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[russ b]

hi looking to get caravan in summer. would like to know what weight limit i have and any mods (sensible) to make car better towing vehicle. also i have noticed alot of pics here with migs pulling twin axles is this ok? i thought this was for 4x4s only oh and can someone give me some advice on wiring towbar up

[Andy B]

hi looking to get caravan in summer. would like to know what weight limit i have and any mods (sensible) to make car better towing vehicle. also i have noticed alot of pics here with migs pulling twin axles is this ok? i thought this was for 4x4s only oh and can someone give me some advice on wiring towbar up

the only mod I've done to my car for towing, is to fit a towbar  If auto, there's already a cooler fitted to the gearbox that will work well enough.
As to max weights, you can tow weight for weight if you like, although the caravan club suggests you stick to 85% of the weight of your car if you're inexperienced. Whether it has 2 or one axles is irrelevent really, it's the weightthat matters, although my caravan is a single, it was available as a twin at more or less te same weight.

12N & 12S wiring? Have a look here ..... 
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acatalog/Trailer_Caravan_12N_12S_wiring_diagram.html

[sport]

Hi i have 2.2 estate and my tow limit is 1600 kg so long the caravan is no more than 1600 kg laden .
Mine tows ok but some use spring assister's 
Look in your manual should tell you your tow limit

[Andy B]

Hi i have 2.2 estate and my tow limit is 1600 kg so long the caravan is no more than 1600 kg laden .
Mine tows ok but some use spring assister's 
Look in your manual should tell you your tow limit

tha hand book will tell you what the car is able to pull up a degree slope, not what you're allowed to pull on the road. 

[russ b]

that link is great thanks andy, i am aware that there is a connection plug somewhere by back panel any links orguides about on how to connect to it?? :-?

[Andy B]

that link is great thanks andy, i am aware that there is a connection plug somewhere by back panel any links orguides about on how to connect to it?? :-?

It's behind the grey/black trim at the very rear of your boot. (we need a how to for this ....  ) All the correct wires are already in a square-ish plug/socket, but be aware that the brake light is via a relay base mounted at the front of the car (behind glove box on facelift - above driver's feet on prefacelift cars) that is intended for a trailer check control 'relay' (90463123 around £20). You either need this 'relay' or bridge the base connections to feed the brake light wire in the boot.

car loom ....... car ................... 12N
black/blue ......  rear fog .........  blue
black/white ......left turn .......... yellow
black/green .....right turn .........green
grey/black .......left tail .............black
grey/red...........right tail ...........brown
black/yellow......brake lights .....red
brown ..............earth ...............white

[Cliffo B]

About twin axle's verses single I think goes something like this--The + A nice stable tow without a lot of nosewieght  issues, The-Difficult to manouver specially on soft ground although mover technology is improving on the 4 wheel front. I think theres one with a motor on each wheel. Omegas can handle most caravans if you keep to the 80% rule they are after all RWD.This gives the edge on most other cars for towing.

[same #same#]

take caravan out and test that the caravan braking suites your braking as can cause a pull back if wronge and loose steering,

[Cliffo B]

Something else I would consider if you don't have self levelling suspension, have Monroe Ride Levellers fitted you won't be sorry.

[Andy B]

take caravan out and test that the caravan braking suites your braking as can cause a pull back if wronge and loose steering,

que? As you brake, your caravan will catch you up, this pulls a rod under the caravan & applies the 'vans brakes. If the 'van slows down faster than the car, then the hitch will extend again & release the brakes

[russ b]

outstanding info thanks a lot guys. andy that info will save me hours of aggro. i have witter towbar just need bush/bolt kit and im away i think its only about 15quid from witter??
it would seem the twin axle is the way to go if only because it holds its weight better reducing weight on towbar. 

[same #same#]

take caravan out and test that the caravan braking suites your braking as can cause a pull back if wronge and loose steering,

que? As you brake, your caravan will catch you up, this pulls a rod under the caravan & applies the 'vans brakes. If the 'van slows down faster than the car, then the hitch will extend again & release the brakes

if to loose on the brakes (cravan) causes aslow stop had mine set at caravan garage as it was set for dif car, when caravan loaded and boot loaded, pushed down on back and lifted front of car up. only did it when had to stop fast. then the pull back is worse,

[Andy B]

outstanding info thanks a lot guys. andy that info will save me hours of aggro. i have witter towbar just need bush/bolt kit and im away i think its only about 15quid from witter??
it would seem the twin axle is the way to go if only because it holds its weight better reducing weight on towbar. 

Bear in mind though that twin axles tend to be quite big, and you're using a 2.0 litre to pull it, you might struggle on some hills    If you get your loading correct, there's no reason that the back end of an ordinary shocker'd (is that a word?  ) car wouldn't cope with 75kgs-ish nose weight.   

Almost forgot ..... you'll need a 4 pin flasher unit instead of your 3 pin and a lamp in the dash for your visual indication of your indicators working.   

[Entwood]

Some folks think a twin axle actually puts MORE stress on the towbar/suspension than a single does.

Theory is that on a single the van pivots about the axle and the forces on the car change smoothly in a "rotational" manner, following the movement of the towcar. On a twin the caravan cannot pivot but can only move in a sort of vertical motion, so that the car and van move at different times as objects are traversed. This has a tendency to "lift" then "drop" the forces on the towcar.

I agree that a twin can be more stable in a side-to-side plane as the "tandem" wheels tend to stop "wandering".

I've been towing for over 25 years, but never a twin, although I have towed a twin axle car trailer, hated it, it pulled the car out of shape on every bump.

Omega is without doubt the best towcar I've had, bar none.

[sport]

Hi i have 2.2 estate and my tow limit is 1600 kg so long the caravan is no more than 1600 kg laden .
Mine tows ok but some use spring assister's 
Look in your manual should tell you your tow limit

tha hand book will tell you what the car is able to pull up a degree slope, not what you're allowed to pull on the road. 

In my manual it tells me my max braked towing limit is 1600 kg .And the max nose weight is 75 kg
Ive tested nose weight its about 80 kg and it rides level