My new tow car, nice bita bling innit geezer?

[Al Weyman]

Actualliy I lie, one we did the graphics on today and at 12 mpg I don't think I would want to use it either, this baby has 23" wheels!

[johnw]

You da man Al

[Tim Falce]

What is it, a BMW?

[Al Weyman]

BMW naw way its about twice as big in the flesh, its a GM Hummer with the 400cu inch V8 Vortex engine. Really wicked guy

[JohnD]

Sorry, Al, those are puny wheels .
Saw a Range Rover the other day, with 26" rims.
It needed 40 profile tyres to fit them - Off Road? More like Off Head!

John

[Al Weyman]

No really, thats it you wait till I see the guy tomorrow, he will be out shopping again for sure. It was fitted up with Toyo tyres interestingly enough.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

BMW naw way its about twice as big in the flesh, its a GM Hummer with the 400cu inch V8 Vortex engine. Really wicked guy

Nah, that's not a Hummer, this is a proper Hummer

[johnw]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

It was fitted up with Toyo tyres interestingly enough.

Looking atthe forecast, I'll be using the same ones at Thruxton.

[alfaman]

Nice job Al, you've certainly pimp'd their ride....

All seems very different from when I used to work for Choice FM...we didn't have a blinged up Hummer to pose in we had to get around on the tube!

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by johnw

Looking atthe forecast, I'll be using the same ones at Thruxton.

Oh stop it John please Thruxton is the one place I can stretch my old cars legs but the rain will put the mockerson it, that will mean every race i have entered since my September comeback we have some rain or other throughout the meeting.

Nah, that's not a Hummer, this is a proper Hummer

Actually Falcemob I believe you are quite correct and this is a Humbee but everyone calls them a Hummer even in my book of vehicle profiles they cal it a Hummer. It in fact is a Chevrolet SUburban the big version of my Blazer, with a special body stuck on top. Bit like one of those Special Saloons with an Imp body stuck on a McClaren F1 car (NOT!!!).

[Tim Falce]

Al, yes, it's a Humbee or Humvee or whatever. Before the Hummer (road going version) was introduced various film stars used the military Humbee as every day road cars.

[Chris Y]

This is so off topic for the racers' forum

[Tim Falce]

I didn't even notice which forum it was in.

[Al Weyman]

It was only a bit of fun Chris, I thought it was all a bit quite sorry about that. actually it may be come more relevant shortly, so watch this space (No I ain't racing one!)

[Richy_Rich]

Bringing it back on topic. I need a new tow vehicle, any suggestions?

I currently have a Landy 110 which is converted into a camper van, which is nice but incredibly slow and not really much use for anything other than race weekends.

I'm thinking estate car or possibly 4x4, what do you use and is they any good?

[Al Weyman]

I really like my 2000 model Chevy blazer SUV 4.3 V6 on Autogas does about 12p per mile towing, will tow 3500kgs legally and you can actually sleep in the back with the seats down quite cofortable. Another one I was looking at was a Mitsubusi Delica, built on a Pajero chassis, 4 x 4 powerful turbo diesel, very practical can sleep in them etc and looks different as an import you don't see them all over the place but I have seen one or two racers using them.

[Richy_Rich]

They look different alright! This is the first picture google came out with...



Edit to add: The ones on autotrader look much more reasonable, I've put it on my list of maybes so thanks!

[Al Weyman]

Thats the old model Blazer, do a search for a Delica, there areusually loads on eBay they are all Jap imports so usually have reasonable miles on them, if you like the look they are very practical and as based on a Pajero can tow lots legally.

[JohnD]

Good question! (new tow vehicle, or rather, second hand)

Transit Hitop diesel camper van?
Can you get LWB & Hitop?
NOT one with a bunk-bulge over the cab.

Accomodation at track, and not too thirsty or unwieldy for day-to-day use.

John

[Al Weyman]

Be careful with the GVTW on Transits especially campers, it is very easy to come unstuck. In fact a short wheel base Transit van not converted is only rated to tow around 1800kgs which would not be suitable for me yet an SUV or Range Rover for example can tow a lot more, strange but true all to do with the amount of gear you can carry in a Trannie type van I believe.

[JohnD]

Thank you, Al!
I didn't know that the weight of the whole rig was a factor, just that the trailer should not be more than 75% of the tow vehicle - whwich is the same thing but put a different way.
Inspired, I found a useful, motorsport related website: http://www.halihat.f2s.com/towing.htm

John
We are bit off bling, aren't we?

[Al Weyman]

Thats alright, more Motorsport orientated anyhow, yes Gross Vehicle Train Weight takes the whole weight of the rig and the load into concideration thats why (as I understand) say a Transit once kitted out as a Motorhome is virtually done a large slice of its capacity so that will all add to the GVTW figure.

[Chris Y]

Oh, and don't just rely on the "85%" thing - that's just a guideline, originally from the Caravan Club I think - consult the manufacturer's maximum towing weight, which can either be found in the Haynes manual, or the owner's manual that comes with the car/van.

If you go over the manufacturer's towing limit, the insurance company and police forces will view it as dangerous, and not look to kindly, but it can work the other way.. For instance my tow car is 1.3 tonnes kerbweight, but has a maximum towing limit of 1.5 tonnes.

I thought Delicas looked like this:
- not the pickup style as shown above. Didn't think they'd be much use for towing..

[Al Weyman]

Thats a Delica and they are very good for towing being rated to tow 3500kgs more or less as much as a Range Rover. The reason for this is as I said they are built on a 4 x 4 Mitsubushi Shogun/Pajero chassis and running gear so all the plus factors of that model plus the practability of a people carrier type vehicle, guy had one at Brands as a tow car at Easter.

[R59]

Old bill Vauxhall Omega MV6 Estate - cheaper than chips, totally capable to tugging, if you get a proper motorway spec on, it'll have Irmscher suspension, and if you're really lucky, either a StarChip, or Superchipped ECU which improves mid-range.

It'll do 20mpg towing at ridiculous speeds, and have plenty of space for either parts or sleeping accomodation.

Without the trailer, it's a 150+ mad barge, fairly comfortable to drive (not as good as a Senator which was one of the best rides ever), and they handle very neutrally. It'll do 27-28mph with a fairly hard life.

The downside - they are a bi*ch to work on in the engine bay. Later ones have coil-on-plug technology - they are the ones to go for. Earlier ones have a coil pack bolted to the back of the block, which is almost impossible to get at, and they crack, the plug leads break down, and cause misfires.

Convert to LPG and it'll do 23-24mpg, which works out like 46-48mpg on petrol with current prices.

Or.....

Go for a van - something like a older Iveco Turbo Daily, which will pull the trailer like it's not there, give you a cavern to hide spares, or snore, return 23-25mpg towing, or 23-25mpg not towing.... I know where there is one up for grabs - the owner will put 12months test on it before the sale, it's done about 130K (which is nothing), well serviced, never owned by a courier firm, so it's mechanically splendid! It's been standing for over a year, but starts on the button. PM me if you are interested...

I could go on..... lots of options.

Don't be fooled by using a European built motorhome - they can't tow much more than a tonne to tonne & a half (legally).

Or, put a V8 on lpg in your RandyLover..... It won't be slow then!

Rob.