First long trip (a tad worried)

G Cherokee
G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
100 Comments
edited August 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi people,

Hope some of the veterans can put my mind at ease.

We're off to Devon the first week of Sept. It'll be our first "long haul" and I'm getting a little stressed about the effects towing a 1600kg twin axle will have on my beloved Jeep.

Although its well within the weight limits, will it put a lot of stress and strain on the Jeep?

Specs.

54 plate Grand Cherokee Overland.

2.7 CRD (Mercedes engine)

79000 miles

Full service history

No rattles, knocks or anything untoward

(Except the climate control has a mind of its own when you switch the engine off and it decides to calibrate itself making some very embarrasing noises! Common fault aledgidly).

On the twice I've towed the van she has behaved well.

Or am I just being paranoid?? Worried

Regards

Dave

«1

Comments

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #2

    Sorry about the shpelling Embarassed

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #3

    Yep, you're being paranoid Happy

    You couldn't get a much beefier tug. Your van is heavy but not excessively so and you're talking about approx 200 miles each way. If you were towing a hefty van with a smallish car you might have cause for concern.

    We towed heavy vans from home to the north of Scotland year after year with no problems. 

    Relax, it'll be fine. 

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited August 2016 #4

    You should have no problem with that car, as with any car you can have a mechanical problem and with a caravan in tow you need adequate breakdown insurance e.g. Mayday.

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
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    edited August 2016 #5

    Very paranoid!

    Surely it is a bit late to be worrying about the strain that towing will have on your car having already purchased a caravan!

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited August 2016 #6

    I hate hill starts, look as far ahead as possible to try and avoid stopping on hills.

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #7

    Very paranoid!

    Surely it is a bit late to be worrying about the strain that towing will have on your car having already purchased a caravan!

    Write your comments here...

    Yeah well, Ya mind starts goin all voodoo,

    I guess it is paranoid state of mind, she`s never let me down yet.

    I have full roadside assistance,

    Its more likley I`m fretting over the three most important girls in my life,(wife, daughter and grandaughter, oh and pooch!) stranded at the side of the road!

    It`ll be fine............ it`ll be fine........... it`ll be fine  Happy

     

     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #8

    As long as the car is well maintained it should be able to do the job. I would still take out breakdown cover and Mayday is the obvious choice for me as whatever age the car things can go wrong.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2016 #9

     ......

    Its more likley I`m fretting over the three most important girls in my life,(wife, daughter and grandaughter,  ......

    You seem to have put the list in reverse order Happy

    And don't worry .... you'll be fine. It's all downhill from the Midlands anyway Wink

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #10

    There is no order ........... Happy

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #11

    Just a word of caution. There's every chance if you have ordinary roadside assistance as purchased for a car that it will have a weight/length limit for recovery of a caravan. You ideally need specialist cover as per RAC Arrival through C&CC, or Mayday (Green
    Flag) through CC. They will recover caravans/MHs of any weight/length and I recommend upgrading if you don't have adequate cover.

    Having our previous MH of 4.25 tonnes carried home from Scotland to Cornwall at no cost whatsoever underlined the benefits to me. Mind you, I haggle and get the premium cost down at each renewal.Laughing

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2016 #12

    There is no order ........... Happy

    I have Innocent ...... they both took a step down when my grandaughter arrived Wink

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #13

    Just a word of caution. There's every chance if you have ordinary roadside assistance as purchased for a car that it will have a weight/length limit for recovery of a caravan. You ideally need specialist cover as per RAC Arrival through C&CC, or Mayday (Green
    Flag) through CC. They will recover caravans/MHs of any weight/length and I recommend upgrading if you don't have adequate cover.

    Having our previous MH of 4.25 tonnes carried home from Scotland to Cornwall at no cost whatsoever underlined the benefits to me. Mind you, I haggle and get the premium cost down at each renewal.Laughing

    Write your comments here...

    I have spoken to the RAC and they assure me that I am covered.

    But thanks anyway

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #14

    I hope they advised you correctly, GC, as it's very unusual for the RAC to provide full cover for a big van unless it's their Arrival policy. I would go through the policy T&Cs with a fine tooth comb before believing.Happy

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited August 2016 #15

    West Midlands to Devon... Grand Cherokee...

