Decent towcars

[Royston]

Forced to purchase a newer car because my trusty vectra had started to develope faults which seem to only occure when towing, engine management lights engine going into emergency mode,having to pull over stop and retart engine to get going again, The computer not indicating what could be the problem.
Looking around for a replacement never realized how many black cars their are for sale, disregarded the foreign Korean cars due to their high road tax, and a lots of complaints within this forum.
Finally settled for a Ford Mondeo 2 ltr Titanium X,now you have to be carefull the first two Mondeo Zetex I inspected the service records were not very helpfull horendous amount of mileage very little info, now the third one was completly different,Local car , mileage around 10 thousand a year, yearly ford service , drives like a dream, had a recommended Ford fitter fit the towball and electrics .Spent a few hours analizing the owners handbook, what a computer this car has , the seats well so comfy
I had the choice of detatchable Towball, Fixed towball , twin outlets sockets or single 13 pin, after a great deal of exchange words with the fitter , who advised me thar all caravans assembled 2010 onwards have the 13 pin, my current van being 2005 twin sockets, My Local dealer shop I found a adaptar that has a 13pin male connection moulded into a twin female connection, its made in Germany not China thankgoodness , which means I do not have to have those dreaded 13pin plug with twin wires connected to two female connector,
The adaptor has a very simple twist connectionto the 13pin plug, so if and when we upgrade the van I have the correct 13 pin plug fitted., I also had the fixed Alko ball fitted
The 13pin adaptor is made by a firm called Erich Jaeger Gmbh, cost £26 pounds.
Royston

 

[RayS]

Hi Royston, happy you have found a good car and all seems well. long may it stay so.

Couple of points perhaps for others reading this. high mileage cars are not necessarily bad if they have been company cars and maintained at company rather than owner expense. Should have full service history consistant with the mileage though. Low mileage not necessarily a good thing, particularly if a diesel with a particulate filter.

The 7 pin to 13 pin adaptors are fine and good, but if you are intending to keep the van for any length of time, I would suggest you rewire the van connections to a 13 pin plug rather than use the adaptor. Adaptors introduce two more joints into each circuit which are potential trouble particularly if the adaptor gets thoroughly wet, the 12N and 12S plugs are much less relaible than the 13 pin, and an adaptor is easily stolen if you leave the outfit, say at a service area. You will find all the details about changing which is a fiarly easy DIY job if you search the forum - or reply and I or someone else will talk you through it.

 

[Tukums]

Simple solution, about an hours work wiring diagram included:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-123V-Caravan-Conversion-Cables/dp/B004U4ONRI

 

[Royston]

High I have just had a flash from Virgin telling me the page showing the 13pin across the alko do not enter as its clssified as dangerious.Royston

 

[otherclive]

Low mileage and DPF problems aren't definitely linked it all depends on how the car is driven. A DPF will regenerate quite quickly so if it isn't causing a problem during a test drive if I bought the car I would then make sure I took it for a decent spin either on a M way or by A roads and using lower gears to keep it over 2000 rpm but silly revs aren't required. But if your normal motoring consists of short journeys or stop start driving a diesel with DPF is not a good option. People forget that petroleum tow caravans quite well and unless you do high miles towing or high miles solo a petrol has lower running costs. Alternative try an old Pajero as one of your fleet!!

 

[Royston]

Thanks very much for the info, not sure whether my car has a DPF filter fitted, what year were they introduced ,I do only use Shell or BP diesel, also checking out whether the car has a cam belt or chain,as some models were fitted with chain.
Taking the car out for a initial towing , just to see if their is any difference than previous car, I know the car tyre pressures are 35 front 32 rear , normal load, 36 front 41 rear full load(Psi) I take it that full load refers to towing.

 

[paws]

I just checked out the link in post 2... its OK.....
nothing to worry about.
Regards
paws

 

[otherclive]

Thanks very much for the info, not sure whether my car has a DPF filter fitted, what year were they introduced ,I do only use Shell or BP diesel, also checking out whether the car has a cam belt or chain,as some models were fitted with chain.
Taking the car out for a initial towing , just to see if their is any difference than previous car, I know the car tyre pressures are 35 front 32 rear , normal load, 36 front 41 rear full load(Psi) I take it that full load refers to towing.

it varied dependent on model and engine. Best to check with the Ford technical helpline using your Regd Number/Vin or the dealer Service Manager.

 

[jessicasmith]

its seems a nice forum
great discussion

thanks for sharing