Towing with a C70?

[Baxlin]

Anyone done this?

Mine’s the D3, manual gearbox. I’ve had towbars on previous cars, both for occasional towing, and for a tow-bar mounted bike rack, but now thinking possibly a 2 berth caravan now I’m retired.

I know I’ll have to watch the all-up weight, as I no longer have C1 class licence, and the car’s fairly heavy.....

I can look up the various limits, etc, but I just wondered if anyone has any experience of the later C70 as a tow car.

Thanks

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

Anyone done this?

Mine’s the D3, manual gearbox. I’ve had towbars on previous cars, both for occasional towing, and for a tow-bar mounted bike rack, but now thinking possibly a 2 berth caravan now I’m retired.

I know I’ll have to watch the all-up weight, as I no longer have C1 class licence, and the car’s fairly heavy.....

I can look up the various limits, etc, but I just wondered if anyone has any experience of the later C70 as a tow car.

Thanks

Yup - as you say it's heavier than its siblings but it does the job just as well. The major downside is rear visibility when reversing....... :-(

[Codhead73]

I tow with a C70 D5 manual, car is more than up to the job with loads of grunt, although D3 should be fine.
I have a 2 berth Coachman with an MTPLM of 1423kg (max tow weight) which it pulls lovely. C70 is limited to 1500kg which rules out a lot of the big posh vans.

I have towed with the roof down but it is not very comfy as all the weight is on the rear end and makes it a bit light on the steering.


Here is an excellent site to match your car with suitable caravans - https://towcar.info/GB/

[chrisjf]

We have pulled a 5 berth for years with a D5 and never had any problems, roof up or down, the D4 has never had any issues either, does get strange glances when the missus pulls on site with the roof down though !!!

[Whyman]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

I know I’ll have to watch the all-up weight, as I no longer have C1 class licence, and the car’s fairly heavy.....

Thanks

Even though you have lost your C1, if this was when you are 70 you still have B+E which allows you to drive and car of any weight up to 8 passenger sets and to a caravan within the vehicles towing capacity. You are not restricted to the B limit of 3500kg for the whole outfit.

Enjoy you caravaning.

[Baxlin]

Thanks for the post, but I’m not sure you’re correct, I think the overall weight limit is still 3500kgs. Hope I’m wrong, though!

[Whyman]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

Thanks for the post, but I’m not sure you’re correct, I think the overall weight limit is still 3500kgs. Hope I’m wrong, though!

If you have BE on your driving licence then you can drive the following =

"You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats and a driver with a trailer weighing up to 3,500kg" so a potential overall weight of 7000kg! Not sure I would want to tow anything that heavy!

This is an extract from the DVLA website. You can check yours easily by Googling driving licence codes and check your licence on their website.

[emlyno]

Total max on standard licence for car and trailer is 4.25 tonnes.( 3.5 tonnes for the towing vehicle and .750 for the trailer) Anything heavier will need the B+E test.

[Whyman]

Originally Posted by emlyno

Total max on standard licence for car and trailer is 4.25 tonnes.( 3.5 tonnes for the towing vehicle and .750 for the trailer) Anything heavier will need the B+E test.

Not if you passed your test before 01/01/1997 when you had grandfather rights to C1+E which reverts to B+E at age 70 unless you opt for the medical route when you can retain the C1+E for a further 3 years.

You are correct if you passed your test after the above date then you are limited to 3500 kg plus a 750kg trailer or a vehicle and trailer combination of 3500 if the GVW of trailer is over 750 kg.