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        General >> Problems >> Towing
        
(Message started by: Jeff on Mar 24^th, 2006, 3:08pm)

Title: Towing
Post by Jeff on Mar 24^th, 2006, 3:08pm

Can anyone tell me what (or where to find out what) the max allowable towing weight of a 2.9 Cossie estate is. I want to tow a trailer loaded with blocks and don't want a smart-arse plod nicking me for being over the limit. The trailer is rated at 4 tons.
And if anyone has a 1998 Cossie est. for sale CALL ME!

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Geoff_W on Mar 24^th, 2006, 3:36pm

Jeff

That would be under weights and dimensions then http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/dimensions.htm ;)

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Jeff on Mar 24^th, 2006, 4:51pm

Thanks very much, I see the limit is two tonnes.
Strange the Diesel is not recommended for towing. Serves them right for having a Diesel and not a proper Scorpio Cosworth eh!
What a great site this is, I am reluctant to have any other type of car on the strength of this!!
Keep up the excellent work.

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Baz on Mar 24^th, 2006, 5:32pm

It does say at the bottom of the page "Weights in Kilos. Assumes full fluid levels, 90% full fuel tank and no driver" No Driver? Is that right?? How can you state a weight limit for a car that needs a driver to drive it, without the driver!!

Baz

Title: Re: Towing
Post by stevelufc on Mar 24^th, 2006, 6:01pm

i used to tow a caravan and a safe guide is whatever you tow should not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle about 85% of the total kerbside weight is said to be safe . otherwise you could get the trailer taking you for a ride ;D

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Geoff_W on Mar 25^th, 2006, 2:16am

Baz

The secret is to have the optional drivers hover seat fitted, bit like a van full of budgies all flying ;D ;D

Title: Re: Towing
Post by howiedintheplace on Mar 25^th, 2006, 8:55am

Get the nose weight of the trailer right & you should be O.K.

I have found that if you go over 80 kg the car handles very bad also you would be breaking the law even if the trailer only weighs 1 ton. ;)

Title: Re: Towing
Post by DJWerkz on Mar 25^th, 2006, 9:26am

...or just what I do, borrow a mates van! ;)

Title: Re: Towing
Post by - Mike - on Mar 25^th, 2006, 11:32am

Don't know about the estate but the Granada saloon towbar should fit the Scorpio saloon. The hatch is a different length it's shorter.

Title: Re: Towing
Post by mazzy_j on Mar 27^th, 2006, 8:06am

Quote:

Serves them right for having a Diesel and not a proper Scorpio Cosworth eh!

There isn't anything wrong with the diesel varient of the scorpio thank you very much :P ;) Plus I also have a cossie so :P :P :P again ;)

Also reading on there its only the diesel automatic which isn't suitable for towing, probably because the torque from the engine and the extra weight would overstress the gearbox??

Matt

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Kjetil S on Mar 27^th, 2006, 11:32am

Just sent an email to Ford Norway, since the registration papers say 1990kg GVW and 1420kg tow weight. They would look into it and give me an answer as to what the correct figures should be for my car. Could prove interesting :)

Title: Re: Towing
Post by sector-9 on Mar 27^th, 2006, 10:24pm

Looks like they've got the figures wrong unless Ford down-rated the towing capacity for some reason peculiar to Norway...

In anycase, you wouldn't be legal (in UK) to tow a 4T rated trailer with your car. There's lots of things you could fall foul of such as exceeding manufacturer's rating, exceeding license restrictions, etc. Check out news:uk.rec.caravanning as this type of question regularly gets asked there.

Darren

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Kjetil S on Mar 29^th, 2006, 8:17pm

Got a signed letter from Ford Norway stating that the tow weight is 1550kg.

"Regarding increase in tow weight

In accordance to directive 91/91/EØF from Statens Vegvesen, Vegdirektoratet [Norwegian department of road and safety, or something like that], Ford Scorpio ch.nr. XXXXXXXXXXX can increase it's tow weight to 1550kg.

The new regulations are based on a trailer test with maximum load in 12% gradient, 5 times during 5 minutes.
Final approval must be made by Statens Biltilsyn [DVLA]. A tow bar capable of the increased tow weight is required.

Best regards
Ford Motor Norway A/S

Signed XXXX XXXXXXX"

Translation is probably not top class, but..

Wonder if those rules are more strict than the equivalent UK rules.

edit: small typo

Title: Re: Towing
Post by Jeff on Apr 3^rd, 2006, 12:31pm

Just an update chaps...
Trailer was rated at 2500kg not 4 tonnes as I had thought, and when the first pallet of blocks was loaded the trailer yielded (ie sank!) to such an extent it was obvious the job was going to be one at a time. It knocked the car for six to be honest and I trundled home very carefully, pulling over a couple of times to let the queue behind me get on. I have towed a lot with caravans and never experienced such an impact on the performance as this, which I found suprising. It was a good job I wasn't going far!