Hi

I am considering purchasing a touring caravan.

 

17 Plate L&K, petrol, 220bhp

 

Can anyone tell me what the maximum weight I can tow?

 

Best tow bar.

 

what I can expect to lose in mpg while towing.

 

Any other problems O might expect.

 

 

Thank you

Brochure for my 16 plate shows 2000kg towing weight for the 220bhp.  You'd be mad to try that with a caravan though as a caravan is just one big wobbly box that's prone to act like a big sail when it's windy 

 

If you've never towed a caravan before (you don't say either way in your post) then do a little research into recommendations for folk new to towing.  Typically the advice (some say it's the law; it isn't) is to initially stick to a caravan that has a total weight (aka the MTPLM) of no more than 85% of the towcar's weight.  Again, looking at the brochure, it says a 220 hatchback is about 1430kg so that's in the region of 1200kg for a matching caravan.  For a more accurate idea of weight check the weight plate on the door post of your car.

 

Dunno about best towbar, but I have the factory fitted folding one and that's might handy as it's always attached to the car but folds up out of sight when not used.  On my previous Superb I had a removable Witter one that was trouble free.

 

MPG-wise I get about 23 towing our caravan with my 280 hatchback.

 

 

Thank you so much for the advise, I am between a motorhome and a caravan, all have there plus or minus.

Given what you say, I am thinking motorhome.

On 04/05/2020 at 07:21, A1cos said:

Thank you so much for the advise, I am between a motorhome and a caravan, all have there plus or minus.

Given what you say, I am thinking motorhome.

Just thought I’d mention that there are more factors between caravan and Motorhome selection.

 

when you get to a site if you want to go out on day trips a motorhome is more complicated as you have to secure the contents daily in order to drive it around, and also you are very limited as to where you can park them.  Whereas with a caravan you only need to secure it when leaving site, for day trips you just leave in car.

 

i have a 2.0 tdi150 l&k estate, and I find it a great towcar.  Earlier this year I drove it back from near York and pretty much experienced all conditions in one journey.  Heavy rain, strong winds, sleet, etc.  traffic was heavy with very strong crosswinds and the car/van combo proved very stable and reassuring to drive.

On 03/05/2020 at 21:22, unclerichy said:

MPG-wise I get about 23 towing our caravan with my 280 hatchback.

 

 

What kind of mpg do you get when not towing?

 

i ask as I am not doing the mileage I used to and am reconsidering a diesel choice for when I change my car.  Have always preferred them for towing due to better torque and mpg.  How do you find yours?

I tend to do a lot of short trips in stop-start traffic so average MPG is sub 30 anyway.  The best I've had over a full tank without towing is 29 (according to my records).  I've seen low 40s on extended runs once or twice when motorway cruising.

 

Ditto on the mileage - last year (MOT to MOT) I only did around 6k so fuel costs don't bother me.

 

Previously I had a Mk II 170 diesel DSG estate and my 280 (and, I think, the 220) have the same torque figures.  The only difference is really when it arrives; the petrol needing more revs but not excessively so unless you want to make rapid progress (0-60 with caravan in 10 seconds according to my GPS when experimenting).  That said it's an easy-going towcar and I wouldn't go back to the diesel.  Having 4x4 helps when trying to make quick entrances onto roundabouts - the diesel could hop about a little on poor surfaces.

Traveling from York to my home is 100 mile its actually 99.5 miles I get 37 to 38 mpg.

I take the point about caravans and being able to use the car while on site but the motorhome can be used at a minutes notice for trips to the beach and day trips, you just spin the driver seat around and you are in your living room.

Main thing for me is the insurance cost as you can't use your no claims bonus on two vehicles, the road tax and the depreciation the caravan is twice as long, slower and you have to tow it.

The caravan is miles cheaper, now I'm thinking caravan again.

What weight of caravan would be the perfect match to tow with my car?

12 minutes ago, A1cos said:

What weight of caravan would be the perfect match to tow with my car?

 

Put your car details into this https://towcar.info/GB/towing-advise.php and that will give you the max & 85% guides 

 

Also don't forget to tow anything above a certain mass you will need B+E on your driving licence 

Edited 7 May, 20206 yr by nige8021

Nice one nige8021

The 85% this is plain stupid. Kerb weight is just that, most people load the car up more when going away so the weight is higher. 

 

Cars also have much improved brakes, suspension and active stability systems. Team. That with alko atc and hitch and I'd be quite happy at 100%. 

In Sweden the Superb 190tdi 4x4 is allowed to tow 2200kg.

I fail to see why a caravan with a total weight of 2200kg with dual axles and brakes on all four wheels would be less safe to tow then a 1500kg single axle caravan?

 

The towing limit is just a traction figure, it is how heavy a flat bed trailer can be and still allow the car to restart on an 8% (or 12% depending on maker) it has nothing to do with an 8 foot tall, 7.5 foot wide and 25 foot long caravan behaving in a cross wind, add Merc sprinter vans dashing past in outside lane whilst you're passing lorries in the inside lane. Twin axle caravans are really more about spreading a lot of weight around, 2.2T on a single axle would be a bit much. Owners of twins usually load badly thinking it'll be fine, towed by the usual transit 😉 they might be fine, but I have seen more twins in tiny bits on the side of the road than single axle vans.