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Hi all,

I hope you can help me make sense of this. I'm looking at changing my caravan for something bigger. My caravan's have generally been lightwieght so no real issue with the MIRO and MTLPM. But now this is a real consideration. My car is not listed on What Tow Car so it hard to make a comparison My cars' spec is as follows:

VW Passat TDi (Diesel) 1.9 Highline

Weight 1653kg

Max Towing weight braked 1500kg

5 Speed

Power 103bhp

Fuel Capacity 70l

Am I looking at 85% of the 1500kg?

Thanks

Nigel

How old is the car?? is it a company one??, if not why not get it chipped to 130 BHP then you will have the extra power you need and better economy, google superchips

if the car is going to be chipped i would recommend in updgraded the clutch otherwise there will be to much torque and basically damage the clutch.

Quote: Originally posted by r055bud on 02/6/2010

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if the car is going to be chipped i would recommend in updgraded the clutch otherwise there will be to much torque and basically damage the clutch.

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Been towing a 1500MTPLM van with a TDCi Mundano for a year or so. About 90-95% match usually. Loaded & driven correctly the match isnt an issue. Your car will be more capable than you think with a heavier van'. Ours is the 130hp version & never struggles. Took the van out with a borrowed Sorrento & preferred the Mondeo, much nicer. Returns well over 30mpg while towing. If you can chip yours to 130hp all the better, but it will make a superb tow-car as it is.

Now go shop for a nice new van'.     

wowee   new towers should not be looking at 90%+   

all the earlier correspondents and their 1400 recommendations are correct   go for that  limitand you will be fine   

over 90 is for experienced bods who can  anticipate road conditions    what with lorries and buses and the bow waves and with cross winds   they all affect the van and cause it to move sideways   this can lead to a snake when the heavy van takes over from the car as the main direction controller  and if you blow it then you are a goner   use of brakes can also affect sidemovement and in the early days you are only learning so takle it easy   time enough when you gain the experience and then you can be in charge of your own decision making       friend of mine had a snake and he was an exzperienced tower    now he has a monster car so always stays well below the 85%   the lower the better really

1400kg    plenty vans at that range   unless you are being pushed into the big boy brigade of twin axles etc    if so  resist it     you do not have a 130bhp so the advice there is irrelevant    nieither are you a sorrento  so ignore that too    the mondeo is your equivalent and they are given really good write ups   no idea what a mundano is  so i will ignore that for you 

good luck

We just got back from our first break in our new (to us) Sterling Europa, at 1460 kg MTPLM it's the heaviest van we have owned. 

It towed beautifully with our VW Passat, a 2001 1.9 TDi estate, automatic, 130 bhp.  We previously towed with a variety of cars, a Mitsi 4x4 (too thirsty), Sedona (also thirsty on day to day use) and a Mondeo.  The Mondeo and Passat seems very similar performance, capable towing with enough power to get up hills, don't what the different bhp would mean to you.

We were careful not to take too much this time, we sometimes have nearly 60 kg of dogs in the boot!  However last year we were loaded to the gills an the Passat took us to Windermere and back safely.  It may not be the most exciting car but we like it and rate it highly.

The dealer also ran it through his computer and said it was a safe match.

"you do not have a 130bhp so the advice there is irrelevant"

Well, not really as someone mentioned chipping to 130, & I was pointing out how well 130hp pulls a heavier van'.

."nieither are you a sorrento  so ignore that too"

Again, no the OP doesnt have a Sorrento but I was stating, in my opinion, how well my simillarly sized car handles a larger caravan in comparison to a much heavier tow-car.  

" no idea what a mundano is  so i will ignore that for you  "

Mundano=Mondeo.

Quote: Originally posted by mike+judi on 06/6/2010

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We tow an MTPLM 0f 1409kgs with our Passat estate 2.0 140bhp DSG quite nicely thanks.

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I did weigh the car with the tank3/4 full and me in it at 90kgs and seem to remember it coming out at 1780kgs. I've got the weighbridge ticket somewhere,must dig it out and have a look to make sure.

Just found it and it was 1680kgs not 1780kgs as previously stated.