Just been to Whitby. only second time towing a caravan. Went via A169 from a64 via Pickering, which was fine - (car seems to pull van well and did the small stretches of 16% inclines on the coast road ok). However, the long blue bank 20% incline coming down that road in to sleights put me off going back that way, so went via scarborough coast road to a64 instead. Caravan is 1300kg mtplm and car 1600kg kerb weight (max tow 1500kg). Car is vectra 1.9 diesel estate 110 kw at 4000 rpm & 320 Nm torque at 2000 - 2750 rpm ( from manual). Was it right to avoid or an unnecessary worry and extra journey time? I know some hills have bans on caravans, but any tips on towing up steep hills that don't?
Done those roads a few times my credo is foot down uphill foot off downhill a bit simple but it works or me I only pull a light caravan with a 406 2 litre petrol estate and rarely worry about inclines
Your car sound very much like my Volvo regarding body weight and towing limits except that mine propbably has a greater BHP and torque plus your caravan is identical regarding the mtplm as well. What I do is look in my Collins map first regarding any journey that I'm unfamiliar with and it tells me where all the steep hills are located. If I can avoid any steep hills I will but it's a matter of being in the right gear before the approach as that way the engine is gathering momentum on the revs which prepares you for the incline. I do same coming down hill too using a lower gear to which I barely have to use the brakes. If you have the right car with plenty of torque then there's not too much to worry about, it's if you have to do a standing start on a hill that creates more of a problem if anything that's why you need the right car for the job which it sounds very much like you have.
Important when hill climbing while towing to keep engine revving freely in low gear, allowing it to labour even if car is pulling ok will cause temp gauge to rise & also puts undue stress on dual mass flywheel as fitted to modern cars.
Change down to a suitable gear just before the hill, Try and keep the engine where peak power and torque is for your engine.
Avoid the revs dropping below that figure but dont go too fast so that your rev counter is in the red or bouncing off the rev limiter.
My sister had a diesel mondeo and i told her to keep the revs at 2000 or above. Yes it will pull a lot lower but its labouring and much better for the engine and clutch with a few more revs.
In my petrol car power is much higher possibly over 4000rpm.
You engine wont explode at those revs. Red line usually 6000 - 8000 these days.
Up near the red for short stretches is OK. But watch the gauges. Any warning lights then back off.
If peak power is 4500rpm and that equates to 35mph in 2nd or 50mph in 3rd. Then go up in 2nd at 35mph, If you have doubts about making it in 3rd.
Better a nice steady easy climb than risk slowing down and having to change gear, Which will lose momentum rapidly on a steep hill.
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Topic: Newbie - towing uphills
