Which towcar for a heavy caravan?

[Pete_374320759]

We're about to buy a new Airstream 684 which weighs in at a hefty 2190kg MTPLW.

To keep to the 85% guideline, we'll be looking for a vehicle with a kerb weight of nearly 2600kg which seriously limits our options.

Does anybody have any advice/experience of what we should look at? Since the trailer is reasonably streamlined and twin axled, is it reasonable to go over the 85%? Having said that, we're both caravan novices.

 

[Jazman]

Novice drivers mainly jump in to modest cars before moving on to a Ferrari or Range Rover Sport.

My wife and I wouldn't go near such an outfit thinking back to our years as novice caravanners.

Tow car choice. Landcruiser Amazon TD.

 

[Del_374232870]

I agree with Jazzman, we slowly built up from a 650kg 14ft outfit to a 26ft 1700kg outfit over 17 years.

I cant think of a tow vehicle which would get you within the 85% ratio, however the only tow vehicles I would consider for a van of that size and weight would be a Range Rover 4.2 V8 diesel, Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 CRD, Jeep Commander V6 3.0 CRD or a Mercedes ML 3.0 all which have the required power to haul such a beast. The Range Rover Sport and land Rover discovery 2.7 are also possibilities. There are other tow vehicles which will pull the van but I personally would be looking for something with 500+lb/ft torque for relaxed towing.

I personally would go for the Jeep, then the outfit would be pure Yank.

Bet it is a lovely van though.

 

[Lutz]

If you passed your driving tests after the 1st January 1997 you will need an LGV (category C1+E) driving licence to tow anything as heavy as that as you're bound to exceed a gross combination weight of 3500kg.

Trucks don't stick to any 85% weight ratio receommendation and you're starting to enter truck territory with that sort of combination.

 

[spj]

Lutz,

I am not doubting what you say about licencing but many outfits must exceed 3500kgs, mine is around 4500kgs mgw but I do have a class 1 hgv licence so have never given it a thought, most 4x4 and twin axle combinations will be well over 3500kgs and technically they could also fall within tachograph rules.

As for the question about the towcar, how about a V10 Touareg or a Merc GL420CDI or to keep it all yank a Hummer.

spj

 

[Pete_374320759]

As I understand it, a B+E licence obtained before 1997 allows you to drive a combined MAM of up to 8250kg. After '97, a B+E allows you to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer up to the vehicles towing capacity.

Or something like that.

As for why we dived in at the deep end - we're going to be living in the van for a year or two and fancied a bit of luxury to come home to.

I've had a chance to do some research into possible towcars and come up with...

Jeep Commander

Land Rover Discovery

Range Rover

Mercedes GL class

Nissan Patrol

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon

VW Touareg

Does anyone have any experience of these?

 

[Lutz]

As I understand it, a B+E licence obtained before 1997 allows you to drive a combined MAM of up to 8250kg. After '97, a B+E allows you to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer up to the vehicles towing capacity.

Or something like that.

As for why we dived in at the deep end - we're going to be living in the van for a year or two and fancied a bit of luxury to come home to.

I've had a chance to do some research into possible towcars and come up with...

Jeep Commander

Land Rover Discovery

Range Rover

Mercedes GL class

Nissan Patrol

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon

VW Touareg

Does anyone have any experience of these?

Yes, you're right, Pete, about the driving licence issue. My mistake.

 

[Tim2]

Hi Pete

We currently tow our Bailey Arizona (06) 1500Kg with a Vauxhall Monterey (re-badged Isuzu Trooper). After a recent breakdown in Italy, see our posts in overseas threads if you are interested) CC Red Pennant provided us with 2 of the vehicles of your list as hire cars to get us home.

VW Touareg. Left hand drive, 3.0L V6 auto petrol. A dream car (I'd LOVE one) Very stable even towcar even though we had not got a stabiliser (left on our car left in Rome). All the bags and whistles, almost drove itself. Adjustable, and I mean ADJUSTABLE,Air suspension, cruise control, ESP,etc. Coped with all terrains with EASE. Very comfortable and room for passengers and luggage - huge boot. "Which?" magazine has, however, reported recent reliability problems and expensive parts with VW generally. VW used to rated much more highly by "Which" a few years ago. We had this car as a tow from Munich to Calais.

From Calais to St Helens, Merseyside we had Landrover Discovery diesil. Towed okay but not a patch on the VW not nearly so stable and hard to a good level outfit - no adjustment on the suspension. In fairness to the Disco it was a much more basic model than the VW with no cruise control, etc. "Which?" magazine has had issues with Discos over the last 3 issues of its annual car guide. This year "W?" said of the new Disco.

Although my experience of the 2 cars is very limited they were both brand new 2007 models and may be of use to you.

"The latest disco takes up where the old left off - it offers great utilitarian qualities and good space. It's more powerful and refined with suspension that automatically adjusts to the conditions. It isnt't the most fuel-efficient car you could choose and realiability is a real concenr - ir's the least dependable new 4x4 in our survey"

Of the older version Disco "W?" this year said

"offers roomy accomodation for up to 7 people and great load carrying capacity. By modern standards the drive ia too tract-like, unless your're planing to use it off-road. Relability is patchy, and the list of troublespots makes a mechancical inspection vital before buying."

I rate the "Which?" reports very highly as they are based on INDEPENDENT tests and surveys of "Which?" members.

"Which?" magazine does offer a 1 month trial offer (for

 

[WilliamTups]

May be an outsider, but I've recently purcahsed a Volvo XC-90, loaded it is nearly 2600kgs and can tow 2250kg max, will be on the limit of things, but out of my 2.4D5 I get 30-32 (solo) town and about 39-40 on motorway runs (solo) my van is on 1400 kgs abd it tows that well and the car is like sitting in an armchair great for eating up the miles

 

[Olly]

Hello Pete.

We are in the process of moving from a two berth van ( single axel ) to a larger twin axel model and from personal observation of the most commonly used tow-cars of for the type of van we are interested in plus the personal experience of a van-owning friend who swapped from a Landrover; we have decided to go with a Kia Sorento.

They offer outstanding value-for-money and I understand that, at present, there is a special deal being offered through the Caravan Club.

Hope this helps,

Olly.

 

[Pete_374320759]

William and Olly,

I've had a good look at the Volvo and the Kia, and while they're both good looking cars (they were on my long list), their kerb weight is just too low (2117kg and 2065kg respectively). Since we're newbies to the sport of towing, I'm very reluctant to go for something so light.

Some people have told me that a streamlined, twin axle caravan could be easier to tow, allowing me to go under the "85%" guideline, but since we're going to be living in the trailer, I'd be happier with something I knew could cope with every eventuality.

And Tim, thanks for the comments - I'll be giving Which? a try.

Pete

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi Pete

I am on my second Toyota Landcruiser 3.0 D4-D Auto. If you want complete reliability, car-like ride and comfort, good mpg, do try a Toyota. You will find them much harder to find but worth the search.

Good luck

 

[Del_374232870]

Dont know what your budget is, but if pos could look at the Jeep Commander 3.0CRD diesel and get the Startech Power extra box, supplied fitted and recomended by Jeep this gives an incredible 262 hp and 580kn torque. More than ample power to handle the van plus heavy enough to control it. The commander looks big but isnt much bigger than the Grand Cherokee.

 

[Lutz]

With an outfit as large as what you are contemplating, you will no dobt be driving with more care and attention than the average motorist anyway so a 100% weight ratio is quite a reasonable maximum.