Ford kuga towing power

Jan 11, 2019
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Had a 2litre kuga used twice to pull a lunar solaris caravan 1410 kg no problems at all just got a 1.5 ecoboost kuga to pull same caravan got stopped on steep hill and the auto handbrake held car and caravan then came the hill start no problem pulled off with no drop back so I would say not bad for a 1.5 petrol engine but it has got 180bhp
 
Jan 19, 2002
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Seems to have a kerbweight between 1514 and 1579 depending on model with a max tow of 1850kg so the maths works out OK for a seasoned tower!
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Fordkuga3 said:
Had a 2litre kuga used twice to pull a lunar solaris caravan 1410 kg no problems at all just got a 1.5 ecoboost kuga to pull same caravan got stopped on steep hill and the auto handbrake held car and caravan then came the hill start no problem pulled off with no drop back so I would say not bad for a 1.5 petrol engine but it has got 180bhp

I am sure that once the mainstream turbo petrols become more common the word will spread that they can tow caravans. They will be different to diesels in their driving characteristics but the drivers will adapt. With the addition of a hybrid transmission they should be excelkent load luggers, albeit probably less economical than diesel. One of our best tugs was a Saab 2.3 turbo at 225bhp and lots of torque.
 
May 7, 2012
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We use a petrol engine to tow and so far after 18 months have had no problems. Fuel consumption is a bit higher and you need to change down more on hills though. Diesels do make better tugs but a petrol engine will manage.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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I am not convinced our Government or the EU are clear exactly what power source our cars need. I’ll be dead before the final wrangle takes place so , quite frankly , I’m sticking to diesel
 
Jun 26, 2017
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Dustydog said:
I am not convinced our Government or the EU are clear exactly what power source our cars need. I’ll be dead before the final wrangle takes place so , quite frankly , I’m sticking to diesel

I am absolutely convinced that there’s nobody in or representing our government who is suitably qualified to dictate what power source our cars need.

I’m hoping I won’t be dead before the final wrangle, but nevertheless, I too will be diesel all the way, until they send the heavies in to confiscate it.
 
Oct 12, 2013
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Agree with you Lc , like you diesel all the way for us , we've only had the kuga nearly 3 years and we are happy with the power output towing capabilities for what it needs to do for us
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I think it’s already in progress despite our love of diesel. Government doesn’t have to tell the motor industry what engines to provide. It just has to legislate for emissions and control zones and let the market decide. It’s not just a UK issue as diesel sales are dropping worldwide.
Petrol on its own won’t meet legislative requirements as unless a makers “fleet” emmisions meet specified limits for CO2 they will receive a hefty fine for each car sold. The market is and will evolve very rapidly over the next few years and beyond. Whether other fuels come into the mix for private motorists isn’t clear, but diesel probably won’t disappear but be restricted to specific roles. Of which it’s hard to see caravans being one.
 
Jun 26, 2017
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“It” legislated for emissions and control zones at the turn of the millennium, naively, foolhartedly and through a complete lack of understanding, using CO2 emissions as the sole criteria for legislation. This was fuelled by the expert government advisers whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, culminating in a shift and total insistence that we must all be driving diesel vehicles, and providing huge incentives for us to do so.

In time of course, they slowly started to learn the error of their ways, and so they have now decided that owners of diesel cars should be punished, almost to the point of criminalisation, and that instead, we should all be sitting on half a ton of rented batteries in a £20K gutless supermini, that is of course until we climb out at the local Tesco so that we can plug in and charge up whilst we shop so that we are able to make it home ...

There’s nothing quite like progress ! :p
 
Mar 14, 2005
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The Government rarely tells what what we should do, only what we shouldn't, and that leaves the door open for the public and industries to work out how to comply with the restriction.

And so it is with transport, The frequently quote about ban on the sale of Diesel and petrol vehicles to come into effect in 2040, has been twisted from the source which only requires zero tail pipe emission vehicle to be sold. The pundits and press have jumped on this and equated it to a ban on Diesel and Petrol vehicles, with the assumption the solution will be electric vehicles.

