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Subject Topic: Towing Vehicle or `Van?
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01/4/2011 at 9:20am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Pilote Explorateur
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Greetings,

I have a question out there for any techically minded folk.

Assuming that no loads are exceeded and that both vehicles are loaded correctly (with a correct noseweight, correctly distributed in the 'van), which gives the better ecomomy?

A light car and a heavy van, (where, for instance, the awning et al is in the van) or the other way around, A heavy car and a light 'van. (Where the awning and gubbins is in the car.)

Anybody out there know the answer.

 

 

 



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How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!


01/4/2011 at 10:11am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Volvo V60 & Swift Challenger 565
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Shouldn`t make any difference at all.

You are still having to move a given weight, and your aerodynamic profile will also remain unchanged.

The only thing which may change is your stability.


01/4/2011 at 10:26am
 Location: yorkshire
 Outfit: MG zt 190 estateBailey ranger 550 6
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would go for the heavier car myself,don't want the tail to wag the dog if you get my drift!


01/4/2011 at 12:28pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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should balance out.ie.your van will have a large engine pulling a light load and will be heavy in it self,your light car is pulling a heavy load.diesel engines will give greater MPG but the cost is now higher than petrol and the vehicle will cost more to buy.we only get with our 4x4 petrol 17 MPG with our 3 ltr engine towing at 80%.unless you have owned both combinations i do not think you will know the answer.interesting though.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


01/4/2011 at 6:26pm
 Location: Sussex
 Outfit: 2007 Eriba Triton 430GT
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I'm with Angus1215, it will make no difference at all.

Your engine has to provide the energy to pull the combined weight of your outfit, it doesn't know where the mass is located, simply has to pull it. Therefore no difference to fuel economy whatsoever.

The question that does arise is "stability" This is definitely affected by the weight distribution between the car and the van.

My own view is that it is better to have the maximum mass in the towing vehicle as long as the the van is properly balanced with the correct tow ball force.

Put it another way. You've never seen a solo car snake because it was overloaded or badly balanced. It might not go round corners very well but will not snake.
However, a badly balanced van will definitely snake.


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01/4/2011 at 6:40pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0
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Interesting question but I'd tend to agree with Angus and Crypto makes valid point to.
You ideally don't want to be pulling anything heavier than the car; the ratio isn't just about pulling ability and stability, but ability to stop the thing too.

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Paul

Every day's a school day!


01/4/2011 at 7:18pm
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Makes no difference & only consideration when loading car & van should be best driving trim for whole outfit.


01/4/2011 at 8:04pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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I have a 1999 Citreon Berlingo 1.9 D which is 50mpg  not towing and 40mpg towing. no bother and tows 1200kg weight of caravan easy. It cost me £1400 two years ago - far better than  any 4x4 previously owned.



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