Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: stevejones on 18 June 2008, 22:57:00

Title: Caravan tow car
Post by: stevejones on 18 June 2008, 22:57:00
Now I know we all love our Omega's, but can we be HONEST.......I am about to be made redundant and I'm thinking of upgrading my car for the last time I can afford it. I love my V reg 2.5 petrol and am thinking of an 03 or 03 reg facelift model.

Is this a good choice as a RELIABLE towing car.....?
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 18 June 2008, 23:02:14
The Omega is an excellent tow car, if towing a car trailer with a 60' VX Cresta.  ;D If you want to tow a 'Caravan' then you may be asking on the wrong forum. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Elite Pete on 18 June 2008, 23:09:44
The last time I towed a van was with my 98 3.0 Elite saloon, we went away with my brother in law and he was towing his van with a 2.8TD Pajero. We were going up a dual carriage way that had a steep incline so I decided to show him what a good towing car the Omega was anyway I slowed at the top to let him catch up. The only other vehicle I have towed with was a 4.2 Range Rover and I will say you notice the caravan on the back more with the Omega but its not bad at all.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Entwood on 18 June 2008, 23:12:23
YES YES YES !!

I towed for 5 years with a 2.5 miggy, it was so good I changed to a newer one, ok it is 3.2 with a small body-kit, but still a miggy. We actually went looking for an 03 but this one sort of said "buy me" .... :)

I have been towing for 20 years on a regular basis and have had 4 tow cars, Mk 2 Granada, Ford Scorpio, Miggy 2.5 and now the 3.2. I always swore the scorpio was the best towcar in the world until I got the miggy, and the only difference in the 2.5 and 3.2 is the greater power which at towing speeds makes little difference, you just get there slightly quicker.

Both miggy's have been Elite's, deliberately, as I wanted the self leveling suspension and the self leveling HID lights - and the other toys are nice anyway  :)

As to reliability, in 5 years the 2.5 let me down once. We stopped in a hillside layby on the Loire Valley to take some piccies, when we restarted it seems the aircon fans and the rad fans all kicked in at the same time ... this blew the large fuses for the fans ... so the motor got pretty hot pretty fast, pulled over and after (eventually) fitting new fuses we were good to go. That car towed to France every year, including down to Bordeaux in August .. which was damned hot !!

I've only had this one since January but it handles exactly the same, and I'm pulling a 1600 kg caravan most weekends.

The ONLY downside to a miggy as a towcar is the fuel consumption, I've solved that by converting to LPG ..  :)

I wouldn't hesitate to commend a miggy as a tow car, powerful, rear wheel drive, easy to drive   :y :y :y

HTH
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: stevejones on 18 June 2008, 23:16:17
I know the Omega tows a caravan nicely but I spose my question surrounds reliability. Is the facelift more reliable than my V reg, which has a lot of loveable 'quirks' (ie daily warning lights, accelerating rust under the window edges, wobbly tickover)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 18 June 2008, 23:19:43
Seem to be reliable - had my facelift for 30 months with 1 crank sensor and one battery down
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Danny on 18 June 2008, 23:26:47
Quote
Now I know we all love our Omega's, but can we be HONEST.......I am about to be made redundant and I'm thinking of upgrading my car for the last time I can afford it. I love my V reg 2.5 petrol and am thinking of an 03 or 03 reg facelift model.

Is this a good choice as a RELIABLE towing car.....?

stuck for choice there ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 June 2008, 23:31:52
Bear in mind the road tax you'll be paying on a post-X reg omega! Might be better to keep your current one going.

Kevin
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Ian_D on 19 June 2008, 01:04:51
Quote
Quote
Now I know we all love our Omega's, but can we be HONEST.......I am about to be made redundant and I'm thinking of upgrading my car for the last time I can afford it. I love my V reg 2.5 petrol and am thinking of an 03 or 03 reg facelift model.

