Online towcar match sites are pre-programmed with weights etc for cars and caravans. Much of that is wrong. You need to use your own data which you know to be correct.
Also when towing with a small car, the load in the car also has to ne taken into account. Have you ever loaded up 4 blokes on the way to the footy and found the car just wont go more than 30mph. That's an exaggeration but you should get the picture.
The car has to pull the combined loaded weight of car and caravan up hills and hill starts plus the added work of the wind resistance from the caravan
That small dinette looks like it might be about 3 feet wide.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 14/2/2021
Online towcar match sites are pre-programmed with weights etc for cars and caravans. Much of that is wrong. You need to use your own data which you know to be correct.
Also when towing with a small car, the load in the car also has to ne taken into account. Have you ever loaded up 4 blokes on the way to the footy and found the car just wont go more than 30mph. That's an exaggeration but you should get the picture.
The car has to pull the combined loaded weight of car and caravan up hills and hill starts plus the added work of the wind resistance from the caravan
That small dinette looks like it might be about 3 feet wide.
I have a 1.5 diesel (110bhp) and my caravan club match comes out at 38bhp per ton (with the same warning it might be sluggish). Its possible it might be underpowered but when I moved the caravan from the previous owners storage site to my storage site (70 miles) it towed fine. Things might differ once its loaded but its a risk I am prepared to take. For me the worst case scenario is that I have to perhaps get a higher powered car.
Post last edited on 13/02/2021 14:57:28
Post last edited on 13/02/2021 15:00:50
There can be a huge difference when loaded up. I bought a motorhome once, and it went very well on the test drive. Once home and full of our gear, it felt like the brakes were binding half the time. Totally gutless on hills!
My advice would be get a bigger car/larger engine before a caravan. You are almost guaranteed to struggle half the time otherwise, forever checking weights, leaving stuff at home etc.
Always best to have power in reserve I find, which is why I tow my caravan, which has a loaded weight of under 1 ton, with a diesel X Trail. My car hardly notices the caravan on the back which is how I like it. I know it will go up any hill I come across when on unfamiliar territory and I'm never going to put any real strain on it. I would definitely not be wanting to drive on the absolute limit of my car all the time.
Hi again,
Not sure if you remember my initial question but now I have ...another one, please, if you could help, it would be much appreciated.
I want to change the car and nort sure if the 2002 Land Rover Freelander Kalahari 1.8 litre could make a good tow car?
Thank you so much.
RF Adam
Quote: Originally posted by RF Adam on 03/4/2021
Hi again,
Not sure if you remember my initial question but now I have ...another one, please, if you could help, it would be much appreciated.
I want to change the car and nort sure if the 2002 Land Rover Freelander Kalahari 1.8 litre could make a good tow car?
Thank you so much.
RF Adam
Looking at Parkers specifications it looks like it would make a good tow car, but I have no experience of such a vehicle. Quite thirsty though at 27mpg solo. Could be quite a bit less than that towing a caravan. Are you specifically avoiding diesels? Much better fuel consumption and good torque for towing.
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Topic: My 1st caravan
