Test driving cars for towing!!

[MrBell]

Hi everyone i have been thinking over the past few months about test driving cars for towing.
Has anyone on this forum asked to test drive a car or a 4x4 with thier caravan on the back? If you look around on the net you will see you can get 24hr test drives usually the bigger cars will be the ones you could take out.
Would it be possible for someone like us to go to these offers or even to a garage and ask to use one of their cars to tow!
I would expect the answer to be a resounding NO but you just never know.
Since towing has been on the boom for a while and caravan makers are making lots of effort to make caravans more like home surley there is scope for car makers to understand this market!

 

[RogerL]

Very few demonstators or used cars have towbars fitted - dealers normally remove them before putting them on the forecourt as most buyers avoid used cars that have been used for towing.
You may find LandRovers with towbars as it's a no-cost extra for their internal management cars which subsequently go on sale as nearly new - but don't expect any enthusiasm from the dealer for a test tow.

 

[NigelHutson]

In 2002, my father was thinking of changing his five year old Range Rover for a Freelander Td4, but wanted to see what one was like towing. He contacted the dealership and said what he was after, also suggesting that he would only think about ordering one after he had tried one for towing.
A top of the range model was supplied with a towbar for his use over a long weekend.
I suppose it depends on whether the manufacturer/dealership takes towing seriously or not - or has faith in the product for that purpose. There's probably more chance with a 4X4 model.

 

[weejock]

Sansong are to eqip their new Korrando demo's with towbars. The report I saw said you would be allowed to take it away and try. They are trying to emulate the sales of the early kia sorrento.