Pulling a caravan

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doctle
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Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

I find myself strangely attracted to Peugeot 307 SW vehicles. I am thinking about buying a caravan to go on short breaks/weekends etc and I'm wondering would the 1.6 HDi pull a caravan. because of the colossal road tax in Ireland a 2.0 is really out of the question. Caravan wouldn't have to be huge just SWMBO a couple of Bichon and moi!
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daviemck2006
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by daviemck2006 »

Having just sold a 307sw 1.6hdi, and having been an avid caravanners in the past, I would say it would have the capability to tow a modest caravan. Just watch for the total train weight as the sw is quite a heavy car for its size. I will add thet I never towed with mine, it's just it generally looks like an ok tow car with its longish wheelbase and short rear overhang.
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by white exec »

Recc'd max caravan weight (loaded) is 85% of kerb weight of the car, iirc.
Twin cooling fans help too.
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

white exec wrote: 31 Dec 2019, 08:42 Recc'd max caravan weight (loaded) is 85% of kerb weight of the car, iirc.
Twin cooling fans help too.
So do you reckon she would pull a caravan? Id likely have to do some work on the rear suspension but Im sure heavier shocks and springs are available?
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white exec
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by white exec »

The car will have a recommended towbar loading - the maximum downward vertical weight to be put on it.
Towing with too light a drawbar/hitch weight is unpleasant and unstable, as is to heavy a load. 75kg is a commonly preferred hitch weight, but this can vary. Easily checked by putting the loaded caravan's hitch on to a set of bathroom scales, using an upright wooden block. Alter the hitch weight by redistributing the caravan contents.

Car will also have a max towable weight. Select your caravan to suit this, but allow for added contents.
Towimg and hitch weights will be in the owner's handbook.

Caravan Club has all manner of good recommendations. There's also a good Haynes caravan manual (by John Wickersham, iirc).
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daviemck2006
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by daviemck2006 »

I wouldnt do anything to the rear suspension of the car. Better spending on a decent stabilisers if the caravan doesnt have a built in hitch stabiliser. Keep the nose weight at nearly the recommended nose weight limit, usually approx 75kg. Put the jockey wheel ov the caravan onto bathroom scales if you dont have a nose weight gauge. It wont be exactly accurate but will be near enough.
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white exec
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and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by white exec »

Good tip about using the jockey wheel. I had forgotten about that.
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by Paul-R »

daviemck2006 wrote: 31 Dec 2019, 18:22Put the jockey wheel ov the caravan onto bathroom scales ...
I did that once and bent the top of the damn scales. Put a thickish piece of wood under the jockey wheel to spread the weight if you're going to try this at home.
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doctle
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

I need to find a 307 SW 1.6 HDi that has been moderately (at least) maintained first then usually I would change the timing belt etc and normally cars in my price range tend to have short/no test. Caravans seem to be reasonably priced at this time of year so I should maybe source a caravan first? The SW was never popular in Ireland most I have seen are UK imports which usually means better spec. A good one wont be too easy to find so which to go for first? New year soon I may sip an ale or 2 and think it all over.
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and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by white exec »

Go for the car first. That will define the max weight of a suitable van.

Avoid twin-axle jobbies (usually only on larger vans anyway) as they are very unkind to the car's rear suspension: the van tends to 'nod' as it passes over ridges/speed bumps, and wags the towball up and down.

Also fit 5-ply (reinforced) tyres to your van, not standard car types. Caravan tyres undergo more stresses than those on the car. We went through lots of Michelins before realising this, and eventually switched to a set of 5-ply Avons for the van. End of problem.
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

I looked at a berlingo people carrier van yesterday nice enough its 2006 no test €1000.00 I think thats ambitious pricing. SWMBO said it was "gross"
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by RichardW »

Towing info for the 307SW from 2006:
307swtowing.JPG
So the towing limit is pretty close to 85% anyway. 1130 kg should be OK for a 2 berth van. Noseweight is quite low at 60kg - don't be tempted to reduce the nose weight by putting weight in the back of the van - this just makes a perfect pendulum that will have an insatiable desire to snake! With a low nose weight you might need to re-locate the gas cylinders to the centre of the van over the axle - just make sure they are well secured. 307 has torsion bar rear suspension, so you can't fit spring assisters.
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doctle
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

Thanks for the chart mate I will have to read and digest the info!
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by Paul-R »

RichardW wrote: 02 Jan 2020, 22:51307 has torsion bar rear suspension, so you can't fit spring assisters.
Not true. I fitted spring assisters to the rear of our old Xsara Estate which had similar/same suspension as the 307.

http://www.springassisters.co.uk/
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

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doctle
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Re: Pulling a caravan

Post by doctle »

The 307 SW is proving somewhat elusive high mileage badly maintained overpriced tat so far. I could import a UK car I suppose but you'd have transport fees, government taxes of 30% OMV etc not really viable. Maybe make a Boxer campervan...
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