Which towing car for Sterling Eccles 590?

The Reed Family
The Reed Family Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited January 2018 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

Hi,

Any advice appreciated please.....

We are not new to caravanning but we do have a new caravan. We got a Sterling Eccles 590 last year and towed it with a Honda CRV - it had the power but felt light on the weight.

We are looking to change our towing car this year but it seems the choice for anything with over a 1900 kerb weight is limited. Any suggestions or experience of good, heavy towing cars please?

Also, we have read conflicting articles about whether auto or manuals are better for towing - any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jo

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,137 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #2

    LR Disco, Mitsi Shogun, Toyota Landcruiser, some of the XC Volvos.... the world's your lobster.

    It's auto for me every time but it’s personal preference.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,484 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #3

    Hello and welcome to Jo and the rest of the Reed family.  I'll move this into the Tow Cars and Towing Section which is more appropriate.

     

    I'll second the suggestion about a Land Rover Discovery.  

     

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,667 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #4

    I can recommend the VW Touareg, we tow  a Sterling twin axle with ours.  We went for a pre registered one, only 14 miles on the clock, and made a huge saving.

    Definately automatic, have not towed with a manual since 1971.

    A Volvo XC 60 might be OK, but check the weight, an XC 90 would certainly do the job, but expensive.

    The Kia Sorrento ( is that the big one?) also seems popular and a lot less money.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #5

    Yes, the Kia Sorrento is the big one, we bought one recently and the top of the range Sorrento is about £9,000 cheaper than the bottom of the range XC90. A head v heart decision perhaps? Both makes are joint top for reliability according to JD power data.

    It's an excellent car and tows extremely well.

    Look at carwow.co.uk and get some quotes which you can either take up or use to barter with other dealers. Also good reviews.

    I always towed with a manual before and had no problems (last towcar had 155,000 miles before retirement) but this one is automatic and I'm never going back 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,667 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #6

    We always had Volvos since 1971, but our XC 90, which we had for almost 10 years, turned out to be a lemon!   So we decided against another.  That and the price!

    The XC 90 we had had more faults than all our other Volvos put together, and over the years we had 10 other Volvos.

    We would have voted them top for reliability too until that experience.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #7

    everyone will tell you that the car they use is the best as nobody will admit that its not suitable. its like everything in life that its down to personal preference. there's a tow car that will suit but it's all down to you as to what you require when/not towing.

  • The Reed Family
    The Reed Family Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited January 2018 #8

    Thanks everyone.

    We've also found that they Hyundai Santa Fe is heavy enough too. Anyone towed with one?

    Thanks,

    Jo

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #9

    The Santa Fe is basically the same car underneath as the Sorrento, it just look different on the outside, Kia has a 7 seven year warranty v 5 for the Hyundai

    The club has an offer on Hyundai cars see:

    https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/membership/member-offers/Hyundai/

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2018 #10

    some good reviews on youtube, for a few makes by Practical Caravan and the CCC

    These are the ones I had bookmarked:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKJl5cCl6AQ

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOsVtkFuN40

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
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    edited January 2018 #11

    Hi The Reed Family,

    I have owned and driven the big Volvos for 35 years and towed big Swift vans for 28 of them.    My last 3 cars were XC70s and, even though I switched to a MH in 2016, I will not be parted from my XC70.     They stopped making them in Dec 15 and brought out a revised XC60 (you can still buy 2 different new XC60s, old and new, but the new one has a silly price tag on it.    You should be able to get a very good used XC70 that will do the job.   And, if it is Polestar'd even better!    Polestar is Volvo's formal remapping of the engine sold as an option and designed by a Swedish sports car company for Volvo, it gives more bhp, torque and fuel consumption.    My 2 yr old XC70 is now 240bhp.

    It is a nightmare having so much choice.   Happy motoring!

    BillC

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