Anyone know if a Toyata 2 litre petrol saloon car would be any good for 
towing and what sort of weight could they expect to tow. They would really 
like a 5 berth with fixed bed.
My niece does not seem get good petrol economy out of the car anyway, 
compared to our Mondeo, but it would cost too much to change as she would 
loose money on the trade in.
Comments welcome.
Liz

"Liz Hall"  wrote in message 
news:Ucmdne_20e2ajt7aRVnyiwA@pipex.net...
> Anyone know if a Toyata 2 litre petrol saloon car would be any good for 
> towing and what sort of weight could they expect to tow. They would really 
> like a 5 berth with fixed bed.
> My niece does not seem get good petrol economy out of the car anyway, 
> compared to our Mondeo, but it would cost too much to change as she would 
> loose money on the trade in.
> Comments welcome.
> Liz
>
>

http://www.whattowcar.com/
Check this site out!
Metwo

> Anyone know if a Toyata 2 litre petrol saloon car would be any good for
> towing and what sort of weight could they expect to tow. They would really 
> like a 5 berth with fixed bed.
> My niece does not seem get good petrol economy out of the car anyway, 
> compared to our Mondeo, but it would cost too much to change as she would 
> loose money on the trade in.
> Comments welcome.
> Liz
>
>

i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier than 
the car and  'newbies' are recommended to only go up to 85% of the car 
weight,get her to check the handbook for the recomended max towing weight 
but check it against the weight of the car as well.We pull a 2 berth with a 
1600 petrol astra and im a lot closer than 85% to the max weight so i take 
it really steady and yes the fuel economy does suffer badly hence i'll be 
looking for a deisel next year ;0)
howie

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:02:04 -0000, "Liz Hall" 
wrote:

>Anyone know if a Toyata 2 litre petrol saloon car would be any good for 
>towing and what sort of weight could they expect to tow. They would really 
>like a 5 berth with fixed bed.
>My niece does not seem get good petrol economy out of the car anyway, 
>compared to our Mondeo, but it would cost too much to change as she would 
>loose money on the trade in.
>Comments welcome.
>Liz
>

I don't know a great deal about them, but when I bought my Mondeo
diesel just over a year ago I would have liked an Avenisis diesel but
when you check the weights Toyota put a 1300kg maximum towing weight
on them, which is far less than 85% of the cars kerbweight.
This being the case anyone trying to tow a trailer that weighed more
then 1300kg would whilst not being strictly illegal be very much at
risk of their insurance company refusing to accept liability for any
accident and also Plod could well choose to prosecute them for an
offence under construction and use laws. 
I would have thought it inlikely that you would find a 5 berth fixed
bed caravan that came with a MTPLM of less than 1300kg.

Bill Lord
I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money

e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk 
( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

howie wrote:

> i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier than 
> the car

Not true.

"Dougal"  wrote in message 
news:6OWdnRJIpfj6pd7anZ2dnUVZ8uSdnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> howie wrote:
>
>> i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier 
>> than the car
>
> Not true.
>
my apologies i stand corrected

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:39:36 GMT, "howie"
 wrote:

>i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier than 
>the car

It depends upon when your licence is dated. If it is before 1st Jan
1997 then you can drive a combination up 7500kg provided that the
MTPLM of the caravan is not exceeded, the maximum loaded weight of the
car is not exceeded, the maximum train weight for the car is not
exceeded and the maximum nose weight for the cars towball is not
exceeded.  So this case does allow many instances where the caravan
can be heavier than the car.
If the licence is dated after 1997 the combination must weigh less
than 3500kg, the caravans MTPLM must not be exceeded, the cars
noseweight must not be exceeded, the cars max train weight must not be
exceeded and in addition the caravans MTPLM must not exceed the
unladen mass of the car.

Bill Lord
I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money

e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk 
( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

Thanks for your reply, you are saying exactly what we have told them, but of 
course the Toyota garage and the caravan dealer has told them differently, 
Put more stuff in the boot is the old favourite and a petrol Avensis is the 
best car for towing.
Liz

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:41:13 -0000, "Liz Hall" 
wrote:

>Thanks for your reply, you are saying exactly what we have told them, but of 
>course the Toyota garage and the caravan dealer has told them differently, 
>Put more stuff in the boot is the old favourite and a petrol Avensis is the 
>best car for towing.
>Liz 
>

Then the Toyota garage need putting straight, the avensis manual is
quite clear in saying that the maximum towed weight is 1300kg. As to
the petrol avensis being a better towcar than the diesel one I have
serious doubts about that.

