Dedicated Towcar

semedler
semedler Forum Participant Posts: 21
edited September 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all

We have just bought a new caravan which is heavier than the old one, it has a weight ratio of 93% to my Audi A4 Avant.

I used to have a Freelander and then Freelander 2, these did tow very nicely but kept breaking (landrovers...!), maybe I was just unlucky.

I am slightly concered with the 93% so starting to think I should be looking at SUV's again, I do like my A4 (fast, £30 tax and good MPG even when towing), or a cheap SUV just for towing the van but seems daft to insure a car just for towing the van, does
anyone else do this, any light usage insurance deals that you've found or advice?

Thanks

Rob 

Comments

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited September 2016 #2

    Hi all

    We have just bought a new caravan which is heavier than the old one, it has a weight ratio of 93% to my Audi A4 Avant.

    I used to have a Freelander and then Freelander 2, these did tow very nicely but kept breaking (landrovers...!), maybe I was just unlucky.

    I am slightly concered with the 93% so starting to think I should be looking at SUV's again, I do like my A4 (fast, £30 tax and good MPG even when towing), or a cheap SUV just for towing the van but seems daft to insure a car just for towing the van, does
    anyone else do this, any light usage insurance deals that you've found or advice?

    Thanks

    Rob 

    The towing ratio looks a bit higher than I would prefer but for an experienced caravanner it is managable. I would be inclined to try the car out a couple of times before changing it as my feeling is that it will probably be a reasonable match.

    I do not see a dedicated tow car as viable with the extra tax, insurance , depreciation and other costs. Most insurance policies premiums will not drop for mileages under 10,000.

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    Try towing with the A4 and see how it goes Before jumping to conclusions. Depreciation Is the single costliest aspect of car ownership so simply do not see the benefit of sinking money into a little used tow car. If you are unhappy with how the Audi tows
    it will be far, far cheaper to replace the A4. However dont get hung up on 93%, it doesnt mean there will be a problem providing everything else is in order. I tow with a passat at 95% .

  • semedler
    semedler Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited September 2016 #4

    Thanks for the replies. 

    The company I am buying from used a system to calculate the ratios but I have just done the same on this CC website using the supplied tool and it came back as 101%..... 

     

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

    Hi Rob, We have towed with Audis for many years ago I was faced with a similar dilema when looking to buy an Audi 80 Sport wighing 1087kg- I remember as it was quite stressful at the time! I think that kerbweights now include the driver but back then didnt
    and my decision was that with my wife and I in the car it was just under the 100% for my van so went ahead and had a great few years towing here and abroad.

    As said many times the 85% guide is just that and badly loaded vans more of an issue in general.

    My finances would not have allowed for the two car scenario but agree with others that it is probably not necessary but it is down to personal choice and I know people who do just what you have suggested.

  • semedler
    semedler Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited September 2016 #6

    www.towcar.info says:

    "The towing limit is exceeded by 247 kg!

    It is not allowed to drive with this Swift. 

    Make sure the towing limit is correct.

    The conclusion is, if the Audi A4 Avant - 2.0 TDI e and the Swift Challenger Sport 586 with a laden weight of 1547 kg, would not be legally too heavy that it would be a moderate
    match, only for experienced (caravan) drivers."

    This is confusing, it says it's not allowed but then say's it's ok for the experienced driver, the ratio is 87%.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #7

    Hi Rob, it is great to use comparison sites for lots of things,here to match cars to vans BUT you need to do the final calculation yourself. I was faced in the early 90s with a situation where I was being told that I could only tow a van at 85% of my 1087kg
    towcar so it was necessity that drove me to look at it in detail and decide, based on my towing expierience which was quite a bit due to my work, that so long as the car with myself and my wife,our actual weight not a notional figure,was more than the van
    then I was happy. To aid safe use I always, and still do, put luggage/equipment etc in the car not the van.

    Based on your last post you are way under the weight ratio that I was but, as I said, it is your decision but does not seem a problem based on the info you have given-87%.

  • spk
    spk Forum Participant Posts: 406
    edited September 2016 #8

    I agree with the posts above I would try it first. The 85 as has been said is Imo a guide and actual weights are very much dependent on load's

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited September 2016 #9

    The best figires are those given by Audi for your car and the caravan manufacturers for the caravan. The car should have a plate showing the unladen weight and this should also be on the registration document, the caravan manufacturer will have a MTPLM for
    the caravan. Check these and you will get the facts as the websites are not totally accurate and you have to get the car model completely right from a large selection of variations which is not always easy.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #10

    The best figires are those given by Audi for your car and the caravan manufacturers for the caravan. The car should have a plate showing the unladen weight and this should also be on the registration document, the caravan manufacturer will have a MTPLM for the caravan. Check these and you will get the facts as the websites are not totally accurate and you have to get the car model completely right from a large selection of variations which is not always easy.

    Quite right.

    Websites are NOT accurate due to a variety of reasons.

    Your cars V5 and the MTPLM from the Caravan manufacturer direct (don't even trust the adverts on the manufacturers website as they are often wrong) then you can work out your ratios.

    85% rule is a guide not a rule but it's stood the test of time and will keep you safe if you get your loading and noseweights right.

  • semedler
    semedler Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited September 2016 #11

    Update and conclusion, I traded in my A4 and got a very nice X3 MSport 30D with fold away tow bar, very pleased with it.

    Only towed the van for about 4 miles on country roads (long story) so don't know what it'll be like on a run but if's anything like my old Freelander 2 than all will be good (I epxect it will be better).

     

Categories