Caravan pulling?

[widster]

A slightly off the wall question but has anyone ever towed a caravan with their MR2? I know not everyone is a fan (Top Gear doesn't help here...) but i am currently considering buying one for family holidays. I will be pulling it with a diesel Audi but it got me thinking as to the pulling ability of my mk1? I know it's probably not the ideal tow vehicle being lightish and minimal torque available high up the rev range but it must be able to tow one of those really small, light pod type caravans at least? Does anyone know what it's tow limit is? I would guess at 700kg? There must be someone who has tried it?

[MartG]

Well the owners manual doesn't list any towing weights, so I'd guess you'd have to go with the 'max gross weight less than half the kerb weight of the towing vehicle' rule if it is unbraked - not sure about braked weight though.

[LimeyMk1]

I've seen a caravan towed by an SC, but it was a small one at JAE.

I had to resist the urge to torch the caravan and lynch the owner.

[widster]

I've seen a caravan towed by an SC, but it was a small one at JAE.

I had to resist the urge to torch the caravan and lynch the owner.

Now then.... We'll have none of that. It's live and let live on the IMOC forum.

[LimeyMk1]

I've seen a caravan towed by an SC, but it was a small one at JAE.

I had to resist the urge to torch the caravan and lynch the owner.

Now then.... We'll have none of that. It's live and let live on the IMOC forum.

I had a natter to the owner and he was a thouroughly nice chap.

Can I ask how much the caravan will be costing you?

I have often wondered if the economics of caravanning really add up when you take into account the cost of the wheelieshed, towbarge, fuel and campsite fees if it wouldn't be better to stick the cash in the bank and use the money for B&Bs and a more fuel efficient car.

[Bender Unit]

Oh god please no!

I would suspect the towing weights will be totally wrong, unless there is a different guideline for caravans. Check with VOSA!

I dont understand caravanning - and as a result I would rather crap in my own mouth than go caravanning.

[widster]

I've seen a caravan towed by an SC, but it was a small one at JAE.

I had to resist the urge to torch the caravan and lynch the owner.

Now then.... We'll have none of that. It's live and let live on the IMOC forum.

I had a natter to the owner and he was a thouroughly nice chap.

Can I ask how much the caravan will be costing you?

I have often wondered if the economics of caravanning really add up when you take into account the cost of the wheelieshed, towbarge, fuel and campsite fees if it wouldn't be better to stick the cash in the bank and use the money for B&Bs and a more fuel efficient car.

I've got to get one anyway to live in for a few weeks while we are between houses so will give the whole thing a whirl and see how we get on. With a wife and two little uns b&b's can work out quite expensive. Caravanning is going to be about £20 a night apparently and the caravan itself will be about £2k as it is now the end of the season and we are only looking at an early nineties one. We aim to go away with friends. I know it doesn't have a great image but that won't put me off.

[widster]

Oh god please no!

I would suspect the towing weights will be totally wrong, unless there is a different guideline for caravans. Check with VOSA!

I dont understand caravanning - and as a result I would rather crap in my own mouth than go caravanning.

Not sure what you mean by towing weights being totally wrong. Usual guide, as far as i can tell, is do not tow more than 85% of the weight of the car.

[Tiny]

anything other than a jetski or a Jinxy half cut is wrong on a Mr2

[kevin..in]

I've seen a caravan towed by an SC, but it was a small one at JAE.

I had to resist the urge to torch the caravan and lynch the owner.

Probably Mac Shievels (Super Mac) red SC, Mike Shievels dad (AW11Forever) can be contacted via the MK1 Club forum

anything other than a jetski or a Jinxy half cut is wrong on a Mr2

regularly towed a trailer with camping gear or motorbike/scooter with my mk1
Wrong? absolutely not! wrong would be to get a 4X4 just because i need to tow occaisionally

[Andy_J]

I thought vehicles needed to be type approved to tow. Not aware of the MK1 being type approved as a tow vehicle by toyota.

