Hi folks

I've a lunar 6 berth caravan and am looking for a suitable car to tow it. Through work, I've plenty of experience with towing trailers and heavy loads but I've very little experience of towing caravans. I know the 140 4x4 version and above would be prefect.

Just wondering if people have towed a 6 berth with the 2wd version and what their experiences have being. On paper the computer says no but would be interested to know people's opinion

If the computer says no, what does the Law say.

What is the weight of the Caravan to be towed and what is the weight showing on the Plate the Manufacturers fitted?

The law says yes. Weight of caravan is 1204kg with 250kg payload. So mtplm is 1420kg.

Just wondering if anyone has towed a similar weight and if so what they thought

Just made enquiries and I can get the car remapped which would give me about 145bhp and torque increase of about 35

So any thoughts on towing with that type of engine

My previous car was a 100bhp diesel Touran [Golf derived as the Yeti]. I towed a 1300kg eriba troll with this safely through France for several years. Admittedly it was a low profile van. And after this another eriba at 900kg.

My 110bhp diesel Yeti tows better than the Touran, and when time comes to replace my caravan I will have no problem in choosing a 1200kg van.

Whilst the 140bhp would be preferable it depends on you rmileage towing as opposed to without a van, or how deeep your pockets are.

 

Colin

I tow a Lunar Lexon 470 (2 berth) with a 2WD Yeti with the engine you mention. The kerbweight of the Yeti is 1420 kg so you would be towing at 100% margin. This is obviously more than the 'recommended' 85%. However experienced caravaners can and do tow safely at the 100% margin. So in principle you should be okay. The Yeti shape -'wheel at each corner' design lends itself to stable towing. The extra power is a good idea but not particularly needed in my view. The standard power/torque combination is good and with 1420kg on the back you might be making a few extra gear changes for hills. I would try it before re-mapping. 

 

In my situation the Lexon has a MTPLM of 1265kg and the Yeti tows it really well. The only issue I had was getting the noseweight down to the 80kg towbar limit. Lunar caravans are generally quite lightweight but do have a tendency to highish noseweights ex-factory.  

 

Oops - just noticed that your MPTLM is in fact 1454kg - possibly getting a wee bit unwise! 

I used to tow an Abbey 517GTS with a 100 BHP PD Passat, it towed fine, caravan was best part of 1500kg and Passat had booked towing weights of 1400kg & 1600kg dependant on how steep the gradient was never had an a issue and we towed as far south as Bordeaux in France and as far north as the Highlands of Scotland.

 

 I would tow with your combo, no worries.

Here is a YouTube clip showing towing with the 105ps Yeti Greenline.
It gets a very good report.

for YouTube Clip

Do you really want to be worrying about the excess weight?  Go for peace of mind and 140bhp+.

I towed with 110bhp for two years but it was always a concern, the 140bhp made all the difference.

 

Fred

folks

 

thanks for all the replies.  Fred, i think your right.  Peace of mind should win everytime.  Thanks everyone