Hi. Has anyone out there got a Bailey Ranger 620/6. We bought ours in March and after a season we have realised that our current family car (a Touran) can't manage this size van even though the caravan salesman assured us it would be fine (saw me coming I think). We are going round in circles trying to decide on a tow car. My husband wants a Discovery but I think for day to day runs to school/sainsburys etc they are too big. Anyone out there tow this size van (which isn't acutally that heavy MIRO 1281). Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Tow Car for Bailey 620/6
- Thread starter worzel1
- Start date
I started out towing mine with a 2005 Honda CRV diesel which towed it well but I was always concerned as it was right on the limit weight wise at 1540 kg . I believe the newer Honda's have a higher limit. I actually switched to a Discovery 3 , but realise this will not be everyones choice as it is a big car.
Are you planning to buy new or used? The Freelander 2 has the ability as does say the Nissan X trail.Within the VW range would the Tiguan be better? (Sorry i have no details on it)Or the Sharan?
To be honest I have only seen three other 620's being towed (they seem more popular as a semi static on seasonal pitches),and these were being towed by a Mitsubishi Shogun , a Toyota Hi Lux Surf and a Kia Sorento.
I realise these are all quite large cars but the 620 is a large caravan, so it is not so much the weight but the sheer size means there is a lot of surface area to keep under control when it is windy etc.
If i can advise any more let me know.
Are you planning to buy new or used? The Freelander 2 has the ability as does say the Nissan X trail.Within the VW range would the Tiguan be better? (Sorry i have no details on it)Or the Sharan?
To be honest I have only seen three other 620's being towed (they seem more popular as a semi static on seasonal pitches),and these were being towed by a Mitsubishi Shogun , a Toyota Hi Lux Surf and a Kia Sorento.
I realise these are all quite large cars but the 620 is a large caravan, so it is not so much the weight but the sheer size means there is a lot of surface area to keep under control when it is windy etc.
If i can advise any more let me know.
Hi Landroverman. Thanks for yor comments. Yes we have only seen one other and that was being towed by a discovery. We have been looking at the Freelander II but our local Landrover specialist says they aren't strong enough for a twin axle and are unreliable. Must admit I find those comments hard to believe. We will be looking for a used car and looked at the VW Touareg but it seemed a bit gutless. Will have to look at the Nissan. Begining to think that changing the caravan would be an easier option! Just out of interest do you think a diesel Galaxy would tow it.
Worzel,
I don't know what the MTPLM of the caravan you're looking at is, but if it's any help, the lowest Freelander 2 kerb weight is 1770 kgs. All have a maximum towing limit of 2000 kgs. Even if you had the lightest one and stuck to the 85% "rule", that would still give you 1504 kgs.
I would steer clear of your "Land Rover Specialist". He obviously hasn't a clue what he's on about either with regards to weight or reliability of the Freelander 2. The 1.8 original Freelander got a bad name (usually through poor maintenance or user abuse) and now all LR products get tarred with the same brush by the ignorant who possibly try to justify their own purchase (my toy's better than yours and all that).
My father has a Freelander 2 (after parting with an original Freelander Td4 which with the exception of needing a new alternator in February this year, in which he had six years of trouble free motoring), and it's a cracking car.
The best thing would be for you to try a number of vehicles and see which suits you and your purpose best.
I don't know what the MTPLM of the caravan you're looking at is, but if it's any help, the lowest Freelander 2 kerb weight is 1770 kgs. All have a maximum towing limit of 2000 kgs. Even if you had the lightest one and stuck to the 85% "rule", that would still give you 1504 kgs.
I would steer clear of your "Land Rover Specialist". He obviously hasn't a clue what he's on about either with regards to weight or reliability of the Freelander 2. The 1.8 original Freelander got a bad name (usually through poor maintenance or user abuse) and now all LR products get tarred with the same brush by the ignorant who possibly try to justify their own purchase (my toy's better than yours and all that).
My father has a Freelander 2 (after parting with an original Freelander Td4 which with the exception of needing a new alternator in February this year, in which he had six years of trouble free motoring), and it's a cracking car.
The best thing would be for you to try a number of vehicles and see which suits you and your purpose best.
I have just been onto the Bailey site and it quotes the MTPLM as 1522 kgs, so you'd be fine with any Freelander should you wish to go along that route.
Nigel.
Nigel.
