Have done a search and I'm pleased that a lot of briskodians use there octy as tow cars.

I've not had a caravan for around six years but I've decided to have another go. The Octy now has a towbar fitted and I've bought a nice Swift Challenger.

I've no problems with overall weight or power and torque but I'm a bit concerned about the nose weight.

Skoda only recomend 60kg which is quite low and the Octy does have a very long rear overhang. So am I going to suffer from a lot of pitching motion? Has anyone had to uprate the rear suspension or fit any spring assisters and if so which are the best?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers

Lee

Have done a search and I'm pleased that a lot of briskodians use there octy as tow cars.

I've not had a caravan for around six years but I've decided to have another go. The Octy now has a towbar fitted and I've bought a nice Swift Challenger.

I've no problems with overall weight or power and torque but I'm a bit concerned about the nose weight.

Skoda only recomend 60kg which is quite low and the Octy does have a very long rear overhang. So am I going to suffer from a lot of pitching motion? Has anyone had to uprate the rear suspension or fit any spring assisters and if so which are the best?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers

Lee

Lee,

I bought a boat about two years ago and thought the nose weight was bit OTT but towed anyway.

I discovered (by using the bathroom scales) that the actual nose weight on the trailer was 95Kg but the Octy never noticed a thing.

I have since been able to adjust the way the boat sits on the trailer and reduce the nose weight to 68 Kg.

The boat was towed on a regular basis with no problems at all.

The car has now done nearly 60,000 miles and has just sailed through the MOT and no problems with rear suspension at all.

What is the nose weight on the caravan?

Lee' date='

What is the nose weight on the caravan?[/quote']

Will have to have a play around with it and I haven't had chance to measure it yet.

The battery box and gas bottles can't be moved closer to the axle but there is currently a spare wheel positioned in the front locker which I can remove and sling under the van near the axle.

Past experience tells me I can safely load the van with a 60-70kg nose weight.

Just hoping the Octy won''t pitch too much wth a 60kg nose weight.

Cheers

Lee

Hi lee

Welcome to the world of towing again tdi elegance will tow brilliant, octy didn't get towcar of the year for nothing.

I had to tow with mine a bit quickly last year (got the car and two weeks later towed a 1 ton elddis down to Cornwall 220 miles in 3 and a h*a*l*f**cough hours (work it out for your self ) so I had to put something on the rear suspension a bit quick ...so those rubber dougnuts went on and worked a treat and it was absoloutly stable ( at one point on the M5 I thought there must have been an accident behind me as nothing had overtaken for ages)I was in sixth gear and believe me it is very very very stable.....after towing with a 1.9 sdi for the last three years I just hadn't noticed the speed had crept up that much, I was concentrating on the road so much :eek:

I do run with a stabiliser but I make sure the van is balanced and sorted out and I don't rely on it to sort a badly balanced rig.

Apart from that it did 29 mpg..and turned a normal 4 hours of hassle into sheer pleasure ...made my holiday

I put the gas bottle ina locker or cupboard nearer the axle and pack it with sleeping bags brings the nose weight down a treat

So do you think the rubber donut jobbies are needed or not and is the solo ride effected when they are fitted?

Can I ask where you got them?

Cheers

Lee

It stiffened up the rear suspension a treat ....not sure what your car is like but mine does tend to wallow about sometimes, so with only two weeks to go to make sure I fitted them as a safeguard and they did work car sat down nice and firm and was very stable even at a silly speed 9(not on purpose)0 but at least I now know if I have to speed up to get past something it is magic.

There was talk of these doughnuts breaking springs as they are like a big black polo split on one side and they just go in between the coils and are strapped in with nylon cable tyes but on previous cars I have regularly done in excess of 180,000 miles OK on a car with them fitted.....got mine from the local caravan store/shop...less than

Hi Lee

Don't know if this helps but here's a doughnut fitted

Thanks,

I'm having a look at our local caravan place this week, failing that I've found them on-line for under

Thanks,

I'm having a look at our local caravan place this week, failing that I've found them on-line for under