General towing a caravan with the 1.3 90

[Loury777]

Hi All, i am thinking of towing a small caravan ( max weight 900kg) with a gp dynamic 1.3 90 mj. i have not got the gp yet as my concern is that some forum members give the impression that its pulling power is naff due to the turbo lag. has anyone any experience of towing with this vehicle and why is there no turbo lag on the active mj 75?? regards Lou

 

[maharg null]

Hi All, i am thinking of towing a small caravan ( max weight 900kg) with a gp dynamic 1.3 90 mj. i have not got the gp yet as my concern is that some forum members give the impression that its pulling power is naff due to the turbo lag. has anyone any experience of towing with this vehicle and why is there no turbo lag on the active mj 75?? regards Lou

I think that it would be a nightmare, the engine is good at making horsepower and not torque and the turbo lag is a real problem.

 

[AllSaintChris]

Hill starts would be a particular nightmare cos of the amount of revs you would need to get it off the line.

Problem is then all the torque and power will kick in so you could prob wave bye bye to the clutch quite quickly too!

 

[dan-the-man]

as long as you keep the turbo spinning it should be ok, but as chris said you'll wear the clutch out quicker.

 

[AppleSei]

Check towing weights and kerb weights of both car in your manual and check against the caravans weight

I personally wouldnt tow a caravan with a 1.3 based on personal experience.

A folding camper and a trailer tent you might get away with, but i agree with sentiments above regarding a caravan

 

[ChrisUK]

There is no turbo lag on the MJ 75 as there is no turbo its a belt driven supercharger!.

Personally I dont think you will have much problem its quite a torquey engine and Ive seen people tow similar weight on a 1.2 16v corsa although they did struggle .

 

[dave]

no sell the caravan

 

[The Negotiator]

Sounds like a very bad idea, what does the car manual say for it?

 

[Andy Monty]

I have a 1.2 petrol active and it pulls a conway trailer tent (challenger) ok it even kept pulling away on the motorway bridge over the Ouse on the M62 between Howden and Goole (my old 1.1 fiesta used to struggle solo) but i wouldnt like to pull anything bigger..

Just think its lighter and has less drag you shouldnt pull any caravan with a mass of more than 85% the kurb weight of the car in any circumstance as the car wont be able to control it if it starts to snake for example and a heavy van might invalidate your warenty...:worship:

 

[dave]

shouldnt pull any caravan ever, bloody meanace they are

 

[The Negotiator]

My parent's one is going for its service tomorrow so will be sat in a scenic towing one, how embarrassing They are much more exciting though that they used to be, they have to beep when you indicate

 

[Andy Monty]

" are much more exciting though that they used to be, they have to beep when you indicate"


unless you find the relay and cut the cable to the buzzer or pack with foam rubber (i dismantled mine and stuffed an foam ear plug in the case over the buzzer element peace has now returned.. or fit a light in the dash

Yes i know its a legal requirement...

 

[dave]

why do they have to beep when you indicate?

i think they should make them beep all the time, that might stop you buggers having them

sort of on topic, has the law changed re towing them big twin axle things? you used to need a commercial vehicle to pull any thing bigger than the smallest hobby, but now i see loads being towed with 4x4s and people carriers, even see a few being towed with a normal car

 

[x Alex x]

my mate 1.0 3cyl corsa pulls 3 bikes and a big trailer so i think youll manage

 

[Loury777]

Many thanks for everyones input with the exception of cynic dave, the caravan in question is a lightweight Sterkeman 370 loaded will only be 850kg the gp active kerbweight at 1105kg with a max towing weight of 1000kg it will not be a problem. you all have answered my question regarding the turbo lag thanks for that, by the way i have towed this same caravan with a PANDA mj with no problems whatsoever with an average 33 mpg. i now have a gp 75 not yet towed with it. Reason i put my question in the first place was that i have the option to change it for a dynamic gp. i have taken your opinions on board and will stick with the Active mj 75 many thanks everybody. a special thanks to Chrisuk as i had no idea regarding the supercharger. Lou

 

[AppleSei]

Nice one glad you can keep the car for towing this caravan

rather nice caravan it looks too

 

[dave]

that panda n carvan looks so wrong, there a nice travel inn behind you, dump the van an stay there :devil:

 

[Andy Monty]

Dave the law changed in the last 10 years read this

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/fs/en


Loury777
If you live in the Yorkshire area i can recomend Towone trailers (01482 225645) In Hull for towbar fitting, They fitted mine and did a good job (nice neat bumber cut) and wiring is neat and tidy... Paid about £200 for the brink fixed ball (swan neck) and 12N wiring including the 7 way by-pass relay which the GP needs as it has a bulb failure circuit And they do the work on behalf of Perrys (the Hull Fiat dealer)

 

[dave]

Dave the law changed in the last 10 years read this

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/fs/en

i no see anything about towing 2.5m wide twin axel vans on there

 

[Andy Monty]

Loury 777
are you getting the 12S as well at that price? sounds good to me...

I searched high and low for a bar that wouldnt need a bumper cut but couldn't find one then again you cant see the cut unless you get on our hands and knees what bar are you having fitted?

Take a blanket with you as you will have the rear bumper brace to wrap up take home and it wont fit in the boot unless you fold the seats down...

i have put some photos on line for you..

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/detail?.dir=170c&.dnm=8b93re2.jpg&.src=ph

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/detail?.dir=170c&.dnm=89c7re2.jpg&.src=ph

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/detail?.dir=170c&.dnm=f1e7re2.jpg&.src=ph