A new (to me) Tug

redface
redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
1000 Comments
edited May 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Old tow car fallen to bits over 12 yrs. Am looking at a 2012 Nissan X-trail 2.0 DCI n-tec, manual 6 gear selectable 2 or 4 wheel drive to tug say 2000KG (fully loaded) caravan. Any comments from you, who may have such a car? I'd love to hear from you.

Comments

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #2

    Kerb weight is only 1735Kg so the tail is going to wag the dog.

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited May 2016 #3

    That would be 115% of Kerbweight.  For a caravan that heavy you'd really need a large SUV.

  • Swifty 123
    Swifty 123 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    edited May 2016 #4

    I have the same model X Trail as you are considering and whilst it is a fantastic tow car, my van comes in at about 1600kgs mtplm and it tows rock solid at that, I do think that 2000kgs is totally out of its league and you need to be looking at maybe Navara,
    Landcruiser, Sorento or if you really want to take the bull by the horns, the Disco. 

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #5

    Whilst I dont get hung up on the 85% recommendation, Even IF it is legal this is simply an Accident waiting to happen.....

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited May 2016 #6

    Having owned both a T30 and T31 Xtrail i personally wouldn't tow a caravan over 1400kg with a manual T30 at 1650kg kerb weight with 134bhp.

    Or a 1600kg caravan with a manual T30 at 1725kg kerb weight, i did tow 1565kg and found the 171bhp engine lacked low down torque for towing, fine solo but towing you needed to be over 2000 rpm to get any real pull, despite a claimed 266 pound feet of torque
    at 2K revs.

    The latter would rev like a petrol engine though so it would pull, but i found the T30 diesel towed easily under 2K revs, in fact it was perfectly geared for towing returning 60mph at just over max torque at 2K revs.

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited May 2016 #7

    I agree with swifty. Nothing worse than a waggy tail!

  • coachmanbutch
    coachmanbutch Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited May 2016 #8

    I tow  a Coachman VIP460 (1450kgs) with 2013 X Trail 173bhp Tekna all  is fine but I dont think I would go much heavier.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #9

    Many thanks for your experiences. Think I will now go for a bigger tug if I can afford it.  Is anyone thinking of jacking it in and has a Landie for sale?

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #10

    The upgrade sarento is just under 2000 kilo so not sutable for your needs. 

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #11

    Great - keep the comments coming guys! Many thanks.

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