Is this a good choice as a RELIABLE towing car.....?

stuck for choice there ;D

LMAO!  ;D  :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: shyboy on 19 June 2008, 09:18:39
Hi guys and gals. Been away for a while.
The Miggy makes a great tow car but reliability really depends on your maintenance activity, whether you tow or not.
My 2.0l was good but was aware of long motorway gradients, but the 2.6l just flies up them with no struggling at all. Economy obviously suffers, but I can get almost as much paraphernalia in the load space as I can inside the van.
And I don't bother with a stabiliser as it's all so stable with the correct size of 'van.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 19 June 2008, 09:26:19
Quote
........
And I don't bother with a stabiliser as it's all so stable with the correct size of 'van.

 ........ and the missing word is - correctly LOADED 'van.  ;) 'Correct' size of 'van is irelevant if it's not loaded up something like correctly, you don't want the tail to wag the dog. :) :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: shyboy on 19 June 2008, 09:38:44
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Quote
........
And I don't bother with a stabiliser as it's all so stable with the correct size of 'van.

 ........ and the missing word is - correctly LOADED 'van.  ;) 'Correct' size of 'van is irelevant if it's not loaded up something like correctly, you don't want the tail to wag the dog. :) :y
Agreed. I should have said 'correct set up of the outfit'. It would still need some tail to wag the Miggy dog though.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 19 June 2008, 09:43:30
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...... It would still need some tail to wag the Miggy dog though.

Agreed! I to have a caravan that I tow with my Omega. :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 19 June 2008, 23:43:25
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Hi guys and gals. Been away for a while.
The Miggy makes a great tow car but reliability really depends on your maintenance activity, whether you tow or not.
My 2.0l was good but was aware of long motorway gradients, but the 2.6l just flies up them with no struggling at all. Economy obviously suffers, but I can get almost as much paraphernalia in the load space as I can inside the van.
And I don't bother with a stabiliser as it's all so stable with the correct size of 'van.

Bill is that not dangerous?... not towing a caravan without a stabiliser on :o
I used to tow a caravan but always with a bulldog stabiliser, towed with cavaliers and range rovers.... when the wind gets blowing hard you can see caravans swaying with them on never mind without :-?
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:00:55
Quote
.......
Bill is that not dangerous?... not towing a caravan without a stabiliser on :o .......

Not at all. A stabiliser of whatever type will only improve on an already stable outfit, it won't correct an unstable incorrectly loaded outfit. I've only recently returned to caravaning but I towed miles, in this country & in France, with no stabilser fitted to my previous 'van. My current 'van does have one fitted (Alko hitch lock), but only cos it was fitted when I bought it
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Entwood on 20 June 2008, 00:11:50
IMHO a stabiliser is a bit like a seat belt ... never needed until things go pearshaped ... trouble is we never know when that is going to happen.

I have been towing for 20 years, both with and without a stabilser, but mostly with ... I have only ever had 1 serious snake .. caused by a speeding HGV overtaking me, very close, and pulling in in a manner that caused me to swerve and brake, the back end then started moving all over the place, I don't know how much the stabilser helped .. but I believe that without it a serious accident would have occured, as it was the only damage was to my underwear, and my confidence for several miles.

I certainly would not tow without one now.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 20 June 2008, 00:17:47
I ain't no expert on Stabilizers but thought they were to help stop swaying.... even if you have packed your caravan properly putting the weight evenly over the axles etc ... I would have thought it dangerous without one...IMHO
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:18:24
How much resistance do 3 off 10p sized friction pads on a 52mm ball, have to a ton or more of 'van when it wants to go of in its own direction? I have set off once or twice with out engaging the stabiliser (forgot! :-[), & haven't really been able to tell much difference.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:19:32
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I ain't no expert on Stabilizers but thought they were to help stop swaying.... even if you have packed your caravan properly putting the weight evenly over the axles etc ... I would have thought it dangerous without one...IMHO

As you say ..... help, not prevent. Not dangerous at all.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 20 June 2008, 00:21:24
So why do most people with caravans plus new caravans fitted with them?
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Entwood on 20 June 2008, 00:21:47
Quote
How much resistance do 3 off 10p sized friction pads on a 52mm ball, have to a ton or more of 'van when it wants to go of in its own direction? I have set off once or twice with out engaging the stabiliser (forgot! :-[), & haven't really been able to tell much difference.

