I was thinking of trying to tow a small 2 berth Freedom microlite caravan with the above and wondered if anybody else has tried. My manual says it can tow 500kg unbraked and up to 900 kg braked. I have seen the Freedom 2 berths say they weigh around 470 up to 750kg loaded. I don't want to take it anywhere near the maximum of 900kg.
I think that it will pull it ok except for some of the steep hills, you'll also probably get through clutches quite quick, have you thought about a trailer tent ?
You would get thru clutches no quicker than a larger car pulling a larger caravan of similar weight ratio, It would also pull as well as said larger car/larger caravan, although in any size car a modern turbodiesel will pull better than equivalent petrol.
Clutches fail prematurely thru missuse, not because you are towing a caravan but it is true a bad driver will burn out a clutch more quickly towing than solo.
Thanks for your replies, maybe I will just keep my Outwell Carolina3 and carry on camping with some extra comforts like a good kitchen unit with sink and a wardrobe cupboard for our clothes. I think I was just a bit unlucky with the cold weather, week before last in Somerset without a hookup for my electric and some heating. Also need to buy a couple of those fat Airic mattresses to keep the cold from the ground. The double air mattress wasn't a lot of good. The good thing is, I can keep all that in my garage in the cupboard. Trailer tents I have looked at on Ebay, seem just as heavy if not heavier than the Freedom microlite caravans.
We used to have a mk 1 fiesta with a trailer that was made from a mini subframe, a 9 man tent with all the bits n bobs, 3 kids and 2 small dogs lol but the holidays were fantastic.
The car to caravan weight ratio isn't important if the car is underpowered which would then mean that the clutch would need to be feathered out for longer when pulling away or hill starting and more wear would happen.
We also towed a 14ft caravan with a 1098cc morris minor( a very long time ago) which was fine until you met a hill, any hill, lol but the car was the slightly heavier than the van
Hi Paul and Wendy so how many clutches did your little Morris Minor burn out? and how heavy was the 14ft caravan. I get conflicting weights when I look on websites for my car which seems to be the 2003 model although first registered in September 2004 with a 54 registration plate. My documents say top towing is 900kg but was told by Broadlane Caravans I could only pull 500kg with it, that has confused me.
We went through one clutch on the moggy and the finally a front chassis leg split when I braked hard one day ans the car was scrapped. The caravan was 835kg.
The law states that whatever you are towing it must not exceed the weight of the tow vehicle, however there is a guideline rule of 85% of the weight of the tow vehicle is advisable as a max.
Your next step would be to find out the true kerb weight of your fiesta but you need to remember the payload weight has to be added to the tow unit.
The 500kg towing limit refers to the automatic Fiesta, the manual has a 900kg limit. It would be no more underpowered towing the caravan at, say 700kg as a petrol powered Mondeo or Vectra would be towing at only 77% of its max tow weight.
You do not need to slip the clutch excessively when towing a caravan well within the car's limit whatever size of car/caravan.
You really cannot be comparing a Morris Minor with a modern car.
The op now appears to believe their car(assuming it is a 1.4 with manual gearbox)is a poor match for the caravan as stated. This is patently untrue.
Why is it when people post on here asking if a small car is suitable for towing a caravan they generally recieve such negative answers & often incorrect imformation?
I should add that the Fiesta in question has a kerbweight of 1170kg so towing the Freedom caravan even at its mgw of 750kg the car would be only towing at 64%, well within the recommended 85% limit. How bad a match is that?
Quote: Originally posted by barmar on 01/7/2009
Thanks for your replies, maybe I will just keep my Outwell Carolina3 and carry on camping with some extra comforts like a good kitchen unit with sink and a wardrobe cupboard for our clothes. I think I was just a bit unlucky with the cold weather, week before last in Somerset without a hookup for my electric and some heating. Also need to buy a couple of those fat Airic mattresses to keep the cold from the ground. The double air mattress wasn't a lot of good. The good thing is, I can keep all that in my garage in the cupboard. Trailer tents I have looked at on Ebay, seem just as heavy if not heavier than the Freedom microlite caravans.
Hiya, have you thought about a trailor if your wanting to take more stuff, if so we had a 1.1 fiesta that towed a trailor (4ft by 7ft) no probs. We have now moved to a peugeot and have got the tow bar which i am sure ould fit your model if your interested.
abit chheky i know, but its only 6 months old and got electrics to.
Quote: Originally posted by Kabbes on 01/7/2009
The 500kg towing limit refers to the automatic Fiesta, the manual has a 900kg limit. It would be no more underpowered towing the caravan at, say 700kg as a petrol powered Mondeo or Vectra would be towing at only 77% of its max tow weight.
Post last edited on 01/07/2009 18:19:20
My petrol Vectra would do 0-60mph in 12.6sec with a 4 berth caravan on the back. It was an early V6 SRi. I'd like to see the manual Fiesta doing that solo.
We had a Freedom 1st class towed with Almera SE. Was just on the 85% but was slow going up hills and would not have wanted to do a hill start. Found the Freedom too small (2 of us) and changed to an Ariva 320 but then changed the car to a 2 litre Ford Focus. Moral of the tale is that we should really have got the slightly larger van and a heavier car from the beginning cos it cost us chopping in on both after only 1 year!!!
Quote: ... Trailer tents I have looked at on Ebay, seem just as heavy if not heavier than the Freedom microlite caravans.
Kabbes, as usual, has made some sound points. The Fiesta will pull your choice of van well, or indeed a trailer-tent, should you opt for that route. I owned a Cabanon Atlantis DL, one of the heavier trailer-tents available, rated at 650kgs fully loaded and that towed a dream behind a 1.4 Megane Coupe (more often, forgetting it was there), so I'd have do doubt your suggested combination will be ok.
Unlike many on these forums, you've clearly done some homework on the matter first and just seeking reassurance through the forum, so as per Kabbes implication, lets give some positive feedback.
I used to have a Freedom Microlite Prima 2 berth, MTPLM 750 Kgs.
My 2004 Honda Jazz 1.4 SE - manual, petrol, - pulled it very well. The max tow and kerbweight were coincidentally both 1,000 Kgs, so the ratio was 75%.
I believe the Fiesta is similar in weights & power so should pull it fine.
I now have a slightly heavier van at 817 Kgs which I am towing with a 2008 Seat Ibiza 1.4 Tdi Reference Sport. Again, no problems.
------------- Caz
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Topic: towing with a 1.4 2004 Ford Fiesta
