Hi

We've got two Skoda: 01 Octy Classic Est 1.9SDi & 03 Octy Hatch Ambiente 1.9TDi.

Been towing ERIBA caravans with the Estate for 7 years - no probs but light vans, max 750kgs.

Swapped vans for a family friendly 1175kg caravan and put a tow ball on the hatch. As hatch can pull 1300kgs should be no problem, BUT.....

1. can't reverse on a field with it! The car just won't push the van back at all.

2. had to unload boot and put everything in centre of van to even up the hitch as van & car were pulling down & car rear supension lowered - now discovered the octavia only has noseweight of 60kgs!!! Seriously upset at my mistake.....

Any suggestions please octavia caravanners out there? Would rubber spring assistors work?

welcome to briskoda

Doughnuts on the springs will help ....but I still wouldn't want to take the nose weight above 70 ish......too much weight on the back lifts the front of the car and then you get wheel spin as the front is too light, also try lowering the front tyre pressure while towing by a couple of pounds.

And welcome to briskoda

welcome along

Welcome

Hiya.

You've already discovered the main issue with towing using an Octy; the long rear overhang seriously affects the trailer noseweight the car can handle. Stiffer rear springs (I'd use auxilliary airsprings rather than doughnuts) will sort the tail droop, but not the weight/load distribution. You might also want to look into anti-snake devices if you haven't already got one, for the same reasons.

Thread moved

Sounds like your caravan brakes are the problem. They work when your driving along on the principle that when you brake the car the van is pushed against the car compressing a damper with a linkage to the van brakes. When you reverse this damper is again compressed and the van brakes are applied. I believe older vans had a manual reversing switch you had to flip before moving backwards. Modern vans have an automatic release. Ive got a 1300kg caravan and its easy to get a nose weight of 50kg with carful loading.

I'd be surprised if it was a manual reversing switch; Caravans International were using auto switches back in the mid 1970s.

if the van has drum brakes, then check the brake lining hasn't come off and is preventing the van's wheels rotating backwards...

happened to me in a clio with drum brakes

Check the caravan brakes, hitchdamper, and cables/rods, as it shouldn't make any difference what your noseweight is just going slowly in reverse. Spring assisters are cr*p, get better springs and dampers if needed, but it won't make any difference to this problem. I once towed a 22' twin axle behind an E reg 1.6 Sierra Estate and that was no problem (unless there was a head wind)

Thanks for your reply. I've asked SKODA and they've said new stiffer rear suspension springs probably best option.