I'm thinking of changing my car and wonder if anyone has any recommendations for towing a caravan with an MPTLM of 1630 kg which is replated to 1700kg to accommodate kit for long continental trips. I've been towing for over 20 years so I would think that a minimum kerbside weight of around 1850 kg would be satisfactory. For 1700 kg, a towball wt of 127kg would be ideal but I guess that I might have to look at around 100kg if I am not to eliminate too many potential vehicles.
new car
- Thread starter Michael_374247611
- Start date
What you choose will depend upon what you want to spend on buying and running the car as well as your choice of style, there's any number of 4x4's out there that will do the job but an MPV is designed to be stable at high speeds carring a heavy load and will give you better stability per kg of kerbweight.
Most caravans cannot take more than 100kg noseweight regardless of what the car can take.
We tow a 1600kg mtplm T/A with a Ford S-max using just 75kg noseweight and stability is not an issue, no snaking up to 70mph, negligible buffeting by HGV's even with the awning and everything else heavy in the rear bathroom to get the noseweight down.
The fuel economy of MPV's from Ford VW and Seat when towing is similar to that of a 4x4 with comparable cabin space when solo.
Now that Ford are putting the 174hp 2.2 diesel into the S-max and Galaxy there is no shortage of power to tow.
The achilles heel of course, is traction, in a drag race away from the junction, even on dry tarmac, or a drag across a muddy field the 4wd will always win but consider that such events only amount to a fraction of a percent of the journey.
Most caravans cannot take more than 100kg noseweight regardless of what the car can take.
We tow a 1600kg mtplm T/A with a Ford S-max using just 75kg noseweight and stability is not an issue, no snaking up to 70mph, negligible buffeting by HGV's even with the awning and everything else heavy in the rear bathroom to get the noseweight down.
The fuel economy of MPV's from Ford VW and Seat when towing is similar to that of a 4x4 with comparable cabin space when solo.
Now that Ford are putting the 174hp 2.2 diesel into the S-max and Galaxy there is no shortage of power to tow.
The achilles heel of course, is traction, in a drag race away from the junction, even on dry tarmac, or a drag across a muddy field the 4wd will always win but consider that such events only amount to a fraction of a percent of the journey.
If you are talking about the Santa Fe, it would have to be the 06, 2.2 model. The older Santa will be under powered for you 2.0, 109 bhp.
I have bought the Hyundai Terracan 160 bhp.
I am going to test it this week end towing 1600kgs
I have bought the Hyundai Terracan 160 bhp.
I am going to test it this week end towing 1600kgs
- Jun 20, 2005
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Hi Garfield
Forgive me , but I don't understand your statement:-
"..there's any number of 4x4s out there that will do the job but an MPV is designed to be stable at high speed carrying a heavy load and will give you better stability per kg of kerbweight".
My Sorento tows our 1700kg twin axle effortlessly and always feels stable. I've never been stuck in a muddy field and I do have bags of room for all our gear.
Now I never considered an MPV . Do you think I should trade the Sorie and go for an MPV? If so which one would you suggest?
Cheers
Alan
Forgive me , but I don't understand your statement:-
"..there's any number of 4x4s out there that will do the job but an MPV is designed to be stable at high speed carrying a heavy load and will give you better stability per kg of kerbweight".
My Sorento tows our 1700kg twin axle effortlessly and always feels stable. I've never been stuck in a muddy field and I do have bags of room for all our gear.
Now I never considered an MPV . Do you think I should trade the Sorie and go for an MPV? If so which one would you suggest?
Cheers
Alan
Hi Alan,
To sum it up I have found that, for example a typical 1750kg MPV will give better stability, fuel economy and space than a 1750kg 4x4 but not the traction. (though this statement is based on comparing a 2000kg+ Discovery to much lighter and more stable MPV's)
ie cruising down a motorway or to be confronted with an emergency swerve, I would be happy to tow a 1700kg van with our 1750kg S-max rather than a 1750kg 4x4 BUT come an awkward junction or a muddy field and traction could be a problem with that weight of van.
Although I prefer the stability and roadholding of MPV's I'm sure the best 4x4 is more stable than the worst MPV, I guess it's a question of "how stable is stable enough?" For me, this would be negligible buffeting by HGV's and no sign of snaking up to 60mph WITHOUT the use of a stabiliser.
If you are happy with the fuel consumption of the sorrie then it sounds like it does the job for you
What MPV would I suggest?
We ruled out the Sedona without a test drive on fuel consumption and style, other posters have also described it's handling as "Lollopy" which is not for us.
The voyager was ruled out for similar reasons to the Sedona as well as reliability and safety.
Another Sharan (or Alhambra) was considered but ruled out as ours had poor reliability and the lift out seats were a pain.
The Espace was ruled out due to poor reliability reports, syle and fuel consumption figures as well as lift out seats.
Zafiras, Tourans, Cmaxs, Picasso's were all too small
The Toyota Previa Diesel is gutless
The new Galaxy was more expensive than the S-max and reminds me a of a hearse.