Personally I would not tow a caravan with anything less than a large 4x4. 2.5 tonnes pulling 1 tonne much safer then 1.25 tomes pulling 1 tonne

[kevin..in]

I thought vehicles needed to be type approved to tow. Not aware of the MK1 being type approved as a tow vehicle by toyota.

Personally I would not tow a caravan with anything less than a large 4x4. 2.5 tonnes pulling 1 tonne much safer then 1.25 tomes pulling 1 tonne

as Toyota sold gnuine equipment tow bars for the MK1 then its safe to assume that type approval was done!

[Nimbus]

I used to tow my glider trailer with my first mk1, back in the 90s..

It was an excellent tow car, very stable.. really must scan in those photos of it in action, like I promised..

I had a 'toyota' fitted towbar, and the weight of the glider + trailer must have been at least 600kg.

I think you could tow a caravan fine

[widster]

So a caravan may be pushing it but glad to see that the trusty mk1 has been earning it's keep as a tow vehicle from time to time. Are there no end to this car's talents?

[AW11 Forever..!]

Just catching up with this thread, yes indeed my father Mac Sheavills regularly towed his 3 birth caravan with the Supercharged Tbar.

He did a lot of reasearch into weight to make sure that the MR2 was safe to pull the caravan and he designed his own tow bar that could be removed once he was at his destination.

Some people might have seen him @ JAE a few years ago, as he is in his 60's and has back problems camping in a 2 man tent for 3 nights doesn't really appeal to him anymore so the caravan option was a must, weather people liked it or not you have to give the guy credit for doing something different got to say it was a sureal sight seeing a caravan being towed down the A1 by a MK1, priceless, I must try and find the pictures I had of it.

If anyone wants to contact him send me a PM and I'll give you his number.

Cheers
Michael

[widster]

Just catching up with this thread, yes indeed my father Mac Sheavills regularly towed his 3 birth caravan with the Supercharged Tbar.

He did a lot of reasearch into weight to make sure that the MR2 was safe to pull the caravan and he designed his own tow bar that could be removed once he was at his destination.

Some people might have seen him @ JAE a few years ago, as he is in his 60's and has back problems camping in a 2 man tent for 3 nights doesn't really appeal to him anymore so the caravan option was a must, weather people liked it or not you have to give the guy credit for doing something different got to say it was a sureal sight seeing a caravan being towed down the A1 by a MK1, priceless, I must try and find the pictures I had of it.

If anyone wants to contact him send me a PM and I'll give you his number.

Cheers
Michael

That's great to hear! I was sure there must be someone out there who had taken on this challenge. Credit to your Dad. Would love to see the photo's.

I suppose the extra torque of the supercharged engine helped a bit, especially when he came to a hill!

Respect.

[CM1GT]

even if you can tow a caravan with it you wont get a family of 4 in a mk1

[kevin..in]

even if you can tow a caravan with it you wont get a family of 4 in a mk1

is a family of 4 a prerequisite of caravan use then?
I have only been into MK1 Mr2s for about six years or so, but i recon that whatever you do for accomodation a family of 4 will not fit (comfortably and or safely) in a MK1!! though I could be wrong

[Jim-SR]

i saw a mini pulling a caravan the other day. ok, so it was a mini caravan as well, it was tiny, but still, if a mini can do it the MR2 easily can.

think about it, the MR2 weighs about 1250kg with 2 passengers and has 115-120hp, how is it different to ANY other average car? its not some special and fragile sports car, its no different to towing a caravan with a Ford Escort, except RWD with more power.

whether it should be done or not is another story, its not a particularly likely match up. but horses for courses, if you want to píss off every other driver on the road doing 30mph up hills on dual carriageways and B-roads then thats your perogative

one thing i would say though is to stick as much weight as you can in the front of the MR2 with luggage, etc. if you load all the luggage into the boot then its going to cause somewhat of a weight distribution issue i would think, its bad enough as standard.

[crazybrightman]

towing with an mr2 should be quite good. it has a short distance from the rear wheels to where the tow bar would be, then you have lots of weight over the back axle, there 2 things thats are normaly the failing points when towing resulting in loss of control. but as mentioned above some weight over the front wheels would be advised to help braking.