On a properly adjusted stabilser those pads are clamped to the ball exceedingly tightly, and can exert a very large amount of restraining force.... which in theory will slow the oscillations down considerably.....  they won't make a bad rig good, but they'll make a good rig better
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 00:24:28
Quote
So why do most people with caravans plus new caravans fitted with them?

 :-? :-? :-? Mind it is late. ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:27:43
Quote
So why do most people with caravans plus new caravans fitted with them?

Why do loads of new cars have 4 or 5 horrible looking 'holes' in their back bumper rigged up 'reverse aids'? You don't need 'em to reverse your car .... but they (apparently) help!  ;D  :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 00:30:17
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Quote
So why do most people with caravans plus new caravans fitted with them?

Why do loads of new cars have 4 or 5 horrible looking 'holes' in their back bumper rigged up 'reverse aids'? You don't need 'em to reverse your car .... but they (apparently) help!  ;D  :y

I had them fitted to the fron of my car :-[ Citroen C4 Grand picasso, the front is so far away, only used them a couple of times, switched. have them on the back, they do help........can't do any harm :)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:33:27
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..... they do help........can't do any harm :)

stabilisers? or reverse aids? ;D  ;D  :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 00:36:02
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Quote
..... they do help........can't do any harm :)

stabilisers? or reverse aids? ;D  ;D  :y

Sorry 'button boy' reversing aids.... :-[
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:37:52
Quote
....
Sorry 'button boy' reversing aids.... :-[

I was just pulling your leg. The 'must have' lists are contantly changing.
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 00:40:37
Quote
Quote
....
Sorry 'button boy' reversing aids.... :-[

I was just pulling your leg. The 'must have' lists are contantly changing.

I was there 72/73
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 20 June 2008, 00:46:28
Quote
.....
I was there 72/73

Cough! I'd just started grammer scool then!  ;) It was another 6 or 7 years before I joined up.
I believe that the 'elf 'n' safety brigade would take a very dim view of button boys these days!  :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 00:48:35
Quote
Quote
.....
I was there 72/73

Cough! I'd just started grammer scool then!  ;) It was another 6 or 7 years before I joined up.
I believe that the 'elf 'n' safety brigade would take a very dim view of button boys these days!  :y

Sorry, it was Hotel21 told me, as I was second but las 'boy' recruit you were not one of them, blame the admin. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: willyboy on 20 June 2008, 02:42:18
Try this link m8 gives you pretty much all you need to know fact wise regarding towing with many cars  Omegas in 4 * 5* bracket !!

Just fill in the car/caravan details

http://www.whattowcar.com/index.php :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: omegaman2 on 20 June 2008, 07:35:50
i tow my caravan with mt 2.2dti and its effertless while returning 27-30mpg :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 20 June 2008, 08:16:00
I can notice the difference between stabiliser and not - caravan feels more under control and less effected by side winds
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: shyboy on 20 June 2008, 08:32:06
Quote
Quote
Hi guys and gals. Been away for a while.
The Miggy makes a great tow car but reliability really depends on your maintenance activity, whether you tow or not.
My 2.0l was good but was aware of long motorway gradients, but the 2.6l just flies up them with no struggling at all. Economy obviously suffers, but I can get almost as much paraphernalia in the load space as I can inside the van.
And I don't bother with a stabiliser as it's all so stable with the correct size of 'van.

Bill is that not dangerous?... not towing a caravan without a stabiliser on :o
I used to tow a caravan but always with a bulldog stabiliser, towed with cavaliers and range rovers.... when the wind gets blowing hard you can see caravans swaying with them on never mind without :-?

