HELP Towing track car dilema

[chris_shirl]

I want to know the maximum towing capacity of: (vin number doesn't have info)

2000 Nissan Xtrail Sport 2Litre petrol
1991 Ford LWB Transit Camper 2.5L Diesel

I initially wanted to tow my EVO VI but this car is 1400kg and then the trailer around 500kg.
Now im looking at buying an MX5 just for track days around 1000kg before I strip and trailer 500kg.

Will either these towing vehicles be suitable to tow that much

(I passed driving test 15th Jan 1997, wife past before 1997)

[iguana]

Max train weight will be on the vin plate.

[chris_shirl]

cant find vin plate on the Xtrail. Havent paid for transit yet

[QBee]

From memory (so not reliable) I think the X-trail is limited to about 1800 kg. A friend of mine was ok with a 1000 kg horse trailer with one 500 kg horse on board behind his X-trail, but two horses would have been out of the question.

If you want to tow up to 3500 kg, the Merc ML is the most compact and pleasant 4x4 I know that has that capability. Land Rovers, Discos, Range Rovers etc are also 3500 kg
A lot of (semi) 4x4s are rated up to 2200 kg - X5, XC90, etc
Big estate cars are generally 1800 kg, though I seem to remember the E Class merc is 2100 kg

HTH

[agent006]

Autotrader ratehr helpfully lists towing weights, so find a car for sale the same and it'll be in the weights and dimensions section.

I would imagine the X-trail will be 1800-2000 ish and the transit closer to 3000 but depends on wheel base/power etc.

[agent006]

QBee said:

If you want to tow up to 3500 kg, the Merc ML is the most compact and pleasant 4x4 I know that has that capability.

Yep, except they're all shagged unless you pay huge money. I ended up increasing my budget (£5k two years ago) and getting a Shogun instead.

[QBee]

agent006 said:

Autotrader ratehr helpfully lists towing weights, so find a car for sale the same and it'll be in the weights and dimensions section.

I would imagine the X-trail will be 1800-2000 ish and the transit closer to 3000 but depends on wheel base/power etc.

Unless I have missed a trick, Autotrader now really helpfully only lists the unbraked towing weight - so the Merc ML is listed as 750kg. If I have missed something, do please tell.

[agent006]

No doubt a recent "improvement" to their site. Used to list unbraked and accurate braked weights.

Sigh.

[jagracer]

You can tow a trailer of about 1400kg max with the Nissan and probably not much more with the Transit depending on model, also be careful about overloading the rear axle on the Transit.

[radical78]

my twin wheel transit camper has agross train weight of 6.5 ton its on plate in the left door frame

[radical78]

both x trail and transit should easily tow an mx5 its the modern licenes that cause problems

[QBee]

radical78 said:

both x trail and transit should easily tow an mx5 its the modern licenes that cause problems

Yes, the modern licence limits you to 3.5 tonnes all up, and with further restrictions as to how that's split. My son in law managed to tow a caravan with an XC90 only by being very careful to buy a lighter caravan.

[tehguy]

If you are going to be using an MX5 as your track car then you will get away with a smaller trailer, some of the Brian James Clubman trailers are around 350kg unladen and can take a payload of over a tonne. As said, your licence will be the problem although with the setup I have mentioned here you should be able to find a saloon or estate which can tow it and stay within the limit.

[andyiley]

2000 X Trail - 1500kg According to Parkers, but unfortunately the vans pages do not list towing weights.

FWIW a 530 e39 5 series tows 2000 braked, a Passat 2.8 4-motion 1800 braked from memory when I looked into doing the same.

Edited by andyiley on Sunday 29th September 09:43

[QBee]

I may be completely wrong (I usually am), BUT I have noticed that a 163 bhp 2.7 DIESEL Merc 4x4 makes a far better job of towing 2.4 tonnes of loaded horse trailer than a 201 bhp 4.0 PETROL Ford 4x4, even though the Ford was bigger and had more BHP. Interestingly, the lower powered Merc is rated for 3.5 tonnes, the Ford for 2.5 tonnes, and it was very obvious on the slightest incline that the Ford was close to its limit.

My conclusion - the torque of a diesel engine is what makes for a good tow car.

[custardkid]

this may help:
http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capacity.asp

the best towing vehicles are full sized 2+ton 4x4s with air suspension.
touaregs are cheap ish and very capable, and the stability of a full size 4x4 and large estate are night an day.

MX5s are fairly light, but you also need to be aware of nose weights and limits when towing cars.
shockingly the 'trailer test' teaches you nothing about weights and legality, just driving observation.

[phazed]

I can tow my Chimaera using my old TD5 Disco and you wouldn't know it was there, (untill you climb a steep hill )

[QBee]

phazed said:

I can tow my Chimaera using my old TD5 Disco and you wouldn't know it was there, (untill you climb a steep hill )

If I believe my own eyes and Sprint magazine, I thought you drove up steep hills these days?

[phazed]

QBee said:

phazed said:

I can tow my Chimaera using my old TD5 Disco and you wouldn't know it was there, (untill you climb a steep hill )

If I believe my own eyes and Sprint magazine, I thought you drove up steep hills these days?

Unabashed photo opportunity!

[200Plus Club]

have a look at a Hyundai Santa fe 4x4. won tow car of the yr back in the day, will tow 2tonne and quite comfortable. 32mpg round town generally, 40+on a run, very sturdy cars. have done 3 seasons towing with mine with a large trailer n kit car