didn't really feel it on the back.

Regards

paul4be · Jul 27th, 2006, 08:46

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it.

Shouldn't be a problem then.

Jul 27th, 2006, 16:53

I've just bought a Conway Corniche trailer tent. All up weight is about 460kg on the trailer and my 2ltr copes OK. To get round the visability issue I'm whacking a reversing camera on the car, although this will only really be handy on the road as it's just as easy to unhitch the tent and push it round yourself on site.

barrie013 · Jul 27th, 2006, 21:12

I've done quite a bit of trailer tent towing, and the smallest car I used, as far as I can remember, was a 1300 Astra estate,which coped without any problem.
As trailer tents are so light, the great advantage is that you can load them (safely of course) quite high, as long as the stuff you put on the top is light in weight. I would load the heavier stuff into the base of the trailer, put the cover on, then put things like bedding, groundsheet and anything else not too heavy on top of that, and cover it all with a tarpaulin. This saved some space inside the car, and meant that I didn't need a flag on a broomstick.(Please insert mother-in-law jokes here)

Mike_Brace · Jul 28th, 2006, 12:41

The B21A is quite good for towing as it is quite a torquey engine. Back in the days when these were newish many were used for towing horseboxes and I have happily towed a caravan and car trailers with no problem.

Mike

Jul 26th, 2006, 13:09	#1
paul4be Junior Member Last Online: Apr 16th, 2008 21:24 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Yorkshire	B21A in a tow car My 240 has a B21A. Runs really well and pulls well for a B21A (better than I expected). It has an M47 5 speed. Anyway, we are looking into getting a trailer tent. Will a B21A be up to the job of pulling a trailer tent whilst car is fully loaded as well? I realise it would be under the max towing weight etc, but will it cope ok in the real world, or will it be so slow that it becomes a problem on the road? (Don't want to be creaping along the inside lane at 45!!!!!!). Still trying to decide whether to go for a bigger motor or not. Have a V cam waiting to go in (still) and intend to fit a skimmed 531 if I keep the car, as another option.

Jul 26th, 2006, 14:05	#2
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, I would think that your 240 should be able to tow a trailer tent. Given the weight of the trailer is 1200 or less, shouldn't be an issue. May be worth having a look in the Towing Forum for some further info.. Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Jul 26th, 2006, 14:52	#3
Alec Dawe Former Support Team Last Online: Jan 26th, 2024 11:26 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nr Norwich	Trailer tent no problem. Weight well under limit, plus low profile means that air resistance will be reasonable too. No doubt will tow happily at the legal limit. Only problem I ever had with low profile trailers was seeing if they were still attached! In a straight line, mine vanishes from the rear view mirror, so I attach a broom handle with a flag (!Sad!) to the trailer, just so I can make sure its still there (Other motorists seem to object to weaving over the raod to see it in the wing mirrors!) Also, I found that small trailers are MUCH worse to reverse than a big caravan, again because you can't see enough of them in the rear view or side mirrors. Happy towing. Alec __________________ Alec. (My other car is a WD 2-10-0)

Jul 27th, 2006, 00:02	#4
molening New Member Last Online: Dec 28th, 2009 23:45 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Edinburgh	240 will pull most things I tow with a B200F engined 240 which when I don't have the head in bits (se earlier post) performs verry well. Large trailers are not a problem and the only problem I had with a large caravan I borrowed earlier this year was when I hit a gale force head wind, the caravan weighed 1600kg unladen. It will pull another 240 on a trailer, the trailer weighs 750kg so that one is over 2 tonne. I pulled a trailer tent (made by combi camp) earlier this year and you didn't really feel it on the back. Regards

Jul 28th, 2006, 12:41	#8
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	The B21A is quite good for towing as it is quite a torquey engine. Back in the days when these were newish many were used for towing horseboxes and I have happily towed a caravan and car trailers with no problem. Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Jul 27th, 2006, 08:46	#5
paul4be Junior Member Last Online: Apr 16th, 2008 21:24 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Yorkshire	Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. Shouldn't be a problem then.

Jul 27th, 2006, 16:53	#6
wagoneer Guest Location:	I've just bought a Conway Corniche trailer tent. All up weight is about 460kg on the trailer and my 2ltr copes OK. To get round the visability issue I'm whacking a reversing camera on the car, although this will only really be handy on the road as it's just as easy to unhitch the tent and push it round yourself on site.

Jul 27th, 2006, 21:12	#7
barrie013 Member Last Online: Mar 25th, 2021 16:16 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Port Talbot	I've done quite a bit of trailer tent towing, and the smallest car I used, as far as I can remember, was a 1300 Astra estate,which coped without any problem. As trailer tents are so light, the great advantage is that you can load them (safely of course) quite high, as long as the stuff you put on the top is light in weight. I would load the heavier stuff into the base of the trailer, put the cover on, then put things like bedding, groundsheet and anything else not too heavy on top of that, and cover it all with a tarpaulin. This saved some space inside the car, and meant that I didn't need a flag on a broomstick.(Please insert mother-in-law jokes here)

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