Hi Daz, hope you're keeping well.
I don't decry the use of stabilisers, but think they are more of a comfort blanket tbh. I've towed for 20 years and do use one from time to time but only if wind conditions are really severe. A properly set up outfit should be stable up to the permitted 60 mph even if the car/'van weight ratio is 100% rather than the recommended 80%.
Outfits which get into trouble are probably badly matched or badly driven or badly maintained in the first place, but snaking is easily rectified by slowing down and applying that common sense which should come with minimal experience.
I've had one or two 'nuisance' moments over the years, but nothing I would consider dangerous to myself or other road users. I must confess that any new 'van I may get will have the built in tow ball stabiliser fitted, (just in case I lose any more of my touch as I get even older.  ;) ;)).
 
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 20 June 2008, 11:38:40
Morning Bill I am fine mate thanks :y

You guys obviously know more about towing than I do I only towed a caravan for around 6 years, but when I first got the caravan I was told to always use a stabilizer bar which I did, so I was wondering why I was told that in the first place?
I personally never had a problem with "Snaking" but have seen a few. I just filled the caravan equally over the axles.
But what I didn't like was when overtaking say a curtain sided lorry when you get dragged in then pushed out.... :o  is that no different then without a stabilizer?
:y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Entwood on 20 June 2008, 12:00:30
LK .. a few personal opinions ....

The suck/blow effect of LGV's is not stopped by fitting a stabiliser, but...  if an inexperienced tower were to "over-react" (oversteer) to correct this, a stabiliser would lessen the pendulum effect on the 'van and possibly prevent a snake happening.

Same applies to gusty crosswinds, adverse cambers, swerving for animals/pedestrians/other vehicles etc etc etc

Once a snake starts - and an experienced tower will do all he/she can to prevent such a thing arising  - a stabilser can ASSIST in the recovery, again by reducing the pendulum effect.

I would always advise an inexperience tower to use one, as the chances of "getting it wrong" are greater with less experience....  however I would never tow without one now - with 20 years experience - as I know I can make mistakes, and sometimes I have to react to the "mistakes (?) (bad driving ?) of other road users, these  circumstances can set up an incipient snake ... a stabiliser will then ASSIST in recovery.

A stabiliser will not make an unsafe van safe, it just makes a safe one a little more safe
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 20 June 2008, 12:04:23
Quote
LK .. a few personal opinions ....

The suck/blow effect of LGV's is not stopped by fitting a stabiliser, but...  if an inexperienced tower were to "over-react" (oversteer) to correct this, a stabiliser would lessen the pendulum effect on the 'van and possibly prevent a snake happening.

Same applies to gusty crosswinds, adverse cambers, swerving for animals/pedestrians/other vehicles etc etc etc

Once a snake starts - and an experienced tower will do all he/she can to prevent such a thing arising  - a stabilser can ASSIST in the recovery, again by reducing the pendulum effect.

I would always advise an inexperience tower to use one, as the chances of "getting it wrong" are greater with less experience....  however I would never tow without one now - with 20 years experience - as I know I can make mistakes, and sometimes I have to react to the "mistakes (?) (bad driving ?) of other road users, these  circumstances can set up an incipient snake ... a stabiliser will then ASSIST in recovery.

A stabiliser will not make an unsafe van safe, it just makes a safe one a little more safe

Nicely put. :)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: willyboy on 20 June 2008, 13:12:32
Tried several stabilizers over the years they all work somewhat but the more modern built into the towing hitch are bestist !! just hook up & away no messing its on wether you like it or not, must admit I like them mines an Alko 2004 & would recommend that type over the older type with the  steel tensioned bar etc, think its all down to how fast you wanna go remember its a 50mph limit so wagons usually pass you !!! ::)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Entwood on 20 June 2008, 13:25:01
Quote
Tried several stabilizers over the years they all work somewhat but the more modern built into the towing hitch are bestist !! just hook up & away no messing its on wether you like it or not, must admit I like them mines an Alko 2004 & would recommend that type over the older type with the  steel tensioned bar etc, think its all down to how fast you wanna go remember its a 50mph limit so wagons usually pass you !!! ::)

50 Limit is single carriageway, on dual carriageway/motorway towing limit is 60 mph, so you are ABLE (NOT forced !!) to overtake many LGV's with 56mph governors, but it takes a little while to get past !!

