New to towing - looking for advice and reassurance

[Craig_374304051]

Hi,

I hope this is the place to post this, I have a Pennine Pathfinder folding camper, which i know is not quite a caravan, but its more caravan than tent

I am towing it with a 52 plate 1.8 Vauxhall Zafira. There is prolly about and extra 30 or so kg of weight in the camper other than what is there factory fitted.

I have previously towed an unbraked trailer tent, weighing about 450kg and got used to it quite easily.

However towing the camper for the first time made me feel uncomfortable and i have a few questions if i may.

Is it normal to feel a slight "jerk" just as you come to a stop, and sometime when u pull away?

Should i really have to put so much throttle down to pull away on the flat?

Is first gear, sometime second the only way to go up an incline?

Is there ever the possibility that on a hill you stop, put your handbrake on and it doesnt stop you rolling OR is it possible that you cant pull off again due to slipping etc - and if so - what do you do!!!??? (other than panic that is)

Going along flat in a straight line i seemed to be able to make reasonable progress, and it seemed very smooth, its just all the other stuff that made me cringe!

So, am i doing something wrong? Is the car not upto the job? or is this just the way it is when towing something a little heavier?

Apologies for all the questions, it just seems you people out there are the ones to help.

Many thanks in anticipation

Craig

 

[Rioja]

What weight is a Pennine Pathfinder ? I would have thought a Zafira was a reasonable match however, from what you decribe you have big problems.I think it more likely that the Zafira is under powered rather than out weighed.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

I would make sure the trailer brakes are not binding or left on.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The slight clunking at braking and pulling away could be the towing bracket on the camping trailer. The damper might be weak. This could also be causing your brakes to bind on or off. After going on a journey touch the wheel of the trailer to see if it is excessively hot - if it is then the brakes are stuck on. BE CAREFUL in case you may burn yourself. The Zafira should be more than capable of towing the trailer as it is virtually the same mechanics as a Vectra which is a damn fine towcar.

 

[Craig_374304051]

What weight is a Pennine Pathfinder ? I would have thought a Zafira was a reasonable match however, from what you decribe you have big problems.I think it more likely that the Zafira is under powered rather than out weighed.

Hi,

On the plate on the frame its says ex-works 850kg and max weight 1000kg.

To be honest the "problems" may just be the normal circumstances with towing, ive never had any real experience of towing something bigger than a small trailer before. Someone else mentioned feeling the tyres and they were stone cold after a 30 minute journey.

The clunk or jerk almost seems to be like the caravan "catching" up with me - it happens when i brake and come to a stop - about 1/2 second after i come to a halt they is a small pressure from behind.

Apparently the towing weight for the zafira is 1200 - 1300 kg depending on where u look, and its based on the Astra Estate which i hear is a reliable towing vehicle.

The other comments were more questions - is there any fear of rolling back on a incline, is there a situation where u might not have enough power, grip to pull away, and , in good working order, should the camper and vehicle be a good match?

Once again i really apprecaite your time in replying

Craig

 

[Craig_374304051]

Hi,

On the plate on the frame its says ex-works 850kg and max weight 1000kg.

To be honest the "problems" may just be the normal circumstances with towing, ive never had any real experience of towing something bigger than a small trailer before. Someone else mentioned feeling the tyres and they were stone cold after a 30 minute journey.

The clunk or jerk almost seems to be like the caravan "catching" up with me - it happens when i brake and come to a stop - about 1/2 second after i come to a halt they is a small pressure from behind.

Apparently the towing weight for the zafira is 1200 - 1300 kg depending on where u look, and its based on the Astra Estate which i hear is a reliable towing vehicle.

The other comments were more questions - is there any fear of rolling back on a incline, is there a situation where u might not have enough power, grip to pull away, and , in good working order, should the camper and vehicle be a good match?

Once again i really apprecaite your time in replying

Craig

 

[G_374304003]

Hi,

On the plate on the frame its says ex-works 850kg and max weight 1000kg.

To be honest the "problems" may just be the normal circumstances with towing, ive never had any real experience of towing something bigger than a small trailer before. Someone else mentioned feeling the tyres and they were stone cold after a 30 minute journey.

The clunk or jerk almost seems to be like the caravan "catching" up with me - it happens when i brake and come to a stop - about 1/2 second after i come to a halt they is a small pressure from behind.

Apparently the towing weight for the zafira is 1200 - 1300 kg depending on where u look, and its based on the Astra Estate which i hear is a reliable towing vehicle.

The other comments were more questions - is there any fear of rolling back on a incline, is there a situation where u might not have enough power, grip to pull away, and , in good working order, should the camper and vehicle be a good match?

Once again i really apprecaite your time in replying

Craig

All of the comments i have read are good ones.

The 'inertia/plundger' type braking system on your trailer can on braking cause and clunk (compression) and clunk on pulling away (expansion)

A plunger properly greased and with the brake shoes properly adjusted should give only a little thud. Might be worth checking these.

The heavier the two car in comparison to the trailer, generally the less you will be aware of the trailer. Its not a matter of power.

Most 'people carriers' should tow a trailer tent very well.

Bear in mind the old packing rule - heavy -weight items loaded over the carvan or trailer axle- and to be sure check the nose weight (You can use bathroom scales at push).

