What do you use for towing?

[Ray Bell]

Recognising that there are a few competitors on the board, and that many others would tow trailers or caravans for a variety of purposes, I'll pose this question.

Everything I do is done with the old 504 wagon, but there will, no doubt, be a variety of vehicles used for this purpose.

We'll be especially interested in towmasters used to cart race cars around...

[redback]

Ford Falcon ute with a 351 V8. It tows a two car trailer well and is still stylish enough to cruise.

[marcus]

your standard everyday run of the mill VN Commodore used to tow a double kart trailer and quite well too i might add..my other car a 87 XF Falcon does not tow well at all

[Bluebottle]

We use a 1984 Ford Granada 2.3LX to pull (and stop!) an unbraked 8'x4'x4' box trailer full of P.A. gear, guitar and bass stuff and PaulC's drums. I think tha Ford Falcon of that era was the same shape but with decent sized engines in them, still- it can sustane a decent pace while towing and has little trouble on hilly twisty bits and dosn't get too hot.

[Ray Bell]

Well, I really expected this thread to see a bit more action...

How many members race? Quite a few, I would assume...

So why not tell us some more about tow cars, past and present. My best one was an Austin A99 with the three-speed box with Borg Warner overdrive, simply fantastic, and economical to boot with its pair of SU carburettors... there must be others out there?

[Slowcoach]

Hi Ray , I think the problem maybe that there was a very similar thread just before you joined the forum , people may have thought it was the same one going .
Anyway I have a Range Rover (classic shape) - it tows brilliantly , either my car or my wife's horsebox ! Previously I had a Granada Scorpio 4x4 - I feel u really need a 4x4 , for those wet muddy paddocks ! I am hoping to trade in the RR for a Yankee Hi-top Dayvan this year - just want a bit more room inside to relax if the weather is pants - which it normally is over here !

[DAVID PATERSON]

I have a Ford Falcon Futura AU series II station wagon(estate car). It will be 12 months old in a couple of weeks. It is 5 metres (16'5") long and weighs over 1 1/2 tons. It has a 4.0 litre SOHC inline six engine with EFI and produces 157kW (210hp). It is very comfortable with room for 5 adults and an enormous boot (trunk). Being a brand new car it also very reliable and well equipped. The only downside, apart from being a Ford, is that it is very thirsty. When I'm towing on the open highway I only get 7 km/litre (20mpg). It's a good thing, I don't pay for fuel.

Marcus, my dad used to have an XF sedan with a carbied 4.1 and we towed my race car to Warwick with it and it went OK. It was so slow but it got there alright, no worries at all in fact.

[Peter Mallett]

I'm actually on the market for a 4x4. I'm really taken by the Ford Explorer (North Face) because it has all the bells and whistles (full leather, air con, 5 speed auto etc.). I know its off road performance is lesser than the Jeep but as with 0-60 mph times it's only the testers who take cars to those limits.

However, whilst researching this I've been offered a six months old 3000 miles ex demo Jeep Cherokee 60th anniversary model. Its a big saving over the Ford but is it better?I know its not quite as luxurious or indeed as big as the Ford.

I will be test driving the Cherokee on my return to the UK and will also test drive a Ford.

Any thoughts?

[Airhead]

Peter,

Don't put Firestone tyres on the Explorer!

[Peter Mallett]

Good point and well made Moff.

(Fancy a pie?)

[Hans.ca]

Peter I don't want to rain on your parade but the Ford explorer has some problems. While hunting in the north last year one of our fellow hunters had an Explorer. We also had a wash board road and he had trouble to keep it on the road. I think the wheelbase is to short. This wash board road starts at the transcanada highway west of Upsala and goes north. It is mostly used by logging trucks and a grader works on it every day. Fully loaded trucks average about 100 kph on it.
I drive a Ford F150 4x4 with the 5 liter engine. It had no trouble staying on the road but the down side is the fuel consumtion of 20 liters per 100 km while towing a small utilitie trailer loaded with food and to be used to carry the Moose home. The truck is a good tow vehicle, I also tow a boat trailer with it and it works fine.

[Vandas]

Well we use a number of vehicles to tow our Race Car.

We use a Toyota HiAce Commuter Van as our support vehicle, and it sometimes tows as well. However we prefer not to use it for towing, as it is usually loaded down with all of our equipment.

We often use my Dad's Mercedes M430 for towing. It does it easily and take a lot of the pressure off the poor BONGO VAN.

We also use a Holden Rodeo, which tows nicely, and also allows for extra storage of the dirtier equipment, which Dad would never allow into his car. hehehe

Anyway it has been towed by many a vehicle, but these are the more commonly used.

[Diabando]

We use an XF Falcon to tow the horse float. It has never given us a moments trouble, tows easy, and all the movement behind doesnt seem to bother it (which in other "stronger" cars, has been a problem).

[Peter Mallett]

Hans,

What year was the vehicle in question? Because since late '99 the chassis and suspension has improved immensely. According to reports it is a totally different vehicle now. There are a few here in Siberia and I've not heard any complaints. Mind you the favoured 4x4 here is the Toyota Landcruiser. But I don't like them.

Bear in mind that I don't really want it for off road capabilities. I do want a comfortable and powerful car for towing on the roads and around the paddocks in thre UK and Europe.

Upsala? I remember my time there in '96. I stayed at the "Best Western" and I used to ........... er no, I'd better not go there!!!!!!

What's a "washboard road"?

[Morris 1100]

I use a 1976 Ford F100 long wheelbase ute(pickup)with a 351 cleveland engine for towing a HQ Holden race car,the car and spares weigh about 1500kg.It cruises along at 110kph very well and gets about 15mpg,it can go from Sydney to Albury before the 2 fuel tanks need filling up,top speed fully loaded about 150kph but you don't get a chance to do that very often now days!