Vauxhall Zafira 2.00 dti

[Maggi1]

can anyone tell me why the 2002 vauxhall zafira 2litre dti has such a poor makers towing recomendation of 1050kg when the kerbweight is 1448kg. We at present tow a small 350 wisp only 850mtplm but are wanting to change to a new lunar zenith fixed bed which has a mtptlm of 1235kg ( well within the limits if we follow the 85% rule ). We have only had the vauxhall a year and do not really want to part with it as in all other respects it's a fine car plus we do not have finance in place to change both !!looks like we will have to rough it in the wisp till we are ready to change the car !! GUTTED

 

[Lutz]

Yes, that particular version suffered from engine cooling problems which severely limited the maximum permissible towload. It'll be little consolation to you that all other engine variants have higher limits. The 2.2 litre DTI, for example, had a 1500kg limit.

 

[Lutz]

ps: Vauxhall's sister company on the Continent, Opel, offers documentation to allow you to tow 1250kg with the same 2.0DTI provided that you limit yourself to gradients of no more than 10% (12% is normal). If this is acceptable to you and you can persuade Vauxhall to do the same, then you would be able to tow the Lunar Zenith.

 

[Maggi1]

Yes, that particular version suffered from engine cooling problems which severely limited the maximum permissible towload. It'll be little consolation to you that all other engine variants have higher limits. The 2.2 litre DTI, for example, had a 1500kg limit.

Many Thanks LUTZ ,Your information was a great help. maggi

 

[Zafiral]

Lutz, if the Zafira is not full can you legally tow a higher weight as long as you do not exceed the Gross train weight?

 

[Lutz]

Only if you have documentation to allow 1250kg @ 10% may you exceed the 1050kg so long as you do not exceed the gross train weight.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello maggi,

The 85% is not a rule, it is only a suggested guideline, and it is superseded by the limits that the car manufacture states for each model.

However it is always better to keep the caravan or trailer as light as possible compared to the weight of the car.

 

[david_374427030]

ps: Vauxhall's sister company on the Continent, Opel, offers documentation to allow you to tow 1250kg with the same 2.0DTI provided that you limit yourself to gradients of no more than 10% (12% is normal). If this is acceptable to you and you can persuade Vauxhall to do the same, then you would be able to tow the Lunar Zenith.

can you please tell us where we can get the documentation from. as we have got the same problem as you have got cheers