What cars can I get classic insurance on that will tow a

[keithrg]

A 1600kg caravan for under £750 ? and return 18 mpg + on run with van.
suggestions please.
Its sole purpose will be to cover 900 miles a year.
thanks
Looking to purchase for March 2014

[retrowrongun]

Mk1 or 2 tranny ? Not sure about towing weights though as they are a lot stricter on these limits nowadays ,got stopped myself towing a car ,ended up at the weigh bridge with vosa but all was kosher thank god

[composimmonite]

1600kg is 31 cwt - over ton and half !
Working on the recommended towing ratio of caravan being 80% of vehicle weight that means you need a tow car nearly 2 tons which limits your choice.
First off as already suggested there are vans, then 4x4's like Range Rover and also big saloons (Jaguar or US ?)
Problem is your budget is a bit on the low side for a decent vehicle of those types .

Paul H

[BenzBoy]

I had a similar search last year, as I wanted a classic daily that could tow the odd car and trailer. It's a tricky one! Even the bigger classic saloons aren't all that heavy and don't have a huge towing capacity.
In the end I got my Nissan Patrol, which can tow about 3500 Kg. That opens up another can of worms though, as getting an old 4x4 on a classic policy was surprisingly difficult - A lot won't consider 4x4s at all! Land Rovers seem to be an exemption to this though. I had considered one (tows up to 3.5 tonnes), but I wouldn't like to tow anything heavy with a 2.25 petrol or diesel, or the 2.5. It'd have to be either the V8 or one with a 200TDi conversion to make it comfortable to tow, but they fetch strong money for decent ones. I looked at classic Range Rovers too, but finding a solid one was hard. One of those would make a lovely tow car!

As for fuel consumption, my 2.8 litre petrol wouldn't get anywhere near 18mpg whilst towing (in fact it only just betters that on its own!). I doubt a diesel one would either. Or any older 4x4! The fuel consumption is something I just live with.

Depending on your insurer's definition of classic, how about a Lexus LS400? 2000 kg towing capacity, half a chance of hitting your fuel economy target, and a bloody nice car too.

[monty]

Depending on your definition of classic, how about an E39 5 Series saloon or touring? The 530d touring auto is the one I'd opt for but according to Parkers both have a braked towing capacity of 2000kg, unbraked is only 750kg but I assume a caravan will be braked?

[keithrg]

I'm currently using my BMW E36 323i touring as towing capacity 1750kg.
I looking at buying a Daihatsu Charade 1.0 EL 5dr for work/shopping 4000miles a year.
Just trying to be slightly enviromently freindly with out costing me any money.
Ill save about £390 on fuel if get that minus tax and mot/service leaves me about £200 for insurance. hence I though a car on classic policey

[composimmonite]

Have you thought about selling the caravan and getting a coach built motorhome of similar size ? Parking space footprint needed would be the same and you could always tow the Charade for running around when on site. Motorhome insurance can be quite reasonable even for non classics.

Paul H

[popuptoaster]

Get a big 4x4, you can get specialist 4x4 insurance similar to classic car insurance, the one I had through highway even covered me while off road and included towing cover, many insurance companies don't include cover for towing unless you ask.

If you want something that is going to work properly after being abandoned for most of the year look at LWB Deisel Landcruisers and Patrols, both can tow large trailers, should be reliable, will hit your MPG targets and get you through the snow if you use them in winter. LandRovers are cool but they just need to much looking after.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2013 20:07:34 GMT composimmonite said:

1600kg is 31 cwt - over ton and half !
Working on the recommended towing ratio of caravan being 80% of vehicle weight that means you need a tow car nearly 2 tons which limits your choice.
.

Paul H

Most cars can safely and legally tow their own weight, the 80% is only a recommendation.
A 1980's Volvo 700 or 900 series estate will easily tow that weight and you can pick up a decent ones for £500.
Do you have a licence that allows you to tow that weight?

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2013 11:25:47 GMT monty said:

Depending on your definition of classic, how about an E39 5 Series saloon or touring? The 530d touring auto is the one I'd opt for but according to Parkers both have a braked towing capacity of 2000kg, unbraked is only 750kg but I assume a caravan will be braked?

All trailers/ caravans that weigh over 750kg have to be braked.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2013 15:49:02 GMT keithrg said:

I'm currently using my BMW E36 323i touring as towing capacity 1750kg.
I looking at buying a Daihatsu Charade 1.0 EL 5dr for work/shopping 4000miles a year.
Just trying to be slightly enviromently freindly with out costing me any money.
Ill save about £390 on fuel if get that minus tax and mot/service leaves me about £200 for insurance. hence I though a car on classic policey

A classic policy won't always be cheaper and make sure it covers you for towing caravans as not all policies do.

