Towing A Caravan With 1.9 Diesel (130hp)

[Bubbles]

Galaxy 1999 TDi

Not long since returned from La Rochelle (mid France) towing a relatively small caravan but well loaded with:

2 adults, 2 kids (8 & 10), 4 Bikes, Full awning, BBQ and tonnes of unnecessary clothing (that's what you get with 2 daughters) and loads of wine on the return jouney

I didn't hang about, air con on all the time

27.5 mpg going

28 mpg comming back

(these figures include trafficjams but mainly motorway diving at 60mph

[Guest MATT jr]

exactly the same figures as us - and we did it to spain, towing anywhere between 50 - 70mph - mainly 65 - 70 tho. only traffic jam was in england!

 

weight of galaxy +1350kgs (maybe more) caravan weight

 

MJR

[Guest bigelvis]

Just bought a galaxy, its a p reg 1.9tdi aspen can anyone tell me the bhp and also i take it it will pull my little 850kg caravan with no probs?

[mumof4]

should be on ur docs..like your V5.mot cert etc....

[Guest bigelvis]

should be on ur docs..like your V5.mot cert etc....

 

Dont think bhp is on the mot just the cc's, only got me galaxy yesterday so regi book on its way to swansea, il check it out when its back.

[mumof4]

its either 90 or 115 iirc..

[AndeeeH]

90 upto 11/97 then 110. :rolleyes: Andy.

[Guest MATT jr]

and it will pull your feather weight no problem :rolleyes:

 

(although MAF failure can cause problems)

 

MJR

[Guest bigelvis]

Well that answers the bhp, must be a 90, thanks folks.

[RADIOTWO]

when pulling the air-brake (caravan).

 

 

Whats a "Air-brake" Caravan?

 

Radiotwo

[Guest MATT jr]

lol cos a caravan is wider and taller than the car - it has a similar effect as a parachute under some circumstances.

 

MJR

[TerryM]

exactly the same figures as us - and we did it to spain, towing anywhere between 50 - 70mph - mainly 65 - 70 tho. only traffic jam was in england!

 

weight of galaxy +1350kgs (maybe more) caravan weight

 

MJR

 

Matt, you seem to bve pretty clued up about Galaxies and towing caravans. There appears to be a suggestion that the auto box on the diesel is at or close to its limit in terms of strength/reliability. Is the VR6 box any different? I.e are there any reports of box failures

[jpmcarter]

I currently have a 1996 2.0 petrol Galaxy that lacks 'grunt' when pulling the air-brake (caravan). Has anyone any experiences with the 130 bhp 1.9 diesel (manual gearbox) when towing said device? Information on fuel economy would be interesting!

i have a 140 sharan and a 115 galaxy tow with both, awsome, i have swift 6 berth and sometimes it is possible to forget its there

[davec]

pulls our 1500 indiana like a dream 25-28 very stable

[big_kev]

I currently have a 1996 2.0 petrol Galaxy that lacks 'grunt' when pulling the air-brake (caravan). Has anyone any experiences with the 130 bhp 1.9 diesel (manual gearbox) when towing said device? Information on fuel economy would be interesting!

 

All of the Diesels ( even the 90BHP ) will pull a caravan better than the 2.0l.

 

The 2.0l was a mistake..they used a readily available ford engine but it wasn't up to the job of moving the Galaxy alone never mind towing a caravan.

The 2.3l gave substantially more power and returned the same if not better fuel economy.

The 2.0l was dumped when the MK2 came out.

[DerekLaverty]

At present I tow my van (1500kgs) with a 90bhp diesel galaxy, I'm in the process of changing to a twin axel van (1900kgs) According to my dealer and the caravan towing guide I need to change to a min of an 2002 galaxy. Apperantly an 02 model can tow up to 2000kgs, and that from a very reputable caravan dealer. Personally myself I think i'm gonna change to a land cruiser or something like that.....

[Smilge]

At present I tow my van (1500kgs) with a 90bhp diesel galaxy, I'm in the process of changing to a twin axel van (1900kgs) According to my dealer and the caravan towing guide I need to change to a min of an 2002 galaxy. Apperantly an 02 model can tow up to 2000kgs, and that from a very reputable caravan dealer. Personally myself I think i'm gonna change to a land cruiser or something like that.....

 

No No No ....... Sorry Derek thats the maximum tow limit of the car and as you stick all your bits and pieces in it, you'll be overweight and illegal. Stick with the 85% figures and you'll be much safer.

 

Have a looky here and match a van to the gal

 

http://www.whattowcar.com

[mumof4]

Be very careful....i was out and about the other day and right in front of me on the A17 at the bottom of the hill a car and his van went their seperate ways..the rear of the car was a right mess and the van was totalled as it ended up on its side after going up a bank ..going over and coming to rest across two lanes..the car ended up in the against the central reservation bit.Road was closed for an hour till they could shift all the debris.Gotta admit that he was snakeing a bit before it happened.Wasnt a pretty sight i tell you.

[Bigjeeze]

Should pull an 850Kg van with no problems - might hit the consumption a bit but should pull fine.

