Best Cars for towing?

From Merseyside, 2 posts

Hi, anybody got any suggestions for the best car/4 x 4 to tow 6 berth caravans? If a couple could be given I'd be grateful.

At the moment I have a Toyota Estima Emina 4 x 4 2.2 Ltr but have discovered the max MPTL is 1200 which - if you want to buy a 6 berth caravan doesnt give much choice.

Has anybody got suggestions for cheap reliable 4 x 4 s which can carry 5 people comfortably?

Thanks for any help

From Shropshire, 1 post

Hi.

A Crysler Voayger 3.3 Petrol makes a good alternative to the 4X4, We tow a Luner Delta 640EW (MAX Weight 1700) with no probs, We have had it three years with no probs, and the engines and gearboxes are well known for being bomb proof. And its not as bad as you think on the juice, We get about 27-9 on the M-ways and abount 23 around town, when towing if its a good stretch then you avearge about 20.

As well as being a great tow car its great and turns into a van with enough space for 3 peice suites and wardrobes.

The only problem is you wont have much grip on muddy fields.

Hope this helps Richard

From Cumbria - Up North, 4 posts

whatever you do don't get a bmw or is it mercedes x5 4x4. otherwise a ford/stream will kill it. the air intake is the lowest point of the engine bay. hahah idiot designers. anyway landrover, for a decent sized caravan try a freelander (5 seater + boot) or for a bigger one a discovery (5/6 seater + boot) Or 7/8 seater with fold up seats in boot. or defender 110 ( 5/6 seater + huge boot or 9/10 seater with 4 fold up seats in boot or 11/12 seater with 2 fold up cloth benches in the boot. . OR as an alternative get a range rover.which will take 5 and break the bank. so go to www.landrover.com hope ive helped

From Cumbria - Up North, 4 posts

so i do my best to help but may not be the best source of advice. because we have two landrovers and one has pulled an artic wagon off the motorway and a bus up a hill. and yes about 10 stuck caravans off fields.cos the owners couldn be bothered to go prepared. ha. no offence anyone here

From Devon, 2 posts

Originally posted by jennibos on 24 Nov 2004 5:03 PM
Hi, anybody got any suggestions for the best car/4 x 4 to tow 6 berth caravans? If a couple could be given I'd be grateful.

You must of course match the car to the caravan. I don't mean colour-coordinate, but rather look at the weight ratio of the car to the loaded caravan. It is recommended that the caravan should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicle's kerb weight.

Having worked out that figure, it all comes down to choice. I figured that my car would spend only about 10% of its working life actually towing, so I bought a car that would do the towing job but would also suit for non-towing driving.

I have a Subaru Forester 2.0XT. It is a compact 4x4 with manual transmission and a 2 litre turbocharged flat four (like Porche) petrol engine. It tows my Bailey Pageant very well, but with no van behind it is a civilised, smooth and practical four-seater. I could write a lot about the features of this great vehicle, but I will pick out only my favourite: It has a fantastic air-condition/heating system that can clear a fogged windscreen in about 10 seconds from cold.

It is also a hoot to drive, because it is based on the amazing Subaru Impreza. It can do 0-60 in about 7 seconds.

You can get a great bargain on early 2006 (old shape) models now, with dealers being keen to shift stock to make way for the revamped body shape.

Subaru also make a 2.5 litre version - more horsepower, and better mpg. I'm trading up!

This is, of course, a very partisan view of just one possibility, but if you check out the Caravan Club's web site http://www.caravanclub.co.uk you can read their assements of various tow vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Paul

From Merseyside, 2 posts

Thanks for all the advice. Have gone for a shogun great car comfy great boot - if dont use the 7 seats.