Advise please about towing with a Renault Laguna.

[Glenys_374372934]

Could anyone help regarding towing with my Renault Laguna Tourer 2.0dci 150bhp reg March 07.I am interested in towing a Bailey Bordeaux or Burgundy series 7,i keep getting mixed reports,some caravan dealers say i can tow and others say its not advisable,Also one dealer mentioned on towsafe comparason sheet that the vin plate was showing incorrect percent,very confusing.

Can anyone help please?

 

[PeterinPenarth]

I can't advise specifically on the combinations you propose, but having used a Laguna (the 120bhp 1.9Dci) estate to tow for four years, I can confirm that you should have plenty of power. However, we encountered two problems that could be limiting factors and we certainly wouldn't use a Laguna again. 1. They're simply lighter than most comparable vehicles due mainly, I suspect, to the amount of plastic used in the body panels. This is fine when you're not looking for a towcar, but a 1385kg kerbweight really wasn't up to the mark. 2. The deflection on the towball when hitched up was excessive, as the rear of the car dipped far more than any other towcar we've used. This caused clearance problems with the jockey wheel. We've now switched to a Honda Accord and have no issues or problems at all.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Glenys,

First thing to say is that all third party web sites that give information about weights must be used with caution. The information is put in by humans and can, and do contain some errors.

Secondly not all models listed on these sites are available in the UK, or conversely some models available in the UK are not listed, so it does not surprise me that you have had difficulty in obtaining a consistent response.

It is also important to note that each version of a car (or caravan) may have different weight limits compared to similar models. Even the number of doors on car will affect weight limits so it is very important to quote the exact make model inc variation and year you have.

You must always take the information about your vehicle and caravan from the handbook supplied with the car or van, or seek confirmation of the details from the supplying dealer or manufacturer. Some details about your car are on your V5 registration document or VIN plate.

I have tried to look up the details of stated car and caravan, and as if to prove my point above, my sources cannot find an exact match for them. Without the detailed information I cannot offer any firm advice, except that Renault use a different method of quoting their kerb weight, and calculating the maximum towable weight.

With Renault watch for the Gross Train Weight, which is not the sum of the max vehicle weight plus the max weight of caravan. You may find that you cannot have both car and caravan at maximum weights. This can be restrictive.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I can't advise specifically on the combinations you propose, but having used a Laguna (the 120bhp 1.9Dci) estate to tow for four years, I can confirm that you should have plenty of power. However, we encountered two problems that could be limiting factors and we certainly wouldn't use a Laguna again. 1. They're simply lighter than most comparable vehicles due mainly, I suspect, to the amount of plastic used in the body panels. This is fine when you're not looking for a towcar, but a 1385kg kerbweight really wasn't up to the mark. 2. The deflection on the towball when hitched up was excessive, as the rear of the car dipped far more than any other towcar we've used. This caused clearance problems with the jockey wheel. We've now switched to a Honda Accord and have no issues or problems at all.

Hello Peter,

Your posting about your Renault has me concerned. You say that the deflection of the tow hitch was excessive. well assuming the car is up to EU specification, the tow hitch should have been between 350 and 420mm (Measured to the centre of the ball from level floor with the caravan hitched. If the ball sinks lower than 350mm, then it is over loaded.

I suggest you check your nose weight, but also check the load in the car as the rear axle limit on the Laguna may be exceeded with a maximum nose load and only a modest load in the boot.

 

[daniel_374312677]

Do not tow with a laguna weak car poor gearbox and clutch ours failed pulling a 93 cyclone xl laguna was a 2003 1.9dti with 40k on the clock, changed it for a mondeo cant fault it.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Glenys

From 2002 to 2005 I used my Laguna Tourer 2.2 dci to tug our caravans. The last one was a Bailey Pageant S5 Vendee.Towed well except I did have to prepare myself for the "big coach suction effect". Car went back to the lease co with 96k miles on the clock. Never had the clutch or gearbox changed and the engine was as strong as ever .

A very good tool. And yes I was towing around the 93% mark.Moved onto a Sorento now.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Steve L]

I currently tow with the previous model Laguna 2Ltr estate. It is a very good car and capable of towing without any major problems.

My brother-in-law and father-in-law both had Lagunas 0f 51 and 03 plates. While the cars drove fine with no major mechanical problems, the actual tow ball height was very low which as already mentioned caused problems with ground clearance of the jockey wheel.

As for tow capacity, you should be alright, but the only real way to confirm the tow capacity of your actual car would be to ask the manufacturer direct for their specification. Even franchise dealers don't know or can't be bothered to find out unless they are caravanners themselves.

I tow our caravan at 100% of the manufacturers tow capacity for the car, which is above the "MYTHICAL" 85% of the kerbside weight of the car that a lot of folk bang on about as being a supposed safe tow for novice drivers etc.

So long as you load the caravan correctly following the guidelines available from Practical Caravan, and keep your hitch weight within the lowest figure quoted of either the car or caravan (I think 75Kgs of the Laguna)then you should encounter no major problems.

Steve L.