Hope somebody can help. i am looking to buy a caravan, i have the oppertunity to pick up, extremely cheaply a 2 year old sterling elite explorer it has a Miro of 1532 I have a Mondeo estate 2.0 TDCI and I am confused as to if it is ok, the one line matching service didn't give a no or a yes. I know its a bit heavy but it really is a good deal does anyone out there tow somthing similar.
------------- Somedays I sit and think. somedays i just sit
Well I can't find the exact data but your plate on the car will have it and possibly the handbook. The kerbweight appears to be about 1590 kg but that will vary depending on whether it is a Titanium etc. Ideally you do not want to tow above 85% of that as per the guidelines, not the law. That equates to 1351 kg.
You can tow up to 1800 kgs according to the data but personally I would not exceed the 85% and certainly not 100%. Depends on how experienced you are.
Then when did you pass your test? If post 1997 then you are limited to a total weight of 3500kg being the maximum weight of the car, NOT the kerbweight, plus the maximum weight of the van, not its actual weight. There are a few more caveats than that too, search this forum and you will find loads of info.
You really need to check out the plates on the car though, the above is a very rough idea.
If the MIRO is 1532 kgs the MTPLM is about 1800 kg mark i believe which is going to be more than 100% of the kerb weight of the mondeo , the model of van is a twin axle i think .
I don't think that is a particularly good match for your car to tow above your kerbweight is asking for trouble , a case of the tail wagging the dog .
The caravan empty would be close to the kerbweight of the mondeo so a no go
Good thing you asked here first or you would have wasted your money.
------------- Simply Yung.(early retiree and loving it)
09 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI,07 Senator Virginia
April 1 ~ 5 York CP
5 ~ 11Loose hill C C
11 ~ 19 Gaer Hyfrid C C
We have a Mondeo Estate, and it tows well, but our Swift is probably about it's towing limit in some circumstances (wet grass, reversing, etc.). Our Swift weighs nothing like the Searcher (which is a big heavy van) so like everyone else, I think it's too heavy for your car.
i sometimes tow our twin axle Lunar lexon 640 ,with our 130 TDCI estate , and i havent noticed any difference to using our terrano , except the that the mondeo is more economical and has more power going up hills , being an estate it has lots of room in the back , just because the caravans max weight is 1600 Kgs ,its not compulsory to load it it to that weight , we just put awnings and heavy items in the back of the car , its only real drawback is the nose weight , most twin axles are a dream to tow and reverse , but i must admit we use the Nissan Terrano 95% of the time to tow ,due to its higher view point and 100 Kgs nose weight plus 4 wheel drive if needed , allthough its only been used 4 times in 4 wheel drive in the 8 years we have owned it and only one of those was towing a van
Quote: Originally posted by joecroft2 on 28/11/2008
i sometimes tow our twin axle Lunar lexon 640 ,with our 130 TDCI estate , and i havent noticed any difference to using our terrano , except the that the mondeo is more economical and has more power going up hills , being an estate it has lots of room in the back , just because the caravans max weight is 1600 Kgs ,its not compulsory to load it it to that weight , we just put awnings and heavy items in the back of the car , its only real drawback is the nose weight , most twin axles are a dream to tow and reverse , but i must admit we use the Nissan Terrano 95% of the time to tow ,due to its higher view point and 100 Kgs nose weight plus 4 wheel drive if needed , allthough its only been used 4 times in 4 wheel drive in the 8 years we have owned it and only one of those was towing a van
The sterling twin axle in the opening thread is nearly the same weight empty as the kerbweight of the mondeo estate so if loaded at all would be more than 100% of the kerbweight of the mondeo
Not a good match at all
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Topic: mondeo estate + Sterling Elite Explorer