We chose the S-max as it drives like a 7 seat hot hatch, it looks more like a hatchback on steroids than an MPV but there's a lot more space inside than the outside looks suggest and the fold down seats are much more convenient and it costs us at least
To sum it up I have found that, for example a typical 1750kg MPV will give better stability, fuel economy and space than a 1750kg 4x4 but not the traction. (though this statement is based on comparing a 2000kg+ Discovery to much lighter and more stable MPV's)
ie cruising down a motorway or to be confronted with an emergency swerve, I would be happy to tow a 1700kg van with our 1750kg S-max rather than a 1750kg 4x4 BUT come an awkward junction or a muddy field and traction could be a problem with that weight of van.
Although I prefer the stability and roadholding of MPV's I'm sure the best 4x4 is more stable than the worst MPV, I guess it's a question of "how stable is stable enough?" For me, this would be negligible buffeting by HGV's and no sign of snaking up to 60mph WITHOUT the use of a stabiliser.
If you are happy with the fuel consumption of the sorrie then it sounds like it does the job for you
What MPV would I suggest?
We ruled out the Sedona without a test drive on fuel consumption and style, other posters have also described it's handling as "Lollopy" which is not for us.
The voyager was ruled out for similar reasons to the Sedona as well as reliability and safety.
Another Sharan (or Alhambra) was considered but ruled out as ours had poor reliability and the lift out seats were a pain.
The Espace was ruled out due to poor reliability reports, syle and fuel consumption figures as well as lift out seats.
Zafiras, Tourans, Cmaxs, Picasso's were all too small
The Toyota Previa Diesel is gutless
The new Galaxy was more expensive than the S-max and reminds me a of a hearse.
We chose the S-max as it drives like a 7 seat hot hatch, it looks more like a hatchback on steroids than an MPV but there's a lot more space inside than the outside looks suggest and the fold down seats are much more convenient and it costs us at least
Thank you for your replies. I think that I'd prefer a kerbside weight of 1800kg min with 1700kg on the back as I prefer to be on the safe side of things which, for better or worse, steers me almost inevitably and somewhat reluctantly into 4 X 4 territory. Kias have an excellent reputation as towcars but have had mixed reviews for solo driving. I'm currently investigating the Disco 3, Grand Cherokee and Landcruiser. The best solo 4 x 4 is said to be the BMW X5 but this is very expensive.
The Disco 3 is also rather expensive. I changed from a Disco 2 TD5 to a Mercedes ML270 CDI and again to an ML320 CDI. Both Mercedes have been automatics and very much smoother to drive than my manual Disco which seemed to take ages to pull away, especially uphill. It seemed very short geared.
- Jun 20, 2005
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Michael
That's just it. How much can you afford?
On "uk.sorento.com" we have over 1700 Sorie owners who regularly post. Most tow and I think that says something. MPG in reality solo 32, towing 25-28, depending if it's minor roads or motorways. I don't think the others on your wish list will be that much better.
Mine's on 55k from new and been trouble free.It's a lot of car for the money but like Skoda of years ago I suspect the Korean parentage causes some prejudice to us westerners.
Now, if I had unlimited money to spend then I may choose something different?? Maybe!
Cheers
Alan
That's just it. How much can you afford?
On "uk.sorento.com" we have over 1700 Sorie owners who regularly post. Most tow and I think that says something. MPG in reality solo 32, towing 25-28, depending if it's minor roads or motorways. I don't think the others on your wish list will be that much better.
Mine's on 55k from new and been trouble free.It's a lot of car for the money but like Skoda of years ago I suspect the Korean parentage causes some prejudice to us westerners.
Now, if I had unlimited money to spend then I may choose something different?? Maybe!
Cheers
Alan
alan, go on change your sorrie and get a smax you would only be towing at 97% mate. what did i hear "NEVER". lol lol
jo
- Mar 14, 2005
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As you are planning to tour the Continent, you will find that, on the whole, people there tow with lighter vehicles than in the UK and have no issue with 100% weight ratio. Bearing in mind that you are reluctant to go to a 4x4, that should give you a bigger selection of towcars to choose from.
1700kg caravans on the Continent are typically towed by Audi A6's, BMW 5's, Ford Mondeos, VW Passats and the suchlike.
1700kg caravans on the Continent are typically towed by Audi A6's, BMW 5's, Ford Mondeos, VW Passats and the suchlike.
I agree with benny, they may not be as fashionable as the newcommers from Korea and Germany but I,m on my second Shogun and If I could afford it would have the latest model tommorrow.
Hyundai made licence built Shoguns as did Honda before becoming "famous" and the Terror can is aparently a recycled Mk111 Shoggy.
It must be flattering to be copied but I'll stick with the real thing and by the way my 7 year old GDI SWB can easily pull 2.8 tonnes if it needs to so 1.7 is a doddle.
Hyundai made licence built Shoguns as did Honda before becoming "famous" and the Terror can is aparently a recycled Mk111 Shoggy.
It must be flattering to be copied but I'll stick with the real thing and by the way my 7 year old GDI SWB can easily pull 2.8 tonnes if it needs to so 1.7 is a doddle.
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