HI, I AM NEW TO THE FORUM AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY HI TO
EVERYONE
AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR SOME HELP AND ADVICE.

I AM THINKING OF PUTTING A TOW BAR ONTO MY STILO WHICH IS A 1.4 16V ACTIVE AIR CON 3 DOOR 54 REG AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THERE IS ANYONE ELSE ON THE FORUM THAT PULLS A CARAVAN WITH A SIMILAR MODEL THAT CAN GIVE ME ANY TIPS OR ADVICE ON THIS ISSUE AS I DONT WANT TO FIT A TOWBAR IF THE CAR STRUGGLES TO PULL A VAN

THE MODEL I WILL BE TOWING IS A 2 BERTH SWIFT CORICHE APPROX 17' LONG AND A TOWING WEIGHT OF 860 KGS UNLOADED SO ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL

i have only ever seen 1 stilo with a tow bar on it and it only ever towed a small trailer.

I'll see what i can find but i doubt it would do it to be honest

THANKS VERY MUCH BIG BLACK STILO, ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

I found a website the other day where you can find out the safe weights etc...your car can tow, think it was: www.towsafe.co.uk* sadly you have to pay to use it tho!

*I wasnt flicking through a caravan magazine at the time

maximum weight on towbar 60kg, maximum towing weight 1000KG for the 1.4

Big Black Stilo said:

i have only ever seen 1 stilo with a tow bar on it and it only ever towed a small trailer.

I'll see what i can find but i doubt it would do it to be honest

Click to expand...

I have a tow bar and I pulled 500kg on a trailer with it once. I hardly knew it was there. Mind you mine is a JTD MWagon.

I would think a 1.4 would struggle with a caravan, + I am sure you will not tow it empty and also have other people in the car. You will probably be pulling over 1 ton when you have got everything in.

Hi i tow a caravan with my Stilo tho it is a 115JTD m/wagon, find it to be an excellent towing car, the 115jtd is an excellent engine for towing.
Think you will find you will struggle with your caravan as Kerbweight of your car is about 1090kg making the recommended 85% 926kg which will be less than the loaded weight of your Swift, also think it will be underpowered, really need something bigger than a 1.6 better still a jtd!

My JTD had a towbar fitted by the previous lady 'owner' whom was on motability but tow ball looks like it may never have been used. I don't tow a caravan with my 115 JTD yet but have bought a Caravan and will be towing from the end of March.

For an assessment of how the tow car would perform have found www.whattowcar.com enlightening... and it's free!

Think JTD engine would be a gem for towing, given its smooth torquey delivery from virtually idle, unfortunately the towball noseweight @ 60kg is not great and given what we now about the Stilo's suspension have opted for a lightweight 2 berth van and a Tescos Car Warranty as the old gal has neigh on 70K up...

Used to tow with my Stilo Abarth.... not much help BUT

I've towed the same caravan, Eriba Triton 430GT (GLW 1000kg) with the following cars:

Tipo 1.6ie
Punto HGT (1.8ie)
Stilo Abarth
Croma 150 (diesel)

In all cases was/am perfectly happy with performance bearing in mind each of the car's relative performances.

The Tipo 1.6ie (75BHP@600rpm - 125 N·m (92 lb·ft) @3000 rpm) is probably nearest and I think inferior in performace to your 1.4 16V Stilo (please check). It towed really well provided you didn't try to push beyond what the car would easily do. True for any car, especially when towing.

The only thing I can't compare is the wind resistance/drag factor of your caravan compared to the Eriba. This could take to edge off things but can't see it being a show stopper.

My suggestion would be (assuming you can't get any actual 1.4 towing reports, or any other contrary information) that if you really like your Stilo and are happy with everything else about it then go with the Stilo. Your worst case scenario is that you it will cost you the cost of your tow bar.

Personally I think you will be OK.

A couple of other points final point.

If you have reversing sensors then if you go for a fixed/bolt-on towball then you will find that reversing sensors will pick up the towball. I got round this by fitting a dropper plate, which as luck would have it with my caravan resulted in a totally level pull. Without the dropper plate it was a slight nose up pull.

THIS IS FOR SELESPEED Cars

Towing is a breeze bar one issue. Don't get caught in traffic jams and avoid reversing especially up hill. As you already know the Selespeed heavily slips the clutch when reversing. Put a towed load, especially up hill and it won't be long till you will smell the wear. Similary, when crawling in traffic you can't just get the car rolling and take all you feet off the pedals as in a manual. You are best sitting and waiting till the gap in front of you grows so you can then start to pull and get the clutch fully engaged, hopefully without having to slow or stop again. And yes the other dick head motorist will grunt and curse, pull into the gap you have left, etc. etc. Even with a fully manual box I still follow the "create a gap/free driving zone". Ever noticed how most private truck owner/drivers also leave gaps so they don't have to keep starting and stopping (and they have crawler gears).

Still, depsite the above caution my Stilo Abarth towed for 3 years at over 3000 miles per year including 3 trips to the Italian Dolomites with no problems.