Hi grumpy the rest & bethankful is the name of the old road. You can see it on your left down in the vallay as you climb the new road with caravan in 4th or 3rd gear at worst. You would need a bull dozer to pull your caravan up the last bit of the old road and you would be grumpy.In 1962 I drove an Albion claymore from Glasgow to Tighnabruaich with 8 ton of coal up the new road which is a 3 mile drag in 2nd gear,well overloaded & single track with passing places to Tighnabruaich. Scary? not for an 18 year boy.
george.
Quote: Originally posted by mr grumpy on 15/3/2012
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>How easy/hard would it be to tow a lunar lexon with a vectra up the rest & be thankful or should I be thankful and not do it? <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>
Is your lexon a twin axle ? and what age / model/ engine size of vectra have you as some have lower towing capacity's
I've towed a Lunar Saturn (and latterly a 1500kg Burtner S500TS) up that road a few times on the way to Inveraray and beyond (the tarmac road - not Cauldwell's!!). The view from the top is amazing - but there are many much more difficult roads around.
On the other side of the Rest, be wary where the road flattens out heading for Loch Fyne as this stretch is infamous for those wanting "to do the ton".
On route, do stop at Inveraray and see the Old Jail. It is well worth the experience.
Also, in the harbour is the Artic Penguin and Auld Reeky, the Clyde Puffer. Again worth a visit.
Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 16/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by mr grumpy on 15/3/2012
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>How easy/hard would it be to tow a lunar lexon with a vectra up the rest & be thankful or should I be thankful and not do it? <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>
my caravan is a single axle and car is 2006 1.8 vectra
Is your lexon a twin axle ? and what age / model/ engine size of vectra have you as some have lower towing capacity's
My concern is about where you intend to go after you cross the Rest and be Thankful. The A83 (the Rest road) continues to be a good road all the way to Campbletown, but any of the roads off of it are a different story and you will need a tow car with plenty of oomph and some to spare to tackle other routes.
Quote: Originally posted by mr grumpy on 16/3/2012
vans goss is 1300 ,cars max towing 1400
I assume your's is the 5dr since you quote 1400kgs tow limit, as the 1.8 estate is limited to 1300kgs.
5dr, kerbweight circa 1335kgs, equates to approx 97% match.
I ask only because of your other thread here that suggests your new to towing and concerned of your experience at this match ratio.
Post last edited on 17/03/2012 09:05:37
It’s nice to see people are concerned. I have been towing a trailer tent for about 10 years and due to health issues i can’t bend as much know so upgraded to a van. My question regarding L plates was just curiosity more than anything else. I was only trying to find out if it would be doable as Scotland has a lot of hills (i have been all over Scotland not with a van though) as to get half way up would be embarrassing not to mention a dam right nuisance to other drivers.
Thanks for pointing out the obvious between a t.t & a van. I’ll need to go back to SPEC SAVERS then. Can anybody advise what would the best weight for a van to be towed by a 1.8 vectra?
Can anybody tell me if they have driven up this road? With what car & towing what van weight. Or do I need to sell & buy another van?
I do wish to tour Scotland again as god’s country is the best.
As the crow flies, we are 14 miles from the top of the Rest and be Thankfull and it is our main road to the west from here.
As to what car your van can tow, well I can only suggest that you look for that information on one of the specialised websites. Keeping in mind the 85% recommendation for inexperienced towers.
As for myself, I have towed Utility trailers, TT's, FC's and Caravans over the Rest with no problems what so ever. It is a brilliant road with a good surface, but I do keep well within the 85% suggestion. Not so much because of the Rest, but from there I am always going onto other, not so gentle routes.
The Rest and be Thankfull is about 3 miles of steady climbing on the new road and is situated about one third into the bit between Succoth and Cairndow (Loch Long and Loch Fyne).
However this part of the road has been closed at least twice in the last year because of landslides and whilst it is open again now, you will meet road works along the route as they are still trying to stablise the hillside.
This picture will give you an ida of the road surface and the problems that we have with landslides.
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: REST & BE THANKFULL
