Towing vehicle choice

[KBS-CVT]

Following on from the Aluminium Trailer thread, I just fitted a closed in "Box" onto my Brian James 4 wheel trailer and suffered a 2.5 mpg reduction in fuel consumption. I use my old, 127,000 miles, BMW X5 as the tow vehicle and with the cruise control set to 56 mph.

Its time to consider a change in tow vehicle so what do you other "Towers" use, what MPG do you achieve, and at what speed do you tow? I do about 6000 miles a year with the trailer which weighs all up about 1500kg.

[Clive Austin]

Used to run a Merc ML270 CDI which was great apart from doing 25mpg. Now run a Freelander 2 and get early 30's towing a tracsporter at 60 - 65 ish.

C

[Radical]

60 mph limit on motorways/dual carriageways
50 mph limit on single carriageways

39mph, 88,000 mile Fiat Sedici (Suzuki sx4), However, my loaded trailer only comes in at 1 tonne!

[siany1997]

Originally Posted by Radical

60 mph limit on motorways/dual carriageways
50 mph limit on single carriageways

39mph, 88,000 mile Fiat Sedici (Suzuki sx4), However, my loaded trailer only comes in at 1 tonne!

I'm surprised it makes 39mph with a loaded trailer

[redturner37]

Originally Posted by Radical

60 mph limit on motorways/dual carriageways
50 mph limit on single carriageways

39mph, 88,000 mile Fiat Sedici (Suzuki sx4), However, my loaded trailer only comes in at 1 tonne!

With my large trailer I could get the consumption down to 17 with the Saab 9000, down to 25 with the S70, going probably faster than what I should have been and with the Ldv Convoy (Peugeot 2.5 engine) with either trailer (my current trailer is 750 kgs all up) 25 mph all day long at 60 mph

[Radical]

Originally Posted by siany1997

I'm surprised it makes 39mph with a loaded trailer

Yeah great, however, it does not seam any better when commuting without it which is not so good for a diesel
But as over half of its mileage is towing, overall not too bad.

I did try one run towing above 60 mph and the mpg dropped by at least 5 on that journey
The gearing is such that 60mph in fifth (6 gears) is almost perfectly at max torque (just over 2000 rpm). It will sit there all day and barely notices motorway gradients.

Admittedly my custom made box trailer loaded with the radical weigh less than a bare BJ!

[kevham]

I have two towcars:

Seat Alhambra 1.9Tdi - 35mpg with loaded trailer.
Volvo 940 2.3 turbo - <20mpg with loaded trailer.

Trailer weighs around 1300kg loaded.

[robcapper]

actually, while you're all talking about it.. I was thinking of getting a 530i touring instead of the van.. will that be at all economical?

[Radical]

Originally Posted by robcapper

actually, while you're all talking about it.. I was thinking of getting a 530i touring instead of the van.. will that be at all economical?

Probably not, but much more fun and comfort.

[CNHSS1]

a friend ws telling me at Loton that he has chopped his late model Discovery for a couple year old BMW 520d touring auto. Gets near 60mpg on a run and 39mpg towing a 14ft tilt bed brian james and 1100kg car!