Towing limits and suspension

[Devilish]

I took a 14' caravan (factory weight 650kg) on a 700 mile trek around North Yorkshire and I could hardly tell it wass hitched up, using no extra throttle to pull away. I thought it towed better laden, and with SWMBO & daughter aboard than picking it up empty alone.

Tried a 16' (factory weight 750kg) laden was stable, well balanced, and towed effortlessly also, with no rear end sag.

I have looked at a few Elddis Avante 5 series 6 - 6.75M shipping length with a MTPLM of about 1200 - 1400kg. This is about the biggest and heaviest I will Tow.

If I am going to be towing regularly, my question that you will have guessed by now is. Should I change the original rear springs due to their reputation for breaking.
I have replaced the front springs as some of you may know, and it is not just a case of replacing the rears before they go pop, but what to replace them with.
I know tourers should be able to take a heavier noseweight, but have any of you tourer owners fitted heavier duty rear springs.
Or is the 100kg noseweight capacity easy peasy and worry free with new OEM Delph units. Or could tourer or heavier springs be fitted

[RovingDennis]

Hello Devilish. My experiences with caravans is spread over 40 yrs, all sorts of cars and never any standard suspension probs. My rover 75 towing started with a 03 conn touring (new) and I towed the big twin axle Vanroyce then a Lunar 435 both large vans. made a big mistake and sold the 75. (long story) I have just come back to a 99 T reg 75 CDT Club and am towing a Coachman VIP, max 1395kg. I have never had any suspension mods on any car I have owned, do not use stabilizers and l always load the van close to 75kg-80kg noseweight . (Having said that I am now grabbing my wooden desk verytight)
Hope this is of some help and I wish you happy caravaning. May cross paths somewhere, that would be nice. Dennis.

[stef_uk]

some people use the rubber bump stops in the rear coils to stop it bottoming out...never used them myself and never had any towing issues...pulls like a train...show these 4x4's how to go up hills:D


hth steve

[2Diesels]

As soon as I get a towbar for the ZT-T I'll be off with my little Safari


http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x150/2diesels/Volvo%20240/DSCF0018.jpg

IN'T THAT CUTE?

It's only a 12 footer & weighs abot 750 empty but I have a 17 foot one yet to be restored & that weighs not far short of a ton & a half:eek: The Volvo managed ok & I'm confident the ZT can & I've never used any uprated springs or anything in the past

Regards Col

[suty445]

was actually wondering that myself have got a vanroce single axle that weighs 1350 kg empty and about 1600 or so when we fill it normally tow with my patrol lpg and obviously its what caravan? with that, would the ztt cope ?

[steve107]

i pull a 19ft bailey with my estate.weight 1350 pulls ok.diesel no mods to car .get 41mpg towing average .

[RovingDennis]

was actually wondering that myself have got a vanroce single axle that weighs 1350 kg empty and about 1600 or so when we fill it normally tow with my patrol lpg and obviously its what caravan? with that, would the ztt cope ?

Hi. According to my matching checker this is the result, I have allowed you 250kg on top of your empty weight.:-
MG ZT-T 135 CDTi - 2.0 16v aut. (96 kW/129 bhp)
Date of manufacture: april 2004 - may 2005 96%
1600 kg 1660 kg
The match between car and caravan is plausible in accordance with a mix of European standards. However, according to the British Towing Code the percentage (loaded caravan / kerbweight tow car) is 96%.

The towing performances of this MG with your Caravan are perfect (performance index = 144 km/h or 89 mph).

You may expect excellent performances from this outfit. On flat roads it's easy to come along, in which case top gear is applicable in most cases.

On motorway inclines you will be able not only to come along, but be the first at the top. On steep roads you have more than sufficient power to keep going. On hill starts there will be more than enough power to get going, provided the wheels have traction.

89

[steve107]

it should be 85% not 96 .and you tow at 60mph on motorways and normal speed on other road .if car is 1600kg you can pull 85% of that

[RovingDennis]

it should be 85% not 96 .and you tow at 60mph on motorways and normal speed on other road .if car is 1600kg you can pull 85% of that

85% is the recommended but an experienced tower can safely go up to 100%. The report above is copied from an official caravan/car matching site and the 89mph figure is what the car is capable of at max. Hope this clarifies it.

[suty445]

thanks for that but its a ztt 190+ which i assume will weigh a little less still brings it closer to max train weight than i like

[Devilish]

i pull a 19ft bailey with my estate.weight 1350 pulls ok.diesel no mods to car .get 41mpg towing average .

Is the length the caravan or shipping length, and is the weight factory or laden

[actros]

Is the length the caravan or shipping length, and is the weight factory or ladenFor all those members who have caravans why don't we have a meet some where then we can a :chat::beer2:or two. just an thought.:shrug:

[RovingDennis]

thanks for that but its a ztt 190+ which i assume will weigh a little less still brings it closer to max train weight than i like

Here Is the important bit.

MG ZT-T 190 - 2.5 V6 (140 kW/188 bhp)
Date of manufacture: april 2004 - may 2005 98%
1600 kg 1625 kg
The match between car and caravan is plausible in accordance with a mix of European standards. However, according to the British Towing Code the percentage (loaded caravan / kerbweight tow car) is 98%.

The rest is much the same as before.

[suty445]

think i will stick with the patrol can legally have a train weight of 6 tonnes lol

[RovingDennis]

For all those members who have caravans why don't we have a meet some where then we can a :chat::beer2:or two. just an thought.:shrug:
A meet would be good, I am interested. Living in Redditch I am fairly central and there is a rally field where I store my van. I could aproach the owner about a booking if other members are interested.