C220 Cdi As Towcar?

[fionanallan]

OK...I'll say it before someone else does! Yes...we're one of the caravan brigade, who slows up the traffic and gets everone else so frusrtrated! But we do try not to be obtrusive to other road users...honest!
Anyway...on to our question! Currently we tow using a Mazda Tribute 2.0 petrol, which in all honesty, toils a wee bit from time to time. Also, economy is shocking, but on the plus side, the 4WD has come in usefull, and there's bags of room. We're considering getting a towbar fitted to the Merc, and using it this year. We have'nt see many used as towcars, and we wondered if there was a reason for this. Does anyone use a C220 CDI as a towcar? Can anyone advise us if this would be a good or bad towcar? We've checked the unladen weights etc, and the Merc is apparently the ideal towcar as far as weight ratio goes.
We're still not sure about it. Can't imagine our beloved Merc with a towbar! It crosses our mind that it might detract from the lines of the car! Or is that just being silly?
Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated.

 

[Blobcat]

I don't tow, however you can get detachable towbars so most of the time it still looks good. If yours is an auto and you are pulling a fair weight up hill thru Europe etc then for the long term health of your gearbox you may wish to have a transmission cooler fitted. (A radiator for the gearbox). I would recommend you try the caravan club as they will probably be your best bet for towing advice.
I had a work colleague who always said that on B/H's he didn't go anywhere with his caravan, just drove around the roads of East Anglia all day...

 

[fionanallan]

Thanks for that. We should have mentioned...it's a manual. The detachable towbar might be a good idea!
We're members of the Caravan Club, and regulars on their forum, but no one tows with a Merc.
Thanks again. We'll mull it about a bit more.

 

[jberks]

Just compare the torque figures between the two. In terms of weight etc the merc should do it easily (you've no doubt already checked the permissable kerb weights) so its just down to overall pulling power. The low down torque of the diesel is far better for towing than the revvy nature of a petol engine, especially a japanese one. Its rear wheel drive so you won't find yourself with the front wheels spinning as you scrabble up hills. All the ingredients are there so I would imagine the C220 is a very good towing car.

 

[C220GJS]

Your only problem may be the long overhang from the rear axle to the tow hitch , the van tends to wag the car unless you have a very good stabiliser. The best towcars tend to have very short overhangs and are therefore inherently stable when towing ; as said previously consult the caravan organisations who will be able advise you on suitability and maximum towing weights.
Never towed with my Merc but towed caravans for years using a Citroen BX (magic towcar) or Daihatsu Fourtrak TD (also excellent) ,both have very short overhangs.
Geo.

 

[Bolide]

Lots of good advice here

To which I would add: the C220 probably has a transmission cooler already (the W124s certainly did), it should be torquey enough to tow without a problem and a stabiliser is a good idea

The one thing you've not told us is the most important thing: what is the caravan and what does it weigh?

A tall 20-footer with twin axles is a very different beast to tow than a little single-axle job. The weight may be less of a problem than the effect of sidewinds

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Cooky]

OK - I don't have a 220CDi but I do tow with a 1999 C Class 250 Turbodiesel Estate (admittedly auto). The power figures for these two engines is similar (mine is 150 bhp and yours is 143) but the CDi has considerably more torque (232 lb ft against 206 for mine); I think the body weight and chassis is similar too.

Chassis wise, and as a competent, stable and safe tow car - which is (I think) what you really want to know the C Class is superb. My caravan (single axle, internal body length 17' 8") maxes out at about 1460 Kg fully loaded. I have towed in some nasty winds and extensively on motorways (UK and France) and its behaviour with the bow wave of big lorries and coaches is remarkably good.

It's definitely the best tow car I've had, although the Citroen Xantia HDi would have given it a good run for its money, albeit with a bit less horsepower.

The only thing I might query is the parking brake. Does your 220 CDi have the foot operated parking brake? It's no problem with an auto, but how do you find it with manual transmission?

I hope this helps.

 

[fionanallan]

Thanks for that. The internal length of the van is 15' approx. It's a Sterling Europa. I think it's about 1425 kg's, unladen. It has the ALKO Stabilizer fitted as standard. We only got the van last year, so it's all new territory for us.
Yes, we do have the foot brake, and being manual, we're now wondering if that would present a problem. That apart, it sounds like it would be ideal for towing, so we're pricing the cost of the towbar just now. We like the idea of the detachable towbar, which does'nt come cheap!
We're hoping that the back end of the car does'nt sink when we hitch up, as the car does sit quite low. I suppose that might have more to do with the nose weight of the van, laden!
It's taken a while to get used to the footbrake, and we cant honestly say we like it, but it's a small price to pay, as we really love the car otherwise. Next one's gonna be auto...definetely!
Anyway...thanks to all who replied. Another example of how helpfull and informative this forum can be. Well impressed!

 

[OlafMaxwell]

A few things.....
Try not to have too much with on the towing hitch. Recommended nose weight is only about 50kg. The caravan should have the centre of gravity and as much weight centred on the axle to reduce yaw.
The foot operated parking brake will drive you nuts in the manual when you are towing. It is impossible to stop on a hill with the combination.
The auto transmission as far as I know does have an oil cooler in the radiator.
I do have the detachable towhitch, came on the car but it is a very expensive option.