Hi all,just wanted some advice,I currently own a 2010 astra 1.7cdti,108bhp.the car can legally tow a caravan of a maximum weight of 1000kg.iam looking at buying an old elddis wisp 450eb.just for me and my family to see if we like caravaning.then in a year or so we will upgrade both vehicle and caravan.if we all like it that is.
just wanted your thoughts of the astra as a tow car,
enough power ect..cheers ..
Hello,
As long as the caravan max weight is 1000kg or less it would be legal,the car is very under powered at 108bhp so it is likely to struggle on hills and maybe on slight inclines if car and caravan are fully loaded, as you are not looking long term with that outfit,try it and see and have fun.
We happily towed a 4-berth Lunar all over the country in the mid-90`s weighing over 1000kgs with Peugeot 405`s and 406`s petrol and diesels. 92BHP & 148lb/ft torque in the diesel, plodded along quite happily at 60-65mph, needed a gearchange to 4th to climb Beattock and Shap when going to the Scottish Highlands with 2 adults, 2 kids, awning, inflatable dinghy, bikes etc.
People forget that 20-30 years ago caravanning existed quite happily with the lighter vans and family cars that had less than 100 BHP.
It used to be recommended that an outfit had a minimum of 45BHP/tonne, and that was when most towcars were petrol and not blessed with the torque available from modern turbo-diesels.
Don`t expect tyre-shredding performance, but you will be fine.
Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 09/7/2017
The BHP figure is not what you need though, its the torque and the gear ratio.
A 50BHP car could tow better than a 130BHP car if the torque and gearing are different.
A car geared for a top speed of 100mph will need less power than one thats geared for 150mph.
Which is pretty much the point I made.
45BHP/tonne was considered adequate when the petrol engines being used to tow with were pretty inept as regards to torque. A 2-ltr Sierra had 99 BHP, but only 115lb/ft of torque. A Pug diesel had 7 less BHP but another 33lb/ft (28%) of torque, and having owned and towed with both the Pug was in a different league (both solo and as a towcar).
As the OP has a car with 108BHP and 192lb/ft of torque I fail to see how that will be anything other than adequate. Thats still more torque than a 2.5ltr Subaru Outback Estate, and people wouldn`t be warning him off towing with one of those.
cheers for the response everyone,
I was thinking of getting the car re mapped for towing,
more torque,bhp, ect..
think I may look into it,iam told it will take it upto 125bhp.
I have been driving a wagon for just about twenty years,
so Iam used to the wagon dropping down to forty or fortyfive mph up hills,
fortyfour tons on back going to porthmadog,
iam probably going for an elddis wisp 450 eb to begin with. 937kg fully laden,so shouldn't be a problem.
cheers for replies .
I tow a Wisp 300 with an Astra 1.7 cdti 100 bhp without a problem and I have extremely steep inclines (down and up) to negotiate each time I head south. I would give your car a try as it is before considering a re-map. If you do have it re-mapped do not forget to inform your insurer or you will probably find that you are not covered if you have a claim.
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Topic: Astra tow car.