In practice any vehicle that produces zero tail pipe emissions will be permitted, and that will include electric but also any other technology that stops tail pipe emissions. for example Hydrogen, but perhaps it may be possible to design a petrol or diesel power unit that does stop all tail pipe emissions, and then that might be allowed.

Without doubt, electric vehicles EV's are a strong contender, and even over the last 10 years we have seen some quite remarkable improvements in the technology. There is little doubt that EV's have big hole on the convenience of charging and range. But it certainly isn't as bleak as some contributors suggest, and if range and or charging can be improved Electric towing vehicles are an eminently possible prospect.

The reason most quoted for diesel still being the most preferred option for tow-ers, is the torque at low rpm, and relative side benefit of fuel efficiency. But ironically an EV has an even better torque profile and would suit caravanners very well.

There is an increasing number of EV's and hybrids coming on sale, so rather than saying 'never' change from Diesel, perhaps keep a more open mind, as one may come along that meets your needs.

There will be many sides to this dilemma for caravanners, and there is a possibility that other social or legal pressures may make the idea of 'touring' caravanning less feasible as time goes by, so you may not need a towing vehicle in the future. Its conceivable that there may be a move to a more continental approach of seasonal caravanning, where you site your caravan for a season, rather than towing it each time. Towing may have to be done by specialist vehicles hired for the purpose.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Good script Prof.
But the usual thing with Tuggers is most of us can’t afford a new vehicle. Europe is on the verge of collapse. The uk isn’t sure where we are going. My tug cost £530 a year in road tax. What do we do in our limited lifetime?
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Dustydog said:
Good script Prof.
But the usual thing with Tuggers is most of us can’t afford a new vehicle. Europe is on the verge of collapse. The uk isn’t sure where we are going. My tug cost £530 a year in road tax. What do we do in our limited lifetime?

I would stick with the Sorento for long as possible, but if/when it becomes too expensive to repair I would be looking for a later credible Towcar on the used market. There will still be plenty out there.

Regarding “most” tuggers when we were out at New Year our son visited us and commented on our budget outfit when compared to what was on the site. A lot of very new vans with recent registration cars, top spec motor homes and campers that would have cost twice what we paid for our outfit. I sense that caravanning is like most things and being driven up market as a lifestyle experience. After all who would pay good money to sleep in a unheated, unlit, wooden pod with a completely flat floor. Yet they are marketed as an outdoor adventure experience. Rather have a tent with no neighbours.
 
Oct 12, 2013
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£53o road tax :eek:hmy: !
We bought our tourer to tour not to be sited . I don't want to go back to the same place all the time ! I used to do them pods on the weekend and cost to be something like £4o per night ! I can get a weekend away for less than that on a site in caravan comforts ! Off Topic but it was actually 1 weekend and we were stopping in one of these pods getting attacked by wasps up in Northumberland and seeing all these people in caravans sitting there chilled out having a wine , that's what made us start looking at caravans .
No regrets . B)
 
Jun 28, 2018
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Blimey, I didn't realise road fund could be so high for private cars these days!
I tow with a diesel Avensis wagon, which costs me £30 a year to tax. I can buy an awful lot of fuel with £500 change :lol: . I'll stick with it for now, even if it's a little light on hp and torque compared to some. I'll manage, somehow...
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Coundonroad said:
Blimey, I didn't realise road fund could be so high for private cars these days!
I tow with a diesel Avensis wagon, which costs me £30 a year to tax. I can buy an awful lot of fuel with £500 change :lol: . I'll stick with it for now, even if it's a little light on hp and torque compared to some. I'll manage, somehow...

A friend of mine pays £540 pa for a 2012 small Japanese hatch back that
he mostly keeps in storage. Bringing out on nice days with no risk of salt or wet. A Subaru Impreza WRX STI. But road tax pails into insignificance compared to storage, insurance, fuel and servicing/ maintenance costs. Dusty at least gets a good utilisation from the Sorento.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Coundonroad said:
£200 insurance and an almost guaranteed MOT pass, combined with decent fuel economy trumps a Scooby in my book too ;)

Chalk and cheese so no basis for comparison other than financial.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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The Sorento has always been at the top end of polluters . Westminster keeps changing their minds and increases mine almost every year :angry:
 

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