towing a 1700kg caravan

[richard_374471283]

hi all,

does anybody think that using a hyundai santa fe 2.7 v6 auto to pull a 26ft 1700kg is adequate enough or should i be looking for something bigger?

any advice would be appreciated

cheers,

richard

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Richard,

I have to make a few assumptions here as you have not provided all the relevant information.

However from a cursory glance at the data bases, it seem the Santa fe weighs in at about 1700Kg and it has a max permitted towed mass of 2300Kg so it should cope with the caravan but it looks as though the towing ratio is going to be around 100%.

Now this rings alarm bells on a number of counts.

Firstly the ratio is certainly higher than most people would recommend. It is always a good idea to keep the towing ratio as low as possible.

The second alarm bell is; Are you licensed to drive such and outfit. If you passed your test before after 1st Jan 1997, then you can but if you passed after then your basic entitlement limits you to an outfit where the MTPLM of the trailer cannot exceed 100% of the kerbweight of the towing vehicle,

and

The cars MAM and the trailers MTPLM combined must not exceed 3500Kg. I do not know what the MAM figure for the car is, but if its Kwt is already 1700, it only needs 100Kg of driver and bits and pieces to exceed the 3500 limit for the outft.

On balance I could not recommend the match but it is technically possible.

 

[richard_374471283]

ok,

my license was issued prior to 1997, i am on a limited budget as regards to the purchase of the towcar i will be buying and thought the santa fe 2.7 v6 auto would of happily of towed the 1700 kg for the price ive seem them at.

on the whattowcar.com website, the match comes up as 95% but gives good reports apart from going up steep hills.

im new to caravanning as i have just moved on from camping so i dont know everything as regards to towing like im sure some of the experienced towers.

also, am i actually breaking the law going over the 85% issue??

many thanks

richard

 

[valleyboy1]

hi richard. i have been looking for new towcar &caravan club helpline gave me a87%match against my bailey t/axlevan.

 

[Del_374232870]

if I were new to towing I would be looking at a small to medium van to start with preferably with a ratio of 85% or lower and then gradually work up to a bigger as confidence and experience increases. 1700kg is a big van , + gather it is a t/a and around 26ft.

If you already have the van I would recommend a towing course before using it.

 

[Parksy]

ok,

my license was issued prior to 1997, i am on a limited budget as regards to the purchase of the towcar i will be buying and thought the santa fe 2.7 v6 auto would of happily of towed the 1700 kg for the price ive seem them at.

on the whattowcar.com website, the match comes up as 95% but gives good reports apart from going up steep hills.

im new to caravanning as i have just moved on from camping so i dont know everything as regards to towing like im sure some of the experienced towers.

also, am i actually breaking the law going over the 85% issue??

many thanks

richard

Hi Richard

You are not breaking any law by exceeding the 85% guideline.

The 85% represents a recommendation and it is not as often stated a 'rule'.

If you decide on this outfit careful loading will be necessary.

Have you considered a 2.8litre diesel Pajero or Shogun?

 

[Thorpedo]

Richard

Have you considered a Kia Sedona MPV.(the older style perhaps 3 - 3.5 years old) They are filthy cheep second hand. A 2.9d is able to tug 2000kg with a good margin over 85%.

Technology is dated, but the engine is Merc.

If it's pre march 06 the tax is still affordable.

I pull a 27' 1700kg with a 2.9 auto Sedona, no problems whatsoever for power, stability and comfort.

A realy good combination. and loads of space in the car for passengers or kit (or both).

 

[Thorpedo]

Sorry error in my note above.

A 2.9d Can tow up to 2000kg.

So a 1700kg is well inside the 85% guidline.

As you are new to this it would be advisable to stick to 85% or better. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Thorpedo

From what you are saying you appear to be using the car's max towable weight with the caravan weight to get to the 85% guideline, ie 1700/2000. This is not the case - you should be dividing the caravan weight (MPTLM) by the cars kerbweight, and the kerbweight can be significantly less than its max towable weight.

 

[Thorpedo]

The manufacturer, all towing web sites I have ever looked at as well as the motoring press state the max towing weight of a braked trailer for the Sedona is 2000kg.

The kerb weight of the car is about 2168kg. The gross weight is 2900kg

According to my calculator 85% of 2168kg = 1842kg so a 1700kg caravan is well within the recommendation.

This is why the car is known for being a great towing vehicle.

After all you wouldn't buy it for it's dated Korean design.

Strange though, Mines 3.5 years old but I still get people stop to ask about it in camp sites, perhaps they are just being kind.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

The manufacturer, all towing web sites I have ever looked at as well as the motoring press state the max towing weight of a braked trailer for the Sedona is 2000kg.

The kerb weight of the car is about 2168kg. The gross weight is 2900kg

According to my calculator 85% of 2168kg = 1842kg so a 1700kg caravan is well within the recommendation.

This is why the car is known for being a great towing vehicle.

After all you wouldn't buy it for it's dated Korean design.

Strange though, Mines 3.5 years old but I still get people stop to ask about it in camp sites, perhaps they are just being kind.

OK - I wasn't sure of the vehicle weight and made a wrong assumption.

 

[richard_374471283]

Hi Richard

You are not breaking any law by exceeding the 85% guideline.

The 85% represents a recommendation and it is not as often stated a 'rule'.

If you decide on this outfit careful loading will be necessary.

Have you considered a 2.8litre diesel Pajero or Shogun?

hi parksy,

cheers for the advice, makes a change to get a straight unbiased answer, im gonna look at some other options re the towing vehicle

regards

richard

 

[Martin24]

Santa fe rather light and diessel would be a much better option especially in auto guise. Just paid less than 8K for a 3 year old rexton with 35000 miles which would do the job. 2.7 merc diessel with 5spd merc tiptronic.

If you want something cheaper you wouldn't go far wrong with a shogun or pajero. Stick to the older 2.8TD though as the 3.2 isn't as reliable

 

[Damian]

I have to agree with Thorpedo, the Sedona is a great tow car.

Having just scrapped my Espace (long story,NEVER touch French again!) Ihave just got an 04 plate Sedona SE auto, and it is efortless driving towing.

A well equipped vehicle which as Thorpedo has said, draws a lot of interest, maybe because of the privacy glass, maybe because of its almost retro looks.

It is a big beast, loads of interior room, although the turning circle is a little on the large side.