 

I think your's will be 90BHP

[Sher]

I do not understand this previous comment from Bleeno:-

 

No No No ....... Sorry Derek thats the maximum tow limit of the car and as you stick all your bits and pieces in it, you'll be overweight and illegal. Stick with the 85% figures and you'll be much safer.

 

Since the Maximum Gross weight of the Galaxy is about 2350kg, and I think we all load up our cars rather than the caravan then I make 85% in the following way

 

85% of 2000kg = 1700kg

85% of 300kg = 255kg

85% of 50kg = 42.kg

-----------------------------

Total = 1997kg

 

So it seems to me that 1900kg is well within the 85% limit I hear so much about (along with archane "rules" about a seperate hitch for the brake overun etc.)

 

I'm sure that 1900kg represents the Maximum Gross weight of the caravan.

 

However, to stay within the Gross Train Weight of the Galaxy of 4000kg then a 2300kg galaxy can in theory (legally) tow only 1700kg.

 

If Bleeno insists on 85% and not a fraction more then in theory the Galaxy must weigh in at 2162kg with the caravan at a maximum of 1838kg to fit this 4000kg figure. (These figures are really only legal guides as even in Germany the maximum gross caravan weight can be surpassed, provided the maximum speed is reduced. Actual figures I forget)

 

My Hobby 1600kg Gross Weight (Latest almost identical model can be plated to 1750kg for an extra 200

[lazyb5]

Hi all,

just come back from dorset towing my Elddis and would like to add my two pennorth ;)

The auto box in the mk2 is right on the limit of it design on torque. Max for the box is 330 and 115 tdi puts out about 315 ( i read it somewhere)

The 85% rule i`ve always used is of the cars weight in the handbook which is about 1850kgs (85% = 1572kgs)

Legal limit for vans in the UK is 60 mph and you are not permitted to use the 3rd lane of the motor way.

I`ve had my van for about 5 years and the galaxy is the best car i`ve towed with (most stable)

I have had my tyres on for 5 years and they will be replaced before we next go out. They were of the commercial type to stand the weight.Cant see anything wrong with them but i bet if anything happens the insurance will ask how old were your tyres :)

oh and dorset is really busy at this time of year :D

[mumof4]

some figures from my trusty handbook..

 

Ther permissable gross weight may be exceeded by 85kg and the permissable axle load by 50kg provided that driving speed is restricted to 60mph.

 

for a 115 manual transmission:

 

permissable gross weight = 2420..(includes passengers and any paraphanalia)

 

permissable axle loads:front=1240, rear=1280.

 

The kerb weight is the car and its driver., and the fuel tank filled to 90 %

(1666-1956)

 

Payload = 464-754

 

 

by the way..the TDi chucks out 310 according to the handbook.

[Sher]

I have never read (or should I say remember reading) that the Unofficial 85% figure referred to the Lowest Gross weight of the towing vehicle.

 

I think the meaning refers to the actual Gross weight of the towing vehicle. Which is why I was very careful to list the different weights and GTW (Gross train weights in my previous comments).

 

The present Mark2 Galaxy even in 115bhp TDi modeis easily able to pull 2000kg because of its tremendous torque maxing at around 1900rpm.

 

The new model based on the Focus Chassis is rated at only 1750kg. The reason should not be the Ford diesel engines because as far as I know the torque is pretty similar at similar revs. ts an unknown quantity for now.

Plus a crucial advantage:- a (dual?) chain driven camshaft. I hate this 40,000mile problem!! on the Volks engined model.

 

P.S. Thanks Mo4 for the data. It proves my point even more as I only used conservative numbers to make the point.

 

P.P.S. To lazyb5:-The commercial tyres you use can you quote the size and load rating? I'm looking for 215/55R16 with load rating of more than 97H. Have not found them yet.

I can find 205/65 R16 commercial tyres which are rated at around 102/100H which represents an extra 75 to 125kg per tyre ( from my calc's very similar rolling radius so small it matters nought).

[mumof4]

sher....i had FULLRUN TYRES 215/55/R16 on my gal and they were 97Ws IIRC.(reinforced)....i did put it on the forum when i got them..they are directional tyres though.

 

p.s...the figures i quoted were for a 115 MKII...i have figures for others aswell.(in my trusty manual)

[Sher]

Mo4 the load rating of the tyre you mention is 97 which is what I have now and is available represents a Max load per tyre of 725kg if I have calculated it correctly.

 

The H and the W or letter following is the speed rating. Since I never travel at 130mph which is the H rating then W is not required.

 

A rating of 100 would give a maximum load per tyre of 800kg. I would always feel happier with this extra safety margin when towing and fully laden.

 

As an extra I have found the present 215/55 R16 97H Michelin Plots more prone to aqua planing than any other car I have driven. The car is on its 2nd set from new at 70,000miles. Prior to this I have always been very happy with Michelin and always specified them. I'm having 2nd thoughts now.

I'm even considering using slightly narrower tyres of higher aspect ratio to give the same rolling ratio.

This will reduce the chance of aquaplaning and may improve traction on loose surfaces which can be a problem when moving off/on sites with the caravan. This is less of a problem because my Motor Mover (fixed) can move caravan and car if required.