    Your being paranoid. Winking

    Relax and enjoy. Cool

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited August 2016 #16

    Dont worry it aint worth it just relax and go with it.

    I was like that when we first crossed the channel back in 85.We did the full trip too the south of France with 3 young children in our Volvo 244 towing our Sprite 4 berth plus full awning and all the gear we needed for a 4 week holiday.Got back home 4 weeks later after a 2400 mile round trip on which the sun shone every single day and too date its still the best caravan holiday we,ve ever had.Cool

    v9

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #17

    I hope they advised you correctly, GC, as it's very unusual for the RAC to provide full cover for a big van unless it's their Arrival policy. I would go through the policy T&Cs with a fine tooth comb before believing.Happy

    Write your comments here...

    Rang RAC I'm covered for a van that is a max of 25 feet

    Mine is 24 ft 9 inches  Smile

     

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2016 #18

    Thank you all for your positive comments.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #19

    3" can make all the difference sometimes. Laughing

    Have a good time. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,050 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #20

    As a fellow Jeep owner (Wranglers, Grand, Patriot and Cherokee) worry ye not, you have the perfect tool for the job! We have towed for 15 plus years with one or other, and no problems at all. Enjoy!

  • kaenergas
    kaenergas Forum Participant Posts: 171
    edited August 2016 #21

    You need not worry, you have a good combination and a twin axle tows better then a single axle anyway, just load it right, take regular breaks, enjoy the trip and dont make it a race to get there in the shortest possible   time, remember you are on holiday
    the moment you leave home. Don't take the kitchen sink etc there are shops were your going to get what you left behind, That first beer when your all set up on site is always the best one. Enjoy your holiday

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2016 #22

    As a fellow Jeep owner (Wranglers, Grand, Patriot and Cherokee) worry ye not, you have the perfect tool for the job! We have towed for 15 plus years with one or other, and no problems at all. Enjoy!

    Write your comments here

    .Cheers  TTDA,

    Thats good news..  .

    And thank you all again for the comments. Laughing

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited August 2016 #23

    We are part way to Austria with a 1600kg t/a van preceded by a Passat Alltrack all without any problems. Worry not! 

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
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    edited August 2016 #24

    As others have said, you're paranoid Tongue Out

    You're well within towing limits froma what I can see.  Just make sure the noseweight is within the specified limits for both the 'van and the car.

  • dennisd
    dennisd Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited August 2016 #25

    Outfit well matched, caravan and car serviced , breakdown cover... nothing more you can do. Take along a flask of coffee/tea and some sandwiches and aim to stop for a break around the halfway mark.. Enjoy your trip 
    Smile

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited August 2016 #26

    My brother tows his van with a Jeep - and on the top of the jeep are usually two kayaks and all the paraphenalia and on the tow bar a full size cycle. No problems. Enjoy yourself. 

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #27

    I really dont know what you were all worrying about!! (tut)

    Ok so the power steering pump let go whilst we were in Paignton, and had a jolly trip back in a recovery truck, 

    But the Jeep on the way down was superb!! rock steady, cruise control set at 60, returned an average of 24 mpg! well pleased.......... new pump..... £242 great Sad

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #28

    The joys of running a car, GC.

    Other than that, it seems all went well.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #29

     .............. new pump..... £242 great Sad

    at least you can offset the return journey's fuel against it Wink

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
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    edited September 2016 #30

    You need not worry, you have a good combination and a twin axle tows better then a single axle anyway, just load it right, take regular breaks, enjoy the trip and dont make it a race to get there in the shortest possible   time, remember you are on holiday
    the moment you leave home. Don't take the kitchen sink etc there are shops were your going to get what you left behind, That first beer when your all set up on site is always the best one. Enjoy your holiday

    Write your comments here...Please don't take this the wrong way but as a fairly newbie, I need to learn as much as I can. Why does a twin axle tow easier? I ask because I have a single axle.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2016 #31

    Presumably as they are harder to turn on the spot (try to imagine doing it by hand) they are less inclined to wiggle

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