Hi all,i am new to all this so would really appreciate some advice.Could anyone tell me if a 2000 plate BMW 318i SE,petrol, rear wheel drive, manual is suitable for towing a 2/4 berth caravan.I cant get my head round kerb weights,laden,unladen etc.Any advice would be welcome, Thank you Steve Thorpe
The answer is yes it can. Stick to a caravan of max loaded weight of around 1150kg & no more than that. If you cannot understand weights then you will have to be guided only by information posted on this thread.
Can't give a definitive answer without knowing which caravan. Although your car has a towing capacity of 1600kg it is a fairly light car which will limit your caravan weight to about 1200kg.
A 2 or 4 berth may be less than that but may well be more.
Rear wheel drive is not ideal getting off a wet pitch but someone will always help with a push.
Rear wheel drive/front wheel drive is a matter of opinion. Many years ago I had a Mk2 Cortina automatic with rear wheel drive, and I pulled a large front wheel drive Austin 1800, complete with caravan, off a muddy field with no problem. The Austin just sat and spun its wheels and got nowhere!
Personally, I prefer rear wheel drive for towing, as the weight of the trailer is pushing down on the drive wheels, unlike front wheel drive, where the weight on the tow-ball is tending to lift the front of the car. Having said that, I now have a front wheel drive Volvo V70, which tows just fine.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: New member
