Hi, just trying to get an idea of how much most peoples towing combinations weigh. Basically the combined weight of a simple car trailer and a typical VW drag car.
Just trying to work out what size car I can get away with buying to make the trip from Wollongong to Warwick etc safely plus few trips to WSID and still be an economical everyday car. I'll probably build the trailer myself so I'll try and keep it light, single axle if possible with suspension.
Thanks!
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
Yeah I would agree with Craig, mine is about the same.
Once you start getting closed in trailers and stuff like that you can add 800kg!
To give you some other things to consider,
my old land cruiser was about 2 tons and had about 100kw.
It was great on the road, but another 20kw would have helped on the hills.
So even if the towing capacity is rated well,
make sure you have enough KW.
The trailer I built a couple of years back is a heavy mofo at 350kg.... My 2.5ltr Forester tows it pretty well, but a turbo Forester would be that much better.... It's limit is 1400kg (braked).... So with the car and all the gear I reckon I'm getting close to the cars limit....
On the run to Warwick earlier this year, I caught a lift with Ben R in his dads Disco.... He was dragging a pretty heavy looking trailer (400-450kg maybe?) that I think a few guys here have owned in the past.... It did a pretty good job of towing the Orange M&M, three adults and one child and out collective crap, and prolly another 150kg of race gear.... I reckon he did a pretty good job of keeping up with Dave R and his Buggy through the twisty mountain roads!!!!
Have you thought about just hiring a car for when you need to tow ?
I have tried that a few times but most hire cars DONT have tow bars maybe some of the 4WD hire places have them ( havent inviistigated ) but avis n the like dont have cars with Tow bars
Gees your lucky my dad isnt on here Humpty!!!!!!! Its a defender not a disco!!!!! He could quite possibly kill you for that slip!!!!
The landy did an awesome job but not that practicle around town.When i have to get a tow car im leaning towards a ford teretry.
When originally built my trailer the tow car had a towing capacity of 1000kgs. So once I knew car weight I knew what I had for trailer. Made it with 40kgs to spare. Mind you this didn't include tools spares etc. I only used it tow 40kms to Willowbank. New Outlander has 1200kg capacity but same engine as old car but seems more than capable of towing. February will tell. Might need a few fuel stops though.
Car trailer 420kg the 56 bug weighs 710kg, 54 drag bug a bit lighter. The petrol Hilux tows all the bugs and loaded up with heaps of crap with ease, no worries at all getting up the hills and overtaking as well tows great and does the speed limit.
The Hilux SR5 4wd auto weighs 2ton & 175kw.
Maximum Towing Mass (braked trailer) 2250kg
When towing it uses around 14ltrs/100klms and when not towing just over 10ltr/100 and it drives just like a car, heaps of power to go when you want it to go.
We have used it for towing everywhere to Portland Vic twice, Sydney, Wakefield heaps of times and Warwick heaps of times and Brisbane use it to tow everywhere it's great
Looking at a skoda yeti 4 motion with 2 lt TDI for same reason. Comfy and economical everyday car with 1600kg tow limit which should tow most things I need to. I just did a 3800km trip to victoria to pick up my daughters fastback in a borrowed 2 year old hilux turbo diesel, and lets just say 'never again'. I dont know why hiluxes sell so well unless everyone is 5 foot tall and married to a chiropractor.
I love my T4, 2.5lt. 5cyl. petrol on gas. I use it every day for work and family and it tows the race car no problems. I get 350 km per tank (50ltr) and you can sleep in it. It's a bit slow up those hills going to Sydney but is comfy and reliable (560,000kms and still going strong). Michael
T5's might be a little bit out of my price range, I'd love one otherwise. I'm afraid Rod would suggest something small, economical and underpowered like for instance....a Hummer 🤪
I am going through the same thing, thinking about the next car for towing, though the bug is a super and track not drag, so probably pushing closer to 900kg + trailer + gear
Really only 2 options at the moment CX5 or Tiguan. 1800kg and 2000kg respectively. The cx5 desiel has 125kw and 400nm which is pretty good.
I have towed some large boats (pushing 2t or more fully loaded with 2 weeks of food) with a falcon or and a old 2.6l petrol pajero. Would not want to try again. But again allot of it comes back to how well the trailer tows and you drive to the load/conditions.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
BiX wrote:I am going through the same thing, thinking about the next car for towing, though the bug is a super and track not drag, so probably pushing closer to 900kg + trailer + gear
Really only 2 options at the moment CX5 or Tiguan. 1800kg and 2000kg respectively. The cx5 desiel has 125kw and 400nm which is pretty good.
I have towed some large boats (pushing 2t or more fully loaded with 2 weeks of food) with a falcon or and a old 2.6l petrol pajero. Would not want to try again. But again allot of it comes back to how well the trailer tows and you drive to the load/conditions.
I looked at that option too, and the VW was woeful(?) in its KW rating,
despite the diesel's 2000kg towing rating.
Even the New amarok was a really poor kW/ton number.
My choice would have been the CX5 except I need a bit more space in the back.
It IS nice to have all wheel drive too,
especially if you need to move around on wet grass.
Even if you never go off road.
The other option I considered was the new diesel forester or Outback.
I work in the auto trade.
I would keep away from the new green diesel cars and 4wd
I read so much bad stuff on running cost and problems..
blocked up manifolds, particulate filters, and injector troubles.
nothing is serviceable and have to replace complete units.
some parts cost $6000..
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
whathaveidone wrote:Gees your lucky my dad isnt on here Humpty!!!!!!! Its a defender not a disco!!!!! He could quite possibly kill you for that slip!!!!
Tomater, Tomarta.... 😘
SuperOwen wrote:I'm not sure the ferguson would suit my needs as a daily driver unfortunately. Would make parking at uni a breeze though....
And how cool would it be to rock up to an event on one?😂
I have pulled my race car and trailers with everything from an Oldsmobile Toronado to a Ford f350 dually diesel. For me it was pretty easy to pull a trailer , but stopping in an emergency condition is where the proper vehicle shows up. Too light of tow vehicle with too light braking system is a formula for disaster. A few years ago I was returning from a race down at Gainsville Fla when someone caused an accident in front of me . Cars were going everywhere and I had to panic stop , I barely got it stopped without hitting anyone or losing control . My next vehicle was much heavier with BIG brakes . Be safe, Mike
Very important point, Mike.....something that is often overlooked. My trailer has electric brakes, and when adjusted correctly, are very useful in a 'big' stop.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
HappyDaze wrote:Very important point, Mike.....something that is often overlooked. My trailer has electric brakes, and when adjusted correctly, are very useful in a 'big' stop.
And not only does the trailer have to stop but the car on it has to stop too. Think very carefully about tie down points when you build your trailer. Also take into account the force your car (load) puts on the draw bare under heavy braking.
I cant praise electric brakes enough, its so reasurring to to be able to settle the trailer when coming down a hill with a flick of the trailer brakes.
I have cable brakes on my single axle trailer, with 1500 leaf springs and a very long 2mtr drawbar made of 90mm thick wall RHS.... It works exceedingly well, but Mike's point about vehicle is extremely valid.... Sure wish I could afford a heavier tow car.