[keithrg]

Aug 28, 2013 16:36:22 GMT composimmonite said:

Have you thought about selling the caravan and getting a coach built motorhome of similar size ? Parking space footprint needed would be the same and you could always tow the Charade for running around when on site. Motorhome insurance can be quite reasonable even for non classics.

Paul H

My caravans not worth much mayby £200 put it this way I paid £20 for it and spent £100 makeing it fit for use. suppose that with car would give me £950 but motor homes arnt normally that big. food for fault though. what about mots do they cost more ? lol I could use old caravan chassis to tow Charade on.

[keithrg]

Aug 28, 2013 21:52:55 GMT @1300dolly said:

Aug 28, 2013 11:25:47 GMT monty said:

Depending on your definition of classic, how about an E39 5 Series saloon or touring? The 530d touring auto is the one I'd opt for but according to Parkers both have a braked towing capacity of 2000kg, unbraked is only 750kg but I assume a caravan will be braked?

All trailers/ caravans that weigh over 750kg have to be braked.

mines braked needs servicing though as tugs the car

[keithrg]

Aug 28, 2013 21:51:42 GMT @1300dolly said:

Aug 27, 2013 20:07:34 GMT composimmonite said:

1600kg is 31 cwt - over ton and half !
Working on the recommended towing ratio of caravan being 80% of vehicle weight that means you need a tow car nearly 2 tons which limits your choice.
.

Paul H

Most cars can safely and legally tow their own weight, the 80% is only a recommendation.
A 1980's Volvo 700 or 900 series estate will easily tow that weight and you can pick up a decent ones for £500.
Do you have a licence that allows you to tow that weight?
true facts. yep volvo is a consideration. my licence is 7.5ton with trailer as past test in 1993

[keithrg]

defo interested in the 760 volvo estate cant find many facts or figures though.

[popuptoaster]

Aug 28, 2013 22:17:25 GMT keithrg said:

Aug 28, 2013 21:51:42 GMT @1300dolly said:

Most cars can safely and legally tow their own weight, the 80% is only a recommendation.
A 1980's Volvo 700 or 900 series estate will easily tow that weight and you can pick up a decent ones for £500.
Do you have a licence that allows you to tow that weight?
true facts. yep volvo is a consideration. my licence is 7.5ton with trailer as past test in 1993

Manufactures towing limits are pretty much just the maximum weight the thing can get moving without exploding or snapping in half, the caravan clubs "recommendation" is advise based on years of many peoples experiences of SAFELY towing what is in effect a big wobbly sail down the motorway while dealing with big trucks and coaches slipstreams and buffeting, sudden side winds, hills (up AND down), idiots who cut you up or mechanical disaster.

I have a 940 turbo estate with self leveling and it tows great, but you still have to stop the weight of whatever you are pulling and if it's heavier than you are and decides to start pushing you down hill you'll find that the tail wagging the dog is NOT fun OR safe. Twice I have been in cars that have had issues with a car towing another car on a trailer, both times on "stable" 4 wheeled trailers. Admittedly i have towed a lot with a lot of different combinations but you only need it to go wrong once.

This is sensible,



This is not....




Stick to the recommended towing limits and forget what you car can "legally" tow.

[keithrg]

Only twice have I felt the caravan go once was when I lost concerntration on speed and hit 70 cruising, it got a wiggle on. Second time was passing a lorry it really drew the van into it for some reason. I don't have anti sway bar fitted either and I did stall it, on a 12% gradiant hill start lol. poxy road works. My bmw sits low anyway put the van on it drops right down wieghed hitch its 48 kilos.
don't think Id get a big enough camper cheap enough.
Mayby a late 80s merc

[keithrg]

Aug 28, 2013 16:36:22 GMT composimmonite said:

Have you thought about selling the caravan and getting a coach built motorhome of similar size ? Parking space footprint needed would be the same and you could always tow the Charade for running around when on site. Motorhome insurance can be quite reasonable even for non classics.

Paul H

bedford cf just got qoute £241.39 Not far off the budget lol of £200 insurance. see what it sells for.

[The Transplanter]

The only downside to towing with a commercial is that more and more campsite's are not allowing commercial vehicles onsite. I presume this is to stop the travellers moving in!

I have a slightly heavier twin wheel caravan and used to tow it with my old V70 T5 which would legally tow 1900kgs, but TBH it wasnt very nice with it on the back so I now use a 4x4 and you don't even know its there! So although an old Volvo would pull it within the law, its not ideal.

[Deleted]

Good points made by popup bloke. If you need Volvo related advice the Volvos owners club is a good site if you can put up with the BMW/ Audi/ sexist rants and the what to me seems to be a large number of racists and religious nuts that spew their ranting with little moderation (personal views based on previous postings) They do however have a towing section with some very helpful and knowledgeable folk who know their Volvo's and caravans.