towing with a ford galaxy

[carmad1]

Hi

We are going to be towing a bailey ranger 540/6 with a ford galaxy 1.9 tdi does anyone tow with a galaxy and are they any good towing a caravan Lance.

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Hi ,you didnt say what HP your car has.I tow with a Galaxy 150 hp 1.9tdi and its great,if I take it easy I get over 50 mpg and 33mpg towing.If I tow at 72mph it drops to 23 mpg.Hope this helps if not please ask.

 

[carmad1]

HI Scott

It is a 2003 130 BHP

 

[weejock]

Hi Lance

I had an Alhambra with this engine and it was a really good towcar.

I think the shape of the car really helps and with such a light van you really will no know its there.

Only week point is the clutch when reversing. If you have to have a few "cut's" on a hill it can get a bit smelly.

 

[Gafferbill]

Hi ,you didnt say what HP your car has.I tow with a Galaxy 150 hp 1.9tdi and its great,if I take it easy I get over 50 mpg and 33mpg towing.If I tow at 72mph it drops to 23 mpg.Hope this helps if not please ask.

72 mph towing ?????????????????

Remember a car towing a centrally balanced trailer( axle in the middle) is the second most unstable vehicle on the road after anything with two wheels.

Thats why speed limits are imposed for safety.

The maximum in this country being 60mph

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Gafferbil,

Did Scott say anything about towing at 72mph in this country?

When in France I offten tow at 70mph legally on the auto routes

 

[Gafferbill]

Gafferbil,

Did Scott say anything about towing at 72mph in this country?

When in France I offten tow at 70mph legally on the auto routes

Hi Graham

After over 30 years and some 3 million miles driving Articulated trucks I am well aware of the fact that to

critisise someone's driving is asking for trouble.

The fact is that a car towing a caravan is an unstable vehicle even when in France.

I hope you don't find this out the hard way.

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Hi Lance ,you should be fine,tyour engine is more than powerfull enough and the these cars are rock solid on the road,I should have said to give you more of an idea I tow a Bailey Arizona.

And yes I do tow at these speeds in the UK.My outfit is well balanced and as I said before rock solid.Please dont moan about the way I tow as it is not Lances question

 

[Dustydog]

Scott

What speed you do is your business but why admit on an open forum that you break the law?? There is nothing to stop the Police taking action against you if they so wish. Remember the nutter who filmed himself at 150mph on his motor bike, played it on you tube and is now doing porridge.

Cheers

Alan

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Hi Alan,I know what you mean but there are bigger fish in the sea,and what proof do they have?as you said the guy on utube videoed himself.I was giving Lance as much info as possible.

 

[Dustydog]

Do you high speed drivers think the caravan structure can sustain the stresses of high speed motoring. Just imagine the terrific wind pressure that must bear against the front of the caravan at 70mph!

Apart from say the Airstream, most caravans are not exactly aerodynamic.

I wonder what the manufacturers think about the durability of their products exposed to sustained high speeds?

Cheers

Alan

 

[carmad1]

Hi everyone thanks for all your help.everyone seams a bit annoyed about what scott sayed about the speed even though i wouldn't speed i think its up to the person who's driving at the time if the conditions are ok i don't really see the harm as long as it is safe. I seen some caravans over the weekend going very slowly on the motorway with the back end of the car nearly touching the floor surely this is more dangerous than doing 65-70 with a perfect match???

 

[ProfJohnL]

Here again the mistake of assuming that breaking the speed limit is mechanically unsafe is being made.

It is clear from this forum that different outfits have different towing characteristics, and the characteristics can vary dramatically dependent of a range of other factors such as loading, serviceability of the running gear of both caravan and car, and the drivers skill and others.

Get it all right, and some outfits will tow happily up to and beyond the UK national speed limit, get it wrong and you can be in trouble at very low speeds.

The issue here is that some one has admitted that they driver their out fit at up to 72mph. It may be very stable, but do it in the UK on public roads and you are breaking the law. There are no excuses and I have no sympathy for anyone who is caught and prosecuted. It is not about it being safe to do it, it is plain and simply illegal.

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Here again the mistake of assuming that breaking the speed limit is mechanically unsafe is being made.

It is clear from this forum that different outfits have different towing characteristics, and the characteristics can vary dramatically dependent of a range of other factors such as loading, serviceability of the running gear of both caravan and car, and the drivers skill and others.

Get it all right, and some outfits will tow happily up to and beyond the UK national speed limit, get it wrong and you can be in trouble at very low speeds.

The issue here is that some one has admitted that they driver their out fit at up to 72mph. It may be very stable, but do it in the UK on public roads and you are breaking the law. There are no excuses and I have no sympathy for anyone who is caught and prosecuted. It is not about it being safe to do it, it is plain and simply illegal.

Was with you until the last paragraph John...I would bet you my house that you do not drive at the speed limit all the time on every road.. I think the pot is calling the kettle black

 

[wombat1]

Lance

I has a VW Sharan 1.9TDI, towed a 1500kg MTPLM van, great on the tarmac, until I tried to get across grass - I couldn't, the front wheels could not get enough traction!

Loading the hitch up to the max 85kg might have been the problem, but having only fwd on this car gave me some probs.

I know have a AWD car, it is heavier but don't have any slippy grass issues any more. Also with the Sharan I realy felt the suction when being overtaken by coaches, and was always tense overtaking arctics. With the AWD I don't have these concerns anymore.

Despite the loss in fuel economy, i am glad I made the change.

 

[MAM]

Hi Graham

After over 30 years and some 3 million miles driving Articulated trucks I am well aware of the fact that to

critisise someone's driving is asking for trouble.

The fact is that a car towing a caravan is an unstable vehicle even when in France.

I hope you don't find this out the hard way.

Apparently the French have decided that the laws of Physics don't apply in France as they were formulated by a non French person.