Trouble is .. folks start to overtake these near the top of a hill, are still alongside at the brow, and the LGV starts to accelerate downhill, this can, unwittingly if you don't know about it, cause you to increase speed to well over 60mph, and the faster you go .. the more chance of a snake.

IMHO 75% of snakes are caused by excessive speed when overtaking downhill ... DON'T DO IT ..

Just my opinion .. thats all   :y :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 20 June 2008, 14:02:54
Quote
IMHO 75% of snakes are caused by excessive speed downhill

What you do doesn't matter crosswinds are worse

I go faster up than down!
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: willyboy on 20 June 2008, 15:28:21
Quote
Quote
Tried several stabilizers over the years they all work somewhat but the more modern built into the towing hitch are bestist !! just hook up & away no messing its on wether you like it or not, must admit I like them mines an Alko 2004 & would recommend that type over the older type with the  steel tensioned bar etc, think its all down to how fast you wanna go remember its a 50mph limit so wagons usually pass you !!! ::)

50 Limit is single carriageway, on dual carriageway/motorway towing limit is 60 mph, so you are ABLE (NOT forced !!) to overtake many LGV's with 56mph governors, but it takes a little while to get past !!

Trouble is .. folks start to overtake these near the top of a hill, are still alongside at the brow, and the LGV starts to accelerate downhill, this can, unwittingly if you don't know about it, cause you to increase speed to well over 60mph, and the faster you go .. the more chance of a snake.

IMHO 75% of snakes are caused by excessive speed when overtaking downhill ... DON'T DO IT ..

Just my opinion .. thats all   :y :y

Yer typo error 50mph mind I was HGV driver for 25yr + was amazed i'm stuck at 56mph & was passed all the time by other hgv's there companies must'nt have em governed or worried about the Tacho checks whichare carried out (or fiddled) the firm i worked for were really keen you stayed within the laws!!
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 21 June 2008, 01:02:42
I must admit I did not stick to the 60mph rule towing the caravan, I towed at 70 but still never had a Snake ::)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 21 June 2008, 01:08:25
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I must admit I did not stick to the 60mph rule towing the caravan, I towed at 70 but still never had a Snake ::)

Tut tut! ::) I've never towed above the limit ever! Apart from ............ last week when I could see that a small coach (not football) was eventually going to box me in if I didn't go that bit faster up a long slow hill on the A1(M) I took it to about 70 for a mile or so untill the caoach had give up on the idea of overtaking everything in his near side lane. And .... when I usually tow at c65 mph  ::)
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 21 June 2008, 01:10:39
Didn't know the caravan was on when towing it with a Range Rover  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Andy B on 21 June 2008, 01:32:08
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Didn't know the caravan was on when towing it with a Range Rover  ::) ;D

Couldn't you see it in your mirrors????  ::) ;D ;D :y :y
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Vamps on 21 June 2008, 01:34:30
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Quote
Didn't know the caravan was on when towing it with a Range Rover  ::) ;D

Couldn't you see it in your mirrors????  ::) ;D ;D :y :y

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 21 June 2008, 09:17:51
Quote
I must admit I did not stick to the 60mph rule towing the caravan, I towed at 70 but still never had a Snake ::)


Only snake I had was at about 40 while I was overtaking a lorry off a roundabout and someone came up the inside I had to swerve and a short snake started.

Loading was fine, so next services I adjusted the stabiliser, it had worked loose (2nd trip and cheap stabiliser)

Haven't had a problem since
Title: Re: Caravan tow car
Post by: TheBoy on 21 June 2008, 09:30:24
With preemptive maintenence, like any car, Omega tends to be reliable.  If you dealer service it every 20k as per the book, well, it will likely cause you trouble.

On the V6, keep to regular oil changes and coolant every couple of years (at 50:50 mix), and ensure the breathers are clear.

The achilles heal seems to be crank sensor - I tend to carry a spare in the car if going any distance.