mk4 golf 2003 1.9tdi Est 100 bhp need advise

borderman239
borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
edited October 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

I need some help anyone got anything good to say about towcar info . Volkswagen Golf IV - 1.9 TDI and the Bailey Ranger 550/6 1078kg with a laden weight of 1278 kg is a good match.

payload in caravan 200kg in car 250kg if I  add 250kg its said my  towing limit is exceeded by 28 kg! This i would not do ,
It is not allowed to drive with this Bailey. 
Make sure the towing limit is correct the manufacture states my car can tow 1300kg

with the kerb weight what would I need to had as payload to the car will this include each passenger including driver plus 2 border collies plus tow bar at 37kg plus Alko stabiliser at 7kg if  i add  200kg and 250kg to the car its states with a laden weight of 1278 kg is a good match. 1278 kg  1573 kg 75 kg as my car is slightly underpowered i was thinking of getting a tdi chip to increase torque at the bottom end is it possible to make the car stiffer on the rear end will this make any difference . i need to make my outfit work as i don’t want to change my car what advise can you give me to stay within the law and safety at mind my car also  as EPS I also installed good quality spring assistors on my car will all this help ??? I have not towed this caravan  yet but what good advise can you give me.VW have said my car can tow 1300kg what i really need to know is how much in kg can I put in the caravan and how do I test the rear springs on my car when my car is loaded ,

Comments

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited October 2016 #2

    When a manufacturer calculates max towing capacity it is with a low trailer, NOT a caravan shaped box with all the dynamic loads that imposes on the towing vehicle. How do you know the weight of the caravan will be below 1300kg? Are you going to take it
    to a public weighing bridge before each trip? The combination may theoretically by legally compliant however For the sake of the safety of you, your passengers and other road users you seriously need to consider buying another tow car or lighter caravan. I
    am not into the ridiculous 85% weight ratio mantra that some have but your proposed set up looks to me like an accident waiting to happen. Have you towed a caravan before? Have you been on a towing course? A Passat or Mondeo estate will probably be fine for
    your van, give you more space and power and can be bought for very little money. Chipping the engine (the 1.9tdi is very robust and remaps very well) and fitting spring assistors will do little to overcome the basic physical problems of your proposed set up.
    Apologies if this is not the advice and answer you are looking for. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #3

    FIrst thing I would do is weigh the car empty with a full tank and determine what payload you really have left in the car. If your 250kg is to include the driver then if you and OH are typical you will have used 150kg right
    there. Towbar another 25kg, load from caravan noseweight 75kg and that would mean nothing left for dogs and kids if you have any. Spend a fiver and weigh the car before going any further - would weigh the van empty at the same time. 

     I would be less concerned about the power of the car but from what I can make out of the weights info it does seem,
    at best, borderline. I personally doubt that the car has adequate payload and beefing up rear springs would not overcome that although might make for a better ride.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2016 #4

    The kerb weight of the car is 1215Kg. The proposed rig would be illegal. No amount of load shuffling will change that. You have two choices. Smaller van or bigger car.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #5

    Not sure where you get your weight from Cyber or wht it is necessarily illegal.

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #6

    mk4 golf 2003 1.9tdi estate diesel 

    1900kg

    3200kg

    1-0960kg

    1010kg 

    I been towing for 14 years so technically speaking I have experience but my downfall is getting the right weight towcar info states my car is suitable 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #7

    Volkswagen Golf IV - 1.9 TDI
    74 kW (101 hp) Oct 2001 - Nov 2003
    Kerbweight: 1323 kg
    Towing limit: 1300 kg
    Towball limit: 75 kg

    Bailey Ranger 550
    MRO: 1078 kg if I change the unladen  weight I'n the caravan from 248kg to 200kg paylaod it saids my car a perfect match 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #8

    Don't have kids all grown up now .

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2016 #9

    The website I read said kerb weight 1215Kg. Look at your V5 as that is the definitive weight. Mass in Service figure is the one to look at. You tow if you want to. The gentleman's not for towing to parody a certain politician.

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #10

    I just read the kerb weight it's 1500kg 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #11

    mk4 golf 2003 1.9tdi estate diesel 

    1900kg

    3200kg

    1-0960kg

    1010kg 

    I been towing for 14 years so technically speaking I have experience but my downfall is getting the right weight towcar info states my car is suitable 

    If I read that correectly the maximum mass for your car is 1900kg

    and the maximun Train Mass is 3200kg

    Is that correct? 

    No idea what  1-0960kg  and 1010kg refer to?? 

    You go on to say that your kerbweight is 1323Kg ( I assume this includes driver and fuel ) 

    If that is correct then I suspect need to add 25kg for towbar and so possibly around 1350kg. That should leave a reasonable payload for the car. 

    Personaly although probably doable, if that is correct, if I were driving I would feel that the caravan is a bit too heavy for the car with a ratio of 96%, That is me however.  I would want to keep the loading in the caravan as low as possiblee - believe
    me that is easier said than done if your OH wants the amount of clothes that mine does, not to mention shoes and handbags.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #12

    The website I read said kerb weight 1215Kg. Look at your V5 as that is the definitive weight. Mass in Service figure is the one to look at. You tow if you want to. The gentleman's not for towing to parody a certain politician.

    The site I read said 1323, I missed the post but Borderman is saying 1500kg (that is why I weighed mine; the only way to be sure Winking ). 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #13

    If it is 1500kg I would be content to tow

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #14

    Manual gear box 

    Gvw 1900kg

    Unladen weight 1415kg

    Front axel 960kg

    Reat axel 1010kg 

    Braked  up to 12% 1300kg 

    8% upto 1500kg 

    Without brakes 600kg

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #15

    Roof load 75kg 

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

    Get off yer bum and get it weighed fella Winking

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #17

    Caravan unladen weight 1078kg 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #18

    Why would I need to get it weighed when I have the manual in front of me 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #19

    Should I get it weighted with a full tank of fuel ?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #20

    I would. The usual accepted kerbweight is empty car plus 75kg allowance for driver and personal effects and 90% fuel. 

    I weighed mine with a full tank - me outside. Added 75kg for the driver etc and calculated the weight of 10% of the fuel to deduct. Naturally the towbar, as far as I am concerned is part of the car. My car came out at 1725kg, van is plated 1500 mptlm (I
    had it increased to this as we have motornover and are often away 7 weeks). Towing at about 87% 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #21

    I think all this is technically does my head in its very confusing  all of it its no wonder you see cars and caravans smashed up on motorways it's not easy finding out this information 

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #22

    But not everyone  weights the same .

    75kg is 11.81 stones what if passingers are heaver how do you add all this in my car  an carry 4 in total 

    we are all different weights and have to border collies at about 35kg including towbar dogs crate about 10kg 

     

  • borderman239
    borderman239 Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #23

    Plus roof box if needed at 75kg 

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited October 2016 #24

    borderman239, realisticly I think you will have to face the fact that with all the people,dogs and gear you want to carry you need a heavier vehicle.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #25

    borderman239, realisticly I think you will have to face the fact that with all the people,dogs and gear you want to carry you need a heavier vehicle.

    If his gross weight is 1900 and kerbweight 1350 including towbar that leave him 550kg for load, noseweight and passengers. I only have 475kg ............ if his figures are right!