Aids’ for more details) is rare these days. The choice between saloon, hatchback or
estate will often come down to
practicality – if you need to carry more
luggage, especially odd shaped items
like awning poles, deck chairs and all
the other ‘essentials’ we find we need
when going on holiday, then generally a
hatchback will swallow more than a
saloon, and an estate will take more
than a hatchback.
‘Multi Purpose Vehicles’ (MPVs or
‘people carriers’) are now very popular.
These often have a relatively high kerb
weight and short rear overhang, which
are advantageous for towing. The high
seating positions and flexible seating and luggage arrangement normally possible are
also bonuses while touring or in normal use. Note, however, that some models are
quite low-powered for the size of vehicle, and hence will not be especially lively
when loaded or towing. Also, some manufacturers may consider that the high internal
load capacity (often 7 people plus luggage) means that a relatively low towing limit
and/or noseweight limit is appropriate for the car. Others quote variable limits – ie
you can carry lots of payload in the car, or tow a heavy caravan, but not do both at
once. As always, check in the car handbook before buying.
9. NOSEWEIGHT
In general, the higher the noseweight, the better the stability of the combination.
Experience has shown that a noseweight in the region of 5% to 7% of the actual
laden weight of the caravan is normally a practical limit. However, the maximum
noseweight will always be limited by the lowest of the car, towbar or caravan
coupling vertical load limits.
For more information on this subject please see The Club’s separate ‘Noseweight’
leaflet, which includes lists of car noseweight limits.
10. TOWBARS
Still at the car's rear end, consider carefully the mechanical connection of your
caravan, the towbar. Today's fuel-efficient cars are quite lightly-built and have metal
panels designed to crumple in an accident. Attaching a rigid towbar to such a
structure, to accept the considerable vertical and horizontal forces from the caravan is
now a very exact science. The car manufacturer will specify precisely at what points
the attachment must be made, and often provide pre-drilled and threaded points for
the bolts. From 1 August 1998 most new cars have to be fitted with a towbar meeting
European Directive 94/20/EC, which should guarantee the towbar’s performance. For
older cars, though, it is not wise to save a few pounds buying the cheapest possible
towbar, which most likely does not attach to all the recommended points - insist on
one which states that the design has been tested to the British (BS AU114) or similar
International (ISO3853) Standard. Any claim that a towbar is 'designed to' or 'meets'
And now for something completely
different….Why not tow with a
convertible? Or a high performance
saloon? Or a pick-up truck? As long as
a vehicle has an adequate towing limit
specified by its manufacturer, you should
be able to tow with it. While this usually
rules out things like Ferraris, it wouldn’t
necessarily exclude a BMW convertible,
a Subaru Impreza WRX or a Mitsubishi
L200. Your towcar does not have to be
boring!
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