just started caravaning got a abi globestar 4 berth might be a daft question but will a 2.3td frontera pull it?
towing
- Thread starter alfie2
- Start date
Any idea what the caravan weighs? The Frontera is quite a heavy car and people who tow with them rate them.
Graeme.
Graeme.
- Mar 14, 2005
- 10,125
- 930
- 40,935
Before starting to tow anything you've got to ask yourself four questions, in order of priority:
1. Is it legal?
To check, you need to know the weight of the caravan and the car manufacturer's towing limits, including the maximum permissibe train weights. You should find details shown on the respective vehicle plates and/or in the owner's handbook.
2. Does my driving licence cover the requirements?
This will normally only be a potential issue if you passed your driving test after the 1st January 1997.
3. If it's legal, it still may not be safe. As a good starting point, the 85% weight ratio recommendation is worth sticking to. (This is max. weight of the caravan divided by the kerbweight of the car)
4. If it's legal and safe, has the car got enough performance to cover my needs?
In your question, you don't say whether you have already checked all the figures and just want an opinion from other owners as to the suitability of your towcar, performancewise. However, if you aren't clear about issues 1 to 3 either, you need to do your homework first.
1. Is it legal?
To check, you need to know the weight of the caravan and the car manufacturer's towing limits, including the maximum permissibe train weights. You should find details shown on the respective vehicle plates and/or in the owner's handbook.
2. Does my driving licence cover the requirements?
This will normally only be a potential issue if you passed your driving test after the 1st January 1997.
3. If it's legal, it still may not be safe. As a good starting point, the 85% weight ratio recommendation is worth sticking to. (This is max. weight of the caravan divided by the kerbweight of the car)
4. If it's legal and safe, has the car got enough performance to cover my needs?
In your question, you don't say whether you have already checked all the figures and just want an opinion from other owners as to the suitability of your towcar, performancewise. However, if you aren't clear about issues 1 to 3 either, you need to do your homework first.
The later 2.2TD Frontera is very well regarded but the 2.3td fitted in earlier Fronteras is an ancient engine used in the Bedford CF van and original Carlton - somewhat lacking in power.
Without seeing the figures, it's difficult to confirm, but the towing ratio is probably under 85% which is fine.
Only Alfie can say whether it's got enough performance.
Without seeing the figures, it's difficult to confirm, but the towing ratio is probably under 85% which is fine.
Only Alfie can say whether it's got enough performance.
Our 1st Fronterra was a 2.3 diesel, not the most refined engine, nor the fastest of the line, but we found it would pill what ever it was asked to, long steep hills meant advance gear changes but she always got to the top in a respectible manner. Fuel consumption was reasonable as well. But ensure that it has had its oil changes done within the manufacturers recomendations, I used to change ours every 3000 miles , although I believe the book says 6000. The later 2.2 diesel is miles ahead in performance but it is worth watching out for the rarer 2.8 or even 2.5, As for Petrol models we tried a !999 2.2 petrol , never again very heavy on fuel and whilst the engine was more refind towing was not much better than the 2.3.
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