Bill Lord
I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money

e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk 
( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

"bill lord"  wrote in message 
news:22r6k3tof48l2e9dv1kmv60i3epd06s07h@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:39:36 GMT, "howie"
>  wrote:
>
>>i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier 
>>than
>>the car
>
> It depends upon when your licence is dated. If it is before 1st Jan
> 1997 then you can drive a combination up 7500kg provided that the
> MTPLM of the caravan is not exceeded, the maximum loaded weight of the
> car is not exceeded, the maximum train weight for the car is not
> exceeded and the maximum nose weight for the cars towball is not
> exceeded.  So this case does allow many instances where the caravan
> can be heavier than the car.
> If the licence is dated after 1997 the combination must weigh less
> than 3500kg, the caravans MTPLM must not be exceeded, the cars
> noseweight must not be exceeded, the cars max train weight must not be
> exceeded and in addition the caravans MTPLM must not exceed the
> unladen mass of the car.
>
> Bill Lord
> I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money
>
> e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk
> ( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

With regards to licences, my wife asked me the other day if she was allowed 
to drive whilst towing the van. I seem to remember there was a change in the 
laws a few years ago but I have no idea. Someone even mentioned she may have 
to do a special test before she's allowed to tow the van, is this correct? 
She passed her test about 7 years ago.
Many thanks
Gareth

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:52:10 GMT, "Gareth Watkins"
 wrote:

>
>"bill lord"  wrote in message 
>news:22r6k3tof48l2e9dv1kmv60i3epd06s07h@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:39:36 GMT, "howie"
>>  wrote:
>>
>>>i believe the main thing is weight, by law the caravan cant be heavier 
>>>than
>>>the car
>>
>> It depends upon when your licence is dated. If it is before 1st Jan
>> 1997 then you can drive a combination up 7500kg provided that the
>> MTPLM of the caravan is not exceeded, the maximum loaded weight of the
>> car is not exceeded, the maximum train weight for the car is not
>> exceeded and the maximum nose weight for the cars towball is not
>> exceeded.  So this case does allow many instances where the caravan
>> can be heavier than the car.
>> If the licence is dated after 1997 the combination must weigh less
>> than 3500kg, the caravans MTPLM must not be exceeded, the cars
>> noseweight must not be exceeded, the cars max train weight must not be
>> exceeded and in addition the caravans MTPLM must not exceed the
>> unladen mass of the car.
>>
>> Bill Lord
>> I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money
>>
>> e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk
>> ( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )
>
>With regards to licences, my wife asked me the other day if she was allowed 
>to drive whilst towing the van. I seem to remember there was a change in the 
>laws a few years ago but I have no idea. Someone even mentioned she may have 
>to do a special test before she's allowed to tow the van, is this correct? 
>She passed her test about 7 years ago.
>Many thanks
>Gareth
>

AS long as the van's MTPLM is less than the cars kerbweight and the
combination is less than 3500kg if it otherwise legal for you to tow
then it is legal for her to tow. The only time the special test comes
into operation is if she wishes to remove the two restrictions I have
listed. 
Bill Lord
I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money

e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk 
( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

bill lord said...
> >With regards to licences, my wife asked me the other day if she was allowed 
> >to drive whilst towing the van. I seem to remember there was a change in the 
> >laws a few years ago but I have no idea. Someone even mentioned she may have 
> >to do a special test before she's allowed to tow the van, is this correct? 
> >She passed her test about 7 years ago.
> >
> 
> AS long as the van's MTPLM is less than the cars kerbweight and the
> combination is less than 3500kg if it otherwise legal for you to tow
> then it is legal for her to tow. The only time the special test comes
> into operation is if she wishes to remove the two restrictions I have
> listed.
> 
From http://tinyurl.com/2f4tao
(resolves to: 
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCom
mercialVehicles/DG_4022564)

"All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their 
existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This 
means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer 
combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a 
minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

(MAM = Maximum Authorised Mass)

Drivers who hold subcategory C1+E - limited to 8.25 tonnes MAM, may 
apply for provisional entitlement to the new subcategory C1+E, in order 
to take and pass the test which will increase their combined vehicle and 
trailer entitlement to 12 tonnes MAM. It is not necessary to gain 
subcategory C1 entitlement first but drivers have to meet higher medical 
standards, and pass both the category C theory test and the subcategory 
C1+E practical test."

-- 
Fran
To email me see 'from' in headers; use your net know-how to find the 
domain, and put my real name in front thereof.