Towing a bx on a twin axle trailer behind my xantia td estate?

[Timmo]

Evening all,
Looking to bring the bx home, will more than likely be hiring a car trailer from a local place - http://www.tyronesnelltrailers.co.uk/hire/ trailer 6 style, another local race prep place offer hire at the same cost, £50 +£100cash deposit, my question is that Is it sensible to tow it the 35 miles from pops place to home with my Xantia td 1.9 estate? The bx is the 16v which books weight wise at 1070kg, from what I can see from the net, trailer weight + car would be pretty much on 100% towing weights?.?
The road from pops home will have a few hills out to the main a30 10miles ish then a30 to within 3 milesof home, 2 good hills into the village though? I used to tow a fair bit with boats and bigger yacht trailers but not towed intently in 10+years - tiny erde trailer to the tip not included!
Is it an okay plan or a bit stretched using the xantia? Any help and advice gratefully received!
Timmo

[elma]

So long as you're within the weight requirements I think you'll be fine. Xantia turbo diesels are great tow cars.

[white exec]

85% is the recommended maximum towing weight, as advised by the Caravan Club, if that helps the arithmetic.
Also watch the towball loading for the Xantia. Too light can be worse than too heavy.
Nothing you don't know about already, though.

[NewcastleFalcon]

It would appear that the towing limit of a Xantia 1.9 TD is 1500kg which would mean that if the BX has a kerb weight of 1070kg then the braked trailer you use would have to be a maximum of 430kg.

With the Xantia having a kerb weight of around 1312 kg, the trailer plus BX is going to be well over the recommended percentages, and very probably approaching/exceeding the maximum towing limit for the car.

I got a car moved 30 miles for £60 on a flat bed truck. If you can get a similar deal, I reckon it would be easier than the trailer option.

Regards Neil

[Timmo]

I had thought that it would be Very close, may nab a good buddy who has a chassis lifted disco, by his admission, due to the mods and wheels, its anything but rapid! But could tow a house, probably the best option! Trouble with some of the transporter guys, they like to have a car that is driveable! Mines Not quite that anymore!

[Paul-R]

Is the BX at normal road height or is it depressurised?

If it hasn't lowered then you could consider using a rigid tow bar (with someone inside to steer) or a rigid A-frame (which doesn't need a second person). I used an A-frame to tow a C5 home behind my own C5 some years ago. A distance of 130 odd miles but admittedly on mostly motorway roads.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Trouble with some of the transporter guys, they like to have a car that is driveable! Mines Not quite that anymore!

"transporter guys" sounds a bit too professional and expensive . I am thinking about scrapmen who normally take cars on a one-way trip to the scrapyard, but who have the flat-bed trucks and will transport cars from one place to another for a price

Regards Neil

[bxzx16v]

Shame your too far away Timmo or I would have offered my services , but then I may have just took the valver and hid it in my garage . Hope the old girl gets back on the road .

Mark

[Timmo]

thanks for the replies guys, very much appreciated,
its not been on the road in close to 8 years so the thought of towing it on an A-frame is out unfortunately, similar for a towing dolly, and to be quite honest, i don't want to let anyone i don't know load it up, if i break it then its my fault, if someone i don't know does i may not find out for a while until i start to go through it, if you know what i mean, it will pump up if i turn it oveer on jump leads or a fresh battery, so the theory will be charg a battery here, take that up with leads, get the suspension pumped up, pop a fresh gallon of fuel in it just incase she wants to play ball! then load it up and drag it home!
Pops is having a new roof this winter so needs it moved so the scaffolding can go in, although i strongly suspect Brothers old boat that is stored in the back garden close to the house Won't be a problem! its been there 18 months longer that the car!

[Gibbo2286]

I'd just ask around locally for someone to lift it home on a truck, there are plenty about that are underused and will do it for a little bit more than beer money.
I got a C5 with its suspension down (pump failed) from Bristol to my place, 49 miles for £85.