Big Daz

Ok, i need to replace the Scoob with something able to tow a track car & trailer. I have been thinking along the lines of : Shogun V6 / 2.8TD, Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, Audi A6, BMW 540.
Budget is £7K Max Any more Ideas?

Cheers

Daz

Brendan Hughes

How important is 4wd to you? Do your tracks use fields as car parks?

Diesel better than petrol for towing, as more torque?

Big Daz

4wd Not essential, but I would like it I think. About 50% of parking is in fields ( just to be difficult)
Dont mind Diesel, but dont do that many miles as to rule out petrol either.

Daz

little'un

iTrader: (9)

Volvo T5 is a idea, a friend has one and he has towed like it's a piece of p1ss.

Ex-police ones with 2.8 litre engine in, they'll have some miles on and may have had a few bodywork repairs but it does the job!

little'un

TopBanana

If you want to comfortably tow the car, you want the tow car + trailer to be less tnan 80% of the tow car's weight. I'd recommend a shogun or similar - regular saloon cars will be too light.

BrettC

I was just about to state something similar to TB, but he beat me to it. Im sure that he means 'track' car + trailer to be <80% of tow car's weight though.

Big Daz

That was my theory too, but the BMW 540's gotta weigh a fair bit too

TopBanana

1660kg - shoguns are about 2000kg i think

Tim-Grove

A work mate of mine is a caravaner and he swears by Discovery’s. He towed with Volvos for years but then decided to try a Discovery, he’s now on his 4th discovery (new shape 05 HSE). He says the discovery tends not to be thrown about by the caravan like the Volvos were.

steffiraf

What about a Toyota Hilux Surf? We have one and its awesome for towing, will pull a house down and still do 90 on the motorway(without trailer of course). HTH
Steff

logiclee

How heavy is the track car? Unless it's something like an Atom then to be safe you are going to need the weight of a big off roader. If your new to towing then track car + trailer needs to be less than 80% of the tow cars kerbside weight. Experienced towers can edge up to 100% but its not recommended.

I've towed for years and can 100% say go for diesel. You can't beat having peak torque at around 2000rpm which usually translates to the perfect 50-60mph in top gear. I'd choose a decent TD over a V8 petrol for towing, it's not power you need it's torque and you want it at the bottom of the rev range. Hit a hill at 2500rpm in a TD and as the speed and rpm falls the torque actually increases letting you lug up the hill without changing down gears and revving the nuts off.

Also consider the nose weight, with a car loaded on a transporter the nose weight is going to be 100-150+kg, most saloon cars have nose weight limits around 75kg.

Cheers
Lee

TopBanana

Shhh... I'm in the market for one at the moment, don't tell everyone

Brendan Hughes

I don't get BBC real-time, have to wait for Prime, so last week we just saw the TopGear HiLux fall off a block of flats in Hackney - OMFG... with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly soundtrack that was one fantastic piece of TV

foz01

something RWD or 4WD, 5 series Beamer, A6 etc

I use an S4, 2.7 Twin turbo, 306ft/lb at2500 rpm, pulls fine

TopBanana

Pulls what though?

Big Daz

I intend to tow a stripped out 205GTI, Prob 800kg ? and the trailer is fairly lightweight possibly 200 / 250kg (single axle based on caravan chassis)
Wifee likes the BM 540 idea, but I am swayed towards the Shogun

Daz

Will have to go & look at Toyotas

PG

Keep the Scoob and buy my Mondeo V6 estate. Great car. Cheap as chips.

Big Daz

Lol, Sell it to Ian (again). He is going to be in the same situation very shortly.

Daz

PG

is he now?

Big Daz

I would think so
He holds a 50% stake in the "project" so unless he intends to use Ruby (Scoob), an alternative is likely to be on the cards :wink:

scoobylav

LOL thanks for pointing the thread out PG . . . .

Guess that means the secret is out. I would like to think I could convince Big Daz that the rocket outside your house last night would have made a good tow car. But I think I may struggle on that one.

steffiraf

Check out www.yotasurf.co.uk There are loads of surfs for sale on there. HTH

RRH

from experience of towing a race car with a 540i, you'll probs get around 5mpg if fairly enthusiastic. also if you park on a damp field you will be stuck there until its summer.

if this doesnt bother you too much then the 540 would be great.

otherwise one of the 4wd volvo estate T5's would be perfect.

Nowucme

Can't believe no ones mentioned a Legacy yet.

I had to get rid of my MY00 Impreza and bought a V reg Legacy estate. 2.5l all leather loads of toys, I added four new tyres and a towbar and it came to 6k.

I tow a horse trailer + horse (obviously) and it does it easily.

logiclee

Not in the price range quoted but I recently attended a Caravan show and Audi were showing off their latest A6 3.0V6 TDi Quattro.

Unbelievable how it towed a 1450kg van but with 331 lbft at only 1400rpm I should think so.

Looking a bit further up the range if an off roader wasn't your thing then the A8 4.0V8 TDi has to be one of the best tugs on sale.

Without doubt the VW Toureg 5.0litre V10 TDi has to be the daddy though.

Cheers
Lee

GC8

Legally you can only tow a trailer where the loaded weight doesnt exceed that of the towing vehicle; sensibly youll keep it under 75%. This will limit your options, most people towing a car on a trailer are breaking the law, and its dangerous. The exception to this would be a vehicle like a Land Rover which is considered as a 'dual-purpose' vehicle so their towing weight exceeds their curb weight. A Hilux Surf or a Pajero arent really 'dual purpose' vehicles but seeing as the definition isnt that clear then its not too hard to get away with. This isnt a issue when you consider that the commercial model versions are very similar and whod argue that a Land Rover County station wagon was a car...?

You need to keep your eye on the tare weight of the trailer too; think that it cant weigh in at over 250 kilogrammes, although Im not certain. I think that this limit only applies to passesnger vehicles too, leading you towards a 4x4, but again its been a long time since I checked.

Simon

foz01

A trailer and An S2000 racecar, sits at 75 even up hills

Although 8mpg is not unachievable

Pauleds2

As Steffi says our 3.0 Hilux Surf Turbo Diesel is fantastic. Cheap to buy,no engine niggles like the 2.4 version,absolutely nothing like the Hi Lux which was destroyed on Top Gear.

Masses of torque and a heavy towing weight (Will tow 2500KG) although i have towed 3000Kg.

Check this forum out for some serious bargains,they are all high spec imports,insurance is £350 fully comp and protected for us with lifesure.

Auto is best.
http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

Paul.

logiclee

Only if you gained your licence after 1997 is it an offence.

Have a look at www.swift-owners-club.com/soc1/tips/towing_and_the_law.html

Cheers
Lee

TopBanana

Might not be illegal but it's still bloody stupid. I'm sure you know this, just wanted to make it clear though