Towing....

[MercAl]

Due to circumstances outwith my control, (long story...I'm sure you know all about it!), I was forced into fitting a towbar to my C220 CDI, in order to tow the caravan. Now I know it's not a subject close to member's hearts on this forum, but I thought I'd let you know anyway...what a fantastic towcar! Absolutely flawless! Loads of torque, handles superbly and excellent consumption. So far, (and it is early days yet), I haven't found it to be wanting in power at all. In a long line of caravans, I'm not gonna be the last one up the hill...I'm gonna be the first!

 

[psmart]

I should imagine the C220cdi is perfect for towing, given its relatively high weight and torque, albeit it is probably limited to size of caravan at the top-end, given the 85% rule (not law yet, but there is talk). The ML270cdi is perfect, with the ball type stabiliser (and bar), you dont get snaking.

I've gone the other way round now, I let my caravan tow my car .... freaks other road users out, but brings many a smile to the kids

 

[citroennut]

towing

the 85% rule? maths obviously not a strong point here!!

 

[psmart]

85% rule..... government control!!

Basically, when towing, the towed caravan, when laden, should only be 85% of the towing vehicles weight! Cant remember wether its the unladen weight, or the actual weight of both the tow car and caravan!! Probably not many people bother... but you can tell the obvious, ie. Ford Focus towing a double axled van..... 1200kg towing 1600++kg van!!!!

 

[oigle]

Surely that can't be right - 85% of the tow car's weight. That would mean the ML could only tow 85% of around 2200kg - ie 1800 odd kg. The manufacturer allows for towing up to 3500kg.
We in Oz allow whatever the manufacturer specifies as the maximum, depending on a suitable towbar capacity and not exceeding towball vertical weight allowance (once again a manufacturer spec). The towball weight can be exceeded if suitable weight distribution bars are used.
Our Ford Falcon, for example, weighing around 1700kg is allowed to tow 2300kg with suitable bars and WD equipment.
My 2003 ML is allowed 3500kg but drawbar weight is an issue without WD bars - I use 250kg WD bars which allows me to have a ball weight up to 250kg, rather than the lower figure specified by MB. My 'van weighs in at 1600kg with a ball weight of 210kg. Works beautifully with WD bars. Very stable.
I have noticed that MB have reduced the towing capacity on the new ML.

 

[psmart]

Heres a link on 85%.....

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/vandata.htm

I've not towed a caravan for years now, since I decided to drive my caravan and tow my car (85% of caravan = weight of car to be towed 4420Kg )....

At the moment, its a guideline (or was last time I looked into it)... 4x4's will become Gold dust if this law does get in, as I regularly see double-axled rigs.

Oz, I think is a little more free thinking and liberal.... not the Nannie state the UK has become

 

[MercAl]

To be honest, I don't think I have ever managed to get within the 85 per cent rule...try as I might! We had a Mazda Tribute previously, which we used to tow the caravan. Considering the size of it, it was very very light, and made it impossible to stay within 85 per cent. Also it had no torque, and generally was pretty poor in the towing stakes. Bags of room though, which was handy as we also take a small inflatable and a 10hp outboard engine, which we could get in with room to spare. The Merc however, is a totally diffrent ball game. It really is a wonderfull tow car.
The rig you have is becoming more popular. Last year we went to New England Bay, near Stranraer, and met a couple who had an absolutely huge American Camper, the sides of which extended, making it even bigger.! It was beautifull...but loads of money! Anyway...I digress...he towed a Citreon at the back. Said he did'nt even know he was towing it. Good idea...makes sense.

 

[citroennut]

the 85% rule? maths obviously not a strong point here!!

bit of a sarky comment as tried to upload a vid clip of small car big 'van which obviously didn't arrive on forum! any ideas why not?
cheers
simon

 

[psmart]

To be honest, I don't think I have ever managed to get within the 85 per cent rule...try as I might! We had a Mazda Tribute previously, which we used to tow the caravan. Considering the size of it, it was very very light, and made it impossible to stay within 85 per cent. Also it had no torque, and generally was pretty poor in the towing stakes. Bags of room though, which was handy as we also take a small inflatable and a 10hp outboard engine, which we could get in with room to spare. The Merc however, is a totally diffrent ball game. It really is a wonderfull tow car.
The rig you have is becoming more popular. Last year we went to New England Bay, near Stranraer, and met a couple who had an absolutely huge American Camper, the sides of which extended, making it even bigger.! It was beautifull...but loads of money! Anyway...I digress...he towed a Citreon at the back. Said he did'nt even know he was towing it. Good idea...makes sense.

I originally towed my Spectrum (GVW 1675Kg) with a Renault Laguna, because I couldnt bear to put a tow bar on my Cosworth (would have been fun though... car+van, 0-60 6 seconds )! I think most caravanners are overweight, just like motorhomers! Those American rigs are very nice, I'd love one, but if I went that route, I'd be the only one able to drive as no one in the family is prepared to get a HGV license ... I'd also need to re-mortgage as well..... they are anything from 250,000 to 500,000 and upwards!

With respect to towing a car, you dont know its there, if it flipped, it wouldnt turn the motorhome over, like a caravan would do to a car. Trouble is, it does have its downside... like any trailer, if the brake cable jams, and you dont recognise it (you might think you would, but not in a large motorhome), you end up with an expensive repair

bit of a sarky comment as tried to upload a vid clip of small car big 'van which obviously didn't arrive on forum! any ideas why not?

Need to get hold of an Administrator or Moderator.... trouble is, screams of 'Exterminate' and ranting raving daleks comes to mind.... see 'Big Brother' thread....

 

[oigle]

I drove a 30ft motorhome in the States for a year or so and towed a small jap car behind. OK except for when you needed to reverse - bad news. Tore the rubber off the front tyres of the towed vehicle too as they were forced to steer by the tow car. Some road conditions also produced a violent wobble in the towed car too - had to stop and settle everything down and start again. Bit disconcerting at times. I think the towbar ran at a bigger vertical angle than it should have and that caused the problem. They need to be pretty flat. Didn't like the combo and sold it for a little smaller motorhome - 27ft - that was more manouvreable and didn't require a smaller car. America is a bit different though as the roads etc are setup for those big mothers.

 

[psmart]

I drove a 30ft motorhome in the States for a year or so and towed a small jap car behind. OK except for when you needed to reverse - bad news. Tore the rubber off the front tyres of the towed vehicle too as they were forced to steer by the tow car.

Reversing is difficult, albeit the Americans have sussed it with an electronic leg, rather than brake cable (illegal in the UK, at the mo). It takes a lot of patience and practise, and if your in a panic, jump out, pull the safety pin on the brake cable and it reverses one hellova lot easier. Was thinking of making an electro-mechanical mod to do this, but then I'd need approval!!!

Like you say, it may have been the tow ball height, on my rig, the towball to tow car is dead level, and with the rearview camera, you can see when your making a c*kup! The car never puts a foot wrong, its covered approx 20000 miles being towed and 16000 under its own power, and the only problem was when the brake cable jammed and I had to replace the complete running gear, back and front (tyres, discs, pads, calipers etc)!