Can anyone tell me what sort of weight caravan they have towed with their townace. We are looking to change our caravan next year, but want to have some idea of what the performance is like with different weights. We have a 2.0 turbo diesel automatic with transmission oil cooler fitted.

- (#5674) Al, 29 Sep 02

Can't speak directly as I've towed nothing bigger than a trailer tent, but I did once meet a guy with a
2.0 TD, 2WD, nothing out of the ordinary, who had a massive caravan (4 wheeler) - think it was well over a ton, poss close to two. He said he'd been to S of France without trouble. He wouldn't have done it in ours though, which struggled with the trailer tent. Probably wise to test drive the caravan if you can! I wouldn't want to have to get out of a big snake-up with a Townie, brakes, power and handling just aren't up to it.

- (#5675) SteveFE, 30 Sep 02

I tow an 18cwt Caravan, fully laiden. 8 passegers. Townace 2L 2wd TD auto. Not the best tow vehicle, but it copes. Usual problems with long hills, no auto oil cooler fitted, but no overheating problems from the box. Needed to keep the heater on full on the last summer trip to ensure no water overheating problems.With a little care and consideration the Townace will manage. I would not like to tow anything bigger though.

- (#5702) jeff willcott, 30 Sep 02

I have towed with a 14' van and 4up with townace.
as most are saying a bit slow but it gets there.
Just one thing to bear in mind- When on A road and b road kept the overdrive switch off-this saves a lot of heat to the gearbox and will help to keep the box a little cooler Put it in O/D when on long flat motorways
Also will help with engine heating too.
- (#5703) Barry Thorogood, 2 Oct 02

Errrr, am I missing something here? I can honestly say I'm new to diesels (and Townies for that matter) but I would have thought no overdrive = increased revs = more bangs in the pot per minute = more heat? I've even less understanding of the auto box so I'm not even gonna bother to question that one as I would assume it's speed related.

- (#5763) Dave B, 8 Oct 02

Dave, possibly would help, the engine wouldn't be labouring quite so much, and as the revs are higher, the viscous fan would be turning quicker & would shift more air, so Barry could well be right, it would also stop the gearbox hunting between 3rd & 4th gears, which in itself would keep the box cooler. HTH Rob.

- (#5764) Rob Drinkwater, 8 Oct 02

As you mentioned,Rob.by staying in 3rd gear(OD switched off) ones speed would be lower- I towed at around 40/45mph on A roads and about 50/55 in OD on M-ways.
The gearbox heats up with the gearing changing from one to another.Keeping in 3rd(OD off)will naturally keep the box a little bit cooler.
- (#5765) Barry Thorogood, 8 Oct 02

the ATF feed to the tranny cooler is turned off in O/D!

- (#5766) david miller, 9 Oct 02

There you go, learnt something new today from David, didn't know that the feed to the oil cooler cut out in O/D, trouble is I suppose that's just another solenoid operated valve to go wrong. Cheers David. Regards Rob.

- (#5767) Rob Drinkwater, 9 Oct 02

12' twin axle box trailer
0.5 tonnes unladedn
1.5 tonnes gross
8 pax
no problem, except slows right down up long hills

p.s. this is with a manual trans. model

- (#5768) skippy, 10 Oct 02