I have always used MPVs and load them up (withn the limit given in the hand book) leaving the towed item fairly light. In the absence of cross winds it makes sure the tail doesn't wag the dog........

The only other thing is type pressures but I am sure you have checked that.

 

[Lol1]

You shouldn't get any clunks/bumps/jerks from a trailer when towing, Craig. Have the breaking system checked out, you may find out it has improved performance in other areas too.

 

[Pullman]

Hi Craig

Just to reassure you that the car should be 'up to the job'.

I also have a 52 plate 1.8 Zafira. I used to tow a Pennine Pullman 535 , which I know is not quite as heavy as a Pathfinder , without any problem - although you do need to use the gearbox for the hills !

I now tow a Bailey Ranger 510/4 Caravan which has an unladen weight of just below 1000Kg so will be heavier than your Pathfinder when loaded. This tows with no problems , but again needs to drop down the gears for hills.

Regarding 1st / 2nd for inclines - yes that is needed sometimes , when I come back from my storage site there is a hill out of it that the car does on it's own in 3rd , has to be done in 1st with the caravan because of the extra weight.

 

[harry_374244037]

Hi,

On the plate on the frame its says ex-works 850kg and max weight 1000kg.

To be honest the "problems" may just be the normal circumstances with towing, ive never had any real experience of towing something bigger than a small trailer before. Someone else mentioned feeling the tyres and they were stone cold after a 30 minute journey.

The clunk or jerk almost seems to be like the caravan "catching" up with me - it happens when i brake and come to a stop - about 1/2 second after i come to a halt they is a small pressure from behind.

Apparently the towing weight for the zafira is 1200 - 1300 kg depending on where u look, and its based on the Astra Estate which i hear is a reliable towing vehicle.

The other comments were more questions - is there any fear of rolling back on a incline, is there a situation where u might not have enough power, grip to pull away, and , in good working order, should the camper and vehicle be a good match?

Once again i really apprecaite your time in replying

Craig

Hi Craig,

My brother-in-law tows his conway cruiser with an astra estate 1.6 8 valve (V reg.) no problem , i know its slightly smaller than your pathfinder but gives you a rough idea.

Regards Harry

 

[Nigel_5096152]

I own a Pennine Pathfinder and although i tow with a Seat Alhambra have experienced the same jurking when braking followed with a thud when pulling away. Had the Pennine looked at and "I THINK" had something changed in the hitch and they adjusted the brakes which solved the problem for me.

A friened tows Pennine Soverign 660kg with a zifira and he hates it,says there is no power but it is petrol and on a y plate. By the way what are we posh trailer tents or poor caravaners.

 

[Craig_374304051]

Thank you all for you really helful advice and comments.

I think i shall first of all get the camper checked out (its just 3 years old and im not 100 percent sure when it was last checked). Then i shall take on board the advice on loading, and i shall test the car with it again and see if i feel any more comfortable with it, after checking tyre pressures of course

Newbie question, im not 100 percent on how the brakes work on these things, but is it actually possible for a braked caravan to roll backwards down a hill, since i understand there is some mechanism to stop this (i could be wrong) and if this is correct how come i can push it backwards without it stopping me?

Thanks again

Craig

 

[Rioja]

Your caravan/trailer brakes only work when you apply them... either by pulling the handbrake or the break away cable ( which would happen if the trailer detached itself whilst you were towing. The caravan brakes do not work in tandem with the towing vehicle's.

 

[MikeP]

Sorry Rioja, but that is totally wrong. The brakes DO work in tandem with the towing vehicle.

Over-run brakes have a mechanism that applies the caravan/trailer brakes when the car brakes are applied. They work by the caravan/trailer pushing against the towing vehicle. Due to the nature of the system the caravan/trailer brakes will come on maybe

 

[MikeP]

Craig - to answer your questions:

Is it normal to feel a slight "jerk" just as you come to a stop, and sometime when u pull away? Fairly normal, as there may be a little bit of slack in the mechanism. But get the system checked out anyway.

Should i really have to put so much throttle down to pull away on the flat? Yes - you're pulling an extra 1,000kg from a standing start. You need more throttle and perfect clutch control, probably having to slip the clutch for a little longer than usual.

Is first gear, sometime second the only way to go up an incline? From a standing start, perhaps. On the move you should be able to get up a (straight) 1:6 hill in third if you get a run up, otherwise probably second.

Is there ever the possibility that on a hill you stop, put your handbrake on and it doesnt stop you rolling OR is it possible that you cant pull off again due to slipping etc - and if so - what do you do!!!??? (other than panic that is) Try never to stop on very steep hills. If you have to do such a hill start and there is space, you can reverse a little and jackknife the trailer, then it won't be dragging you back as you start (as it will be across the slope). Be careful though!

Going along flat in a straight line i seemed to be able to make reasonable progress, and it seemed very smooth, its just all the other stuff that made me cringe! It will certainly feel different, as the car's suspension is set up NOT to have 60kg sitting on the towball and 1,000kg being tugged. It will cope, but family cars are generally set up to carry families - people who tow are in the minority.

So, am i doing something wrong? Is the car not upto the job? or is this just the way it is when towing something a little heavier? A bit more practice and I think you'll get used to it. But make sure your trailer tent has been serviced recently.