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[Markie]

Or giving up the booze  :-?

but this is soooooooooo not gonna happen

  more chance of me fitting a towbar to the mv6  

[Martin_1962]

I think 100% is the legal limit for a car - but don't quote me on it.

Omega will handle 1800kg (car weight) with a 75kg nose weight, I tow at around 1200kg and have a lot in hand.

Safrane I wouldn't go over a ton as Renault autos are rubbish.

Also being WWD would not be a good tow car.

[Martin_1962]

Or giving up the booze  :-?

but this is soooooooooo not gonna happen

  more chance of me fitting a towbar to the mv6  

That is your answer not using the poor car!

[Markie]

not going to happen Martin, i dont want to spoil the clean lines of the  MV6.....

[Matchless]

There are lots of weights to consider when towing but the main one to affect you with the Omega and a braked trailer is the UK Law which requires that the actual laden weight of the trailer (trailer plus contents, spare wheel etc etc) must weigh less than the kerb weight of the car.

The kerb weights vary with model and trim but are generally in the 1700kg area.

If you meet this requirement then you have to look at Maximum Train Weight, axle weights (only a problem if car is fully loaded) and vertical load on towball / nose weight of trailer. (Check for a plate on the towbar, the Omega can handle 75kg iirc but some cheaper towbars are only certified to 50kg)

The Renaults can be absolute swines to work out the towing capacities.  They are usually fairly light for their size which can be a problem on kerb weight vs trailer laden weight. If you get past this stage then read the handbook very carefully, they quote a tow weight based on a driver only so you have to deduct the weight of any passengers or additional luggage etc and its amazing how the limit falls. You still see Renaults towing large caravans etc but if there was an accident then the insurance company could refuse to pay on the grounds that the vehicle was being operated incorrectly.
I was looking at a 2l scenic once, kerb weight 1300kg, and worked out that with family and holiday luggage onboard then the tow weight was around 800kg, this seemed very low so checked with Renault UK who didnt know but got it confirmed by the Regie eventually.

[Markie]

There are lots of weights to consider when towing but the main one to affect you with the Omega and a braked trailer is the UK Law which requires that the actual laden weight of the trailer (trailer plus contents, spare wheel etc etc) must weigh less than the kerb weight of the car.

The kerb weights vary with model and trim but are generally in the 1700kg area.

If you meet this requirement then you have to look at Maximum Train Weight, axle weights (only a problem if car is fully loaded) and vertical load on towball / nose weight of trailer. (Check for a plate on the towbar, the Omega can handle 75kg iirc but some cheaper towbars are only certified to 50kg)

The Renaults can be absolute swines to work out the towing capacities.  They are usually fairly light for their size which can be a problem on kerb weight vs trailer laden weight. If you get past this stage then read the handbook very carefully, they quote a tow weight based on a driver only so you have to deduct the weight of any passengers or additional luggage etc and its amazing how the limit falls. You still see Renaults towing large caravans etc but if there was an accident then the insurance company could refuse to pay on the grounds that the vehicle was being operated incorrectly.
I was looking at a 2l scenic once, kerb weight 1300kg, and worked out that with family and holiday luggage onboard then the tow weight was around 800kg, this seemed very low so checked with Renault UK who didnt know but got it confirmed by the Regie eventually.

thanks matchless - bit of  minefield isnt it!!

Renault will be towing - predominatly - a horse and box at max 1250kg so it should be okay as this is still 200kg less than the car, and  passnger ( we will be travelling light in such situations)

looks like i need to reserch this even further......

[Matchless]

eventually found renault manufacturer specification....

towing weight including car 3235kg
car is 1485kg

so i assume it leaves a gross towing weight of 1750kg according to renault....

"towing weight" is this the Maximum Train Weight (MTW) on the VIN plate?
1485kg sounds about right for the Safranne kerb weight but check what this includes.  
Are you sure that the MTW applies to the auto version?

I found that the only reliable info came through e-mailing Renault UK Technical Help.

[Markie]

yep i have checked with renault and in  the owners handbook - the manual 2.5 allows an additional 110kg

[Phil]

If you want to tow alot then its worth buying a Land Rover.

The 110 and the Disco can tow 3.5T  and if the brakes are hydralically linked then it goes up to 4T.

Ive had just over 3T of sand on a 600kg trailer behind a 3.9ltr V8 disco and it coped easily, even did an emergency stop to see what would happen and it was fine.

The problem with higher weights you get into problems with tachos, especially if your doing it commercially

I would guess the Renault would have the guts to pull the trailer, but if it is over loaded and you get a pull its an expensive business!!

[Gwilym]

And just to add to the debate. I hope you passed your driving test before January 1997 otherwise you have even more towing issues and are limited to very light trailers only!

[Markie]

Yep we are both oldies and have driving licences from 1992 so thats ok.

To Summarise - Renault wont be pulling anything more than once a month and a maximum of 50 miles or so.

The weights are well within Renault and the caravan clubs spcifications....

My wife wont sell her renault as she doesnt want to spend any more on a "second" car - and she despises 4x4`s

As she will be doing some of the towing using my car is out of the question, as 1> she cant insure the mv6 and 2>  I keep my cars fastidiously clean and she doesnt so arguments would be aplenty. I am part funding this ( about 99.937564%) as it gives me peace and allows me to get a trailer to pick up non runners - again without using the mv6.

So the conclusion - short term is to use the Renault and move onto bigger things if the profits allow  

Many thanks to all who contributed to this - oh and by the way....she is off looking to buy agricultural land this morning  

[theolodian]

Sounds reasonable to me.  I learned a lot from this thread.  I need to go get a UK license, so I guess that means I'll be limited to towing a pack of bog roll at the most    Not that it matters, no towing plans in my near future, but good to know since somehow I end up regularly driving other people's road trains?  :-?  Some vague recollection of being pushed on to the hard shoulder at 70mph coming down a mountain with a 48' trailer . . . . hence my advice about stability!  Just keep it slow on the motorway and you should be alright.

[Auto Addict]

If it's a twin axle trailer, it does help to cut down on the nose weight.

I did read somewhere about a Range Rover being able to tow a trailer loaded with several tons of hay.

But obviously not at 60mph on a motorway!

[steve2.5cd]

Hi Fellas. You are recommended to only tow 85% of your cars kerbweight. These is because if you have an accident the insurers may not pay out because you have exceeded the manufacturers specifications. Beware ! Check your cars manual. 

[Jimbob]

cough cough, bit dusty in here!