Nigel
Thanks for this it confirms what I was hoping. Think I will try some Freelanders for size. Not sure where the 'specialist' was coming from maybe he thought he could sell us a discovery. I would be much happier with day to day driving a freelander. Thanks ever so much for your input as newbies to all this we are finding it a bit of a minefield. Once we get sorted hopefully it will be happy caravaning. Many thanks
Worzel,
There's also a lot of difference in running costs too. I have a Discovery 3 (manual gearbox) which does 25-30 knocking around. I can get into the 30's on a good run, but towing is upper teens/low twenties (towing a 1440 kgs caravan).
My father's Freelander is an auto which does mid-thirties knocking around, and low twenties towing. A manual would be more economical, but he's getting lazy!!!
I'm fortunate in that we only use the Discovery for towing and "posh" days. I certainly wouldn't be able to use it as an every day vehicle, and it is, as you say, quite big.
Good luck with the hunt.
We used to tow our Bailey Senator Arizona (1500kg)with a Land Rover Discovery 2 and thought that it was a good tow car - loads of pulling power mid range. Now changed to a new Freelander 2 manual and cannot fault it - hate to say it but, although I love the original Land Rovers, the Freelander is a much better towcar so will handle the Bailey 620/6 with no problems.
Regards
Alan
Regards
Alan
Thanks for your comments. I too find it incredible that a Land Rover Specialist would tell you the Freelander is not suitable! Was this a main dealer or an independant? I know you can't name but if you tell me roughly where you are I will work it out!!
regarding the Galaxy - I would think so - it was one of my choices. Only problem is finding them. I am in North east England and at the time none of the local dealers had a demonstrator.
N.
regarding the Galaxy - I would think so - it was one of my choices. Only problem is finding them. I am in North east England and at the time none of the local dealers had a demonstrator.
N.
Hi Landroverman.
No I don't think I should name names. I will just say that it was an independant who we have since found out deals only in Discos. To be fair I think was steering us towards a Discovery cos of the size of the van and therefore he thought the Disco would be our best option. Still lookin but haven't made a decisions yet !!! Thanks for you help.
'My husband wants a Discovery but I think for day to day runs to school/sainsburys etc they are too big.'
You must be commended as probably one of the only women in Britain with this sensible comment
You must be commended as probably one of the only women in Britain with this sensible comment
We have an S7 Bretagne and also had a Touran which is not up to the job maily due to its weight so we bought an audi Q7 since we also wanted the 7 seats. Its a superb towcar although it is on the large size!. Second hand prices put them about 22K ish now but I also considered the Volvo XC90 as it also has useable 7 seats. With a big(ish) van, I wanted to be sure a wet hillstart would not see us stuck so it had to be 4x4.
Hi
At 1266/1600kg miro/mtplm our twin axle lexon is similar in size, we tow with an S-max 2.0tdci which is very stable (much better in crosswinds than our transit that we occasionally tow with), we get 42mpg solo and up to 60 mpg on a run if I try (which is really boring!) being just FWD, traction is occasionally a problem but there are no 4wd vehicles that offer the same interior space and 3 full seats in the 2nd row ( to date I have never seen any 4x4s with three full seats in the 2nd row)
At 1266/1600kg miro/mtplm our twin axle lexon is similar in size, we tow with an S-max 2.0tdci which is very stable (much better in crosswinds than our transit that we occasionally tow with), we get 42mpg solo and up to 60 mpg on a run if I try (which is really boring!) being just FWD, traction is occasionally a problem but there are no 4wd vehicles that offer the same interior space and 3 full seats in the 2nd row ( to date I have never seen any 4x4s with three full seats in the 2nd row)
Hi. Thanks all for your comments. Certainly glad I asked the question. We are still thinking, not wanting to rush into the wrong decision but you have given us a wider range to choose from as some of your outfit matches hadn't crossed our minds. Hoping to sort ourselves out fairly soon ready to set off with the right combination next season. Thanks again for all your comments.
- Sep 25, 2009
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Hello Worzel,
Having just gone through the process of purchasing our first caravan, a Swift Challenger 570 at 1595kg and sorting out a suitable towcar, with no previous experience, I can offer my thoughts on your situation.
We have now purchased a KIA Sportage Titan with a kerbweight of 1842kg giving you an 85% match. I have had a test drive and was extremely pleased with the quality, I have also taken advice from Forum members who have given the Kia almost without exception a good recommendation as a tow car.
All I can say is that you should look at the Kia and at least have a test drive, if it suits you it will certainly offer you more than good value for your hard earned money.
Trust you eventually come up with the best solution to meet your requirments.
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