Does anyone know if you can tow a 14ft caravan with a Rickman Spaceranger 2.0ltr Mondeo engine. I'm only asking because it is GRP and don't know whether it would be heavy enough
towing with a kit car
- Thread starter sheila_5110590
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- Mar 14, 2005
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I'd enquire with the DVLA (Tel. 0870 240 0010) about the legalities of towing with a kit car at all first because I strongly suspect that without any sort of documentation regarding technical suitability for towing, you may have a big problem on your hands. It is unlikely that you will find a type approved towbar for the car so it's all going to be very difficult but the DVLA may have a suggestion.
Type-approval of towbars only applies to vehicle which themselves have to be type-approved. Kit cars and commercial vehicles, including motorhomes, aren't subject to towbar type-approval regulations, at least not in the UK.
To answer Sheila's question, I believe the Rickman Spaceranger was based on Escort Mk 1/2 components. The Mondeo engine seems to be a later addition but is probably no heavier than an original Escort engine. The Mk2 Escort 1.6 had a kerbweight of 955kg and a towing limit of 1060kg with just driver and passenger but this reduced to 800kg fully laden. I think that a Rickman Spaceranger would be significantly lighter than an Escort so that 800kg is probably a realistic limit.
Get the vehicle weighed at your local weighbridge to establish it's kerbweight and use that as a towing limit if less than 800kg. A number of 14' 4-berth caravans were available under 800kg gross in the '80s but there won't be many of those left!
To answer Sheila's question, I believe the Rickman Spaceranger was based on Escort Mk 1/2 components. The Mondeo engine seems to be a later addition but is probably no heavier than an original Escort engine. The Mk2 Escort 1.6 had a kerbweight of 955kg and a towing limit of 1060kg with just driver and passenger but this reduced to 800kg fully laden. I think that a Rickman Spaceranger would be significantly lighter than an Escort so that 800kg is probably a realistic limit.
Get the vehicle weighed at your local weighbridge to establish it's kerbweight and use that as a towing limit if less than 800kg. A number of 14' 4-berth caravans were available under 800kg gross in the '80s but there won't be many of those left!
- Mar 14, 2005
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I don't doubt what you say about not having to have the towbar type approved on a kit car but I would be rather wary about fitting one that hasn't been tested. How would you otherwise have any idea of whether the fixing points to the underbody are strong and durable enough to take the loads imposed, especially if at least part of the structure is GRP?
The structure on a Rickman is welded steel box sections. Only the body is grp and is non-structural.
The possibility of poor, un-tested, design or construction exists in any pre-1998 towbar as well as ALL post-1998 commercials, motorhomes, etc but this possibility shouldn't be used to exclude such vehicles from towing.
There is a responsibility on the owner to ensure that any towbar is "fit for purpose" but no definition of the level of engineering skill needed to design and construct such a towbar.
The possibility of poor, un-tested, design or construction exists in any pre-1998 towbar as well as ALL post-1998 commercials, motorhomes, etc but this possibility shouldn't be used to exclude such vehicles from towing.
There is a responsibility on the owner to ensure that any towbar is "fit for purpose" but no definition of the level of engineering skill needed to design and construct such a towbar.
I don't know details but I've been on sites where kit cars towing vans have been. In recent times I've seen vans pulled by two Land/Range Rover based kit cars. An old Jago Jeep. And a Westfield pulling a very modern looking small light weight fancy space age looking van on route to LeMans for the 24 hour race.
Guess its down to weight and chassis mounting points.
If you are to bolt through box section make sure tube can be placed into th box section that bolts run through to prevent the section from being compressed or have tube for bolts welded into the sections for strength.
Guess its down to weight and chassis mounting points.
If you are to bolt through box section make sure tube can be placed into th box section that bolts run through to prevent the section from being compressed or have tube for bolts welded into the sections for strength.
Hi Shiela, yes you can tow with the R/Spaceranger. I my self towed a Lunar Sunbeam, every where and before that an ABI Viceroy all 22Ft of it. You will find the R/SR a good tow car, it would be a good idea to get it wieghed before you finally embark on towing just to make sure your within your 85% for a good match. Have you had R/Sr long? we had ours about 7Yrs, did have 2.3 P/Fd diesel and 40+ mpg. If you dont allready know there is a Club out there that caters for your Rickman, spares and freindly advice, with a web site,www.rickmancarsownersclub.org.uk. Or you can contact Clive Razey, at 6, Gage Close, Maidenhead, Berks,SL6 2SQ. Me Iam just a life time member, Bazz.
A Rickman Kit is heavier than the base vehicle, thats why the suspension tc has to be up graded to cope. Bazz.
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