caravan towing

[peterws]

Anybody else do this wi their Berlingos? Mine handles Daisy Daystar very well indeed. I`ve seen a couple of Mk 2`s towing, but no other Mk 3`s. . .

[evdama]

Anybody else do this wi their Berlingos? Mine handles Daisy Daystar very well indeed. I`ve seen a couple of Mk 2`s towing, but no other Mk 3`s. . .

How many berths is the caravan and what engine is in the blingo?

[peterws]

It`s a 2 berth, but no lightweight. The car is the XTR 110.

[pch]

I tow a freedom jetstream 2 berth, no problems, average 40 mpg with it. with bikes on rack and 2 canoes on top. Brilliant.

[evdama]

I normally subscribe to the Top Gear opinion of caravanning but I ask because I have the possible prospect of dragging a big caravan up a series of really steeep hills/poor surfaces/narrow lanes.

I've got the person its for saying yes no problem for your van, and a nay- sayer claiming the planet will be dislodged from its axis and we'll all die if I attempt it.

It would only be once ever but two things worry me -is the van powerful enough(it might be a well kitted 4 berth) and is uphill traction a problem with the back end sat down on the deck - especially if I have to pull in to let someone past when I'm on one of the big slopes.

(On that subject I have started a separate thread)

I've been up the route many times at ,shall we say ,'maximum gross weight' with my trailer without problem.
Are caravans that different?
Not sure of what exactly you have -a petrol MK3 1600?

Assuming you have this motor ,against my hearse you have 80KW of power against my 55 but I have what at least I think, is a more useful 185nm of torque at 1500 against your 147 at 4000.
The kerbweight is 1320 kilos against the XTR's 1402

Is it a fair comparison in real life?
Anyone with 1.6-75 dv6 that does caravans?

[peterws]

If your caravan weight is within the towing limit of your car, you`ll probably be ok for a one off. Load the car, not the `van. And keep a healthy nose weight, or you could have a lot of swaying and instability.Max nose weight (on the towing ball) will be 55kg. The load permitted in the car would be far far more than this so don`t worry about a few extra kg. You need plenty of power to do regular jaunts. My van weighs around 1100kg; the car is a diesel. Torque`s not brill, but correct gearing helps. Good luck if you go ahead. Are we talking Wales here perchance?

[evdama]

If your caravan weight is within the towing limit of your car, you`ll probably be ok for a one off. Load the car, not the `van. And keep a healthy nose weight, or you could have a lot of swaying and instability.Max nose weight (on the towing ball) will be 55kg. The load permitted in the car would be far far more than this so don`t worry about a few extra kg. You need plenty of power to do regular jaunts. My van weighs around 1100kg; the car is a diesel. Torque`s not brill, but correct gearing helps. Good luck if you go ahead. Are we talking Wales here perchance?

Nearly -deepest darkest Herefordshire-a couple of sections are 100yards at 1-in-2 gradient on narrow broken surfaced lanes.

[j90xxx]

I tow with my 75bhp.
And, correct, load the van (car) not the caravan.
Clothes and bedding in caravan; food and beer in the van.
Caravan is 15' 2 berth, about 800kg.
Tows perfect. No sagging, snaking or bouncing. Mostly motorway and A roads, with a few country roads for good measure. Not tried any big climbs, but sure would cope (if only slowly).
MPG drops a bit, but still mid 40's.

[peterws]

If your caravan weight is within the towing limit of your car, you`ll probably be ok for a one off. Load the car, not the `van. And keep a healthy nose weight, or you could have a lot of swaying and instability.Max nose weight (on the towing ball) will be 55kg. The load permitted in the car would be far far more than this so don`t worry about a few extra kg. You need plenty of power to do regular jaunts. My van weighs around 1100kg; the car is a diesel. Torque`s not brill, but correct gearing helps. Good luck if you go ahead. Are we talking Wales here perchance?

Nearly -deepest darkest Herefordshire-a couple of sections are 100yards at 1-in-2 gradient on narrow broken surfaced lanes.

1 in 2???? Gordon Bennet, I wouldn`t be able to climb up that! Forget it, man! Unless ya know a friendly farmer . . .

[evdama]

If your caravan weight is within the towing limit of your car, you`ll probably be ok for a one off. Load the car, not the `van. And keep a healthy nose weight, or you could have a lot of swaying and instability.Max nose weight (on the towing ball) will be 55kg. The load permitted in the car would be far far more than this so don`t worry about a few extra kg. You need plenty of power to do regular jaunts. My van weighs around 1100kg; the car is a diesel. Torque`s not brill, but correct gearing helps. Good luck if you go ahead. Are we talking Wales here perchance?

Nearly -deepest darkest Herefordshire-a couple of sections are 100yards at 1-in-2 gradient on narrow broken surfaced lanes.

1 in 2???? Gordon Bennet, I wouldn`t be able to climb up that! Forget it, man! Unless ya know a friendly farmer . . .

I have an old tractor at the other end but thats a last resort.
Ive done the climb many many times with a hefty trailer load that I imagine is close to a caravan,
The power is not such a problem as I can just go up in 1st in the torque sweet spot.
Its just the traction -would a caravan behave differently somehow than a trailer and lift the front wheels?
Id imagine the overhang behind the axle would bob up and don and lever away at the towbar....