Hi Speed towing

[BMWChris]

I currently drive my competition cars to events for various practical reasons such as having no where to store a trailer and no car suitable for towing it with.

When I'm competing in my Midget I usually set of the night before becuase it can only cruise at 60. When I compete in my Boxster I set of a 5.30 on a Sunday morning and cruise at a speed that allows me to go from Norwich to Leeds in 2 hours ie averaging 90 with peaks just into 3 figures. I am happy to do this becuase I feel that the car is safe at those speeds in the correct conditions.

Circumstances are now changing and I will need to sell the Boxster and replace it with a 4 seater car. I might as well get one that can tow the Midget.

I've towed light boats before but these have very little weight (less than 100kgs) and are very stable.

What sort of speeds, with what sort of car, are safe for a 750kg car on a small braked car trailer (total weight about 1100kg)? Assuming a deserted dual carridge way, good weather etc.

Ideally I don't want a big car / 4x4. 3 series size would probably be ideal.

[richyb]

Vauxhall Omega? I'd be looking at a something RWD, relatively heavy and diesel. E class or 5 series if you have a bit to spend.

[Jonboy_t]

Off topic slightly, but I'd begin by removing the part about getting into 3 figures on a UK road!!!

[Huntsman]

I think there is a legal limit for towing in the UK of 60 mph?

[DavidY]

If you want to tow securely make sure the towcar weighs a lot more than the trailer+midget, otherwise the tail will wag the dog. There is a reason why people use big vehicles for towing!

[jagracer]

Huntsman said:

I think there is a legal limit for towing in the UK of 60 mph?

Yes and 50mph on single carriageway roads but they don't affect the OP.

[davepoth]

Big heavy car, something like an E-Class estate or a Volvo 960 would fit the bill. Or get one of those massive American estate cars with the fake wood down the side and drive it into the boot.

Actually, I think a midget may squeeze into the back of a LWB sprinter if you have a false floor above the wheelarches.

-edit-

Here's someone putting a spitfire in.

Edited by davepoth on Friday 29th October 18:18

[MrPickle]

This'll do the trick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-4p4BKxiQ&fea...

[mybrainhurts]

MrPickle said:

This'll do the trick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-4p4BKxiQ&fea...

Bloody foreigners...no decorum

[Dog Star]

A mate of mine recently had his MG-A taken away for some work - like that pic above it fitted into a Vito.

[FlatPack]

My Legacy GTB comfortably tows my kit car + trailer at a genuine 60, I'd imagine it might start to get a bit squirrely if I exceeded say 70 though

The kit car is a couple of hundred kg lighter than your midget though.

[rallycross]

most cars will quite happily tow at 70+ and a 4 wheel trailer with the load well balanced is quite stable even into 3 figures, just keep your eyes open or you may have some explaining to do if you get stopped!

[BMR]

Recently drove a new shape Transit (07) for the first time towing, would seem very easy to edge over 60mph from time to time.

They feel just like driving a car.

Edited by BMR on Saturday 30th October 11:58

[Tallbut Buxomly]

rallycross said:

most cars will quite happily tow at 70+ and a 4 wheel trailer with the load well balanced is quite stable even into 3 figures, just keep your eyes open or you may have some explaining to do if you get stopped!

This^^^^^^^^^^^^

I used to tow a 4-6man inflatable rib behind my vauxhall cavalier would have been an a reg i think and it was quite happy to sit at 130-140+kph so maybe 70-80mph very stable even though it weighed a fair bit more than my measly 1.3 astra.
My dad and i also used to tow our venter trailer at easily over 100 mph (south africa) in the bm saloon.

As said above it comes down to weight distribution and crosswinds.

As also said though here in H+S/ BRAKE mad england you are not allowed to tow at more than 60mph as otherwise all children bunny rabbits and other cute thing in the world will die sudden painful deaths.

[BMWChris]

So you would be able to tell if it was getting a bit too fast? Nothing sudden would happen (unlike a friend's parents caravan that suddenly went into a fishtail and lifted their Volvo estate off the ground). If it felt safe at a speed you could just keep increasing the speed gently until it felt a bit unstable.

[y2blade]

my old Boss and his Brother did (pretty much every year) 100+ all the way to south of France....in a brace of these V8s with matching Caravans




obviously "back in the day" before such speeds were a hanging offence

[stevemiller]

There is a standard one up for 4k at the moment, this one has the dreadnought kit fitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNkrwRmba8

[Nick J]

Get a 3 series or equivalent medium sized 4 door car, doesn't really matter so long as it has a bit of power ie diesel or powerful petrol.

And

Invest in a good trailer, Brian James or Ifor Williams, make sure its a double axle. You might spend more initially but it's worth it and they retain their value. Being Aluminum they are light (500KG), I have a 3 series to tow an Elise with a Brian James trailer and it tows soildly at motorway speeds.

Oh and make sure you service the brakes, especially as you want to travel quickly

[jagracer]

Nick J said:

Invest in a good trailer, Brian James or Ifor Williams, make sure its a double axle. You might spend more initially but it's worth it and they retain their value. Being Aluminum they are light (500KG), I have a 3 series to tow an Elise with a Brian James trailer and it tows soildly at motorway speeds.

Oh and make sure you service the brakes, especially as you want to travel quickly

There aren't many, if any BJ or IW trailers that are ally although the 500kg unladen is about right for a 2 ton gross Brian James.

[BMR]

stevemiller said:

There is a standard one up for 4k at the moment, this one has the dreadnought kit fitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNkrwRmba8

Jesus Christ!