Towing capacity

[marty]

Hi guys

Started thinking about buying a new car. Seems these days buying a new medium to large manual is somewhat limiting choices.

So I looked at a manual XR6 but the braked towing capacity is only 1200kg.

I'm building a MK2 tarmac competition car, this combined with a trailer that I don't have yet I don't know what the total weight will be.

Will the 1200hk towing capacity be enough?

[Jimmy Hiddlestone]

Going to be borderline unless it is a really light weight trailer - need to go to an Auto in the Falcons to get 1,600kg or 2,300kg capacity; the 'weak' clutch in the manual Falcon is the limiting factor for the towing capacity.

Installing a heavy duty cluch would help with the reliability issue, but you insurance company would not really like you if you are towing 2,000kg of car,trailer,tools, spares,etc and had a 'moment'.......

Cheers

James

[ozstang65]

My preference is auto for towing, bigger is better. If I were looking for a new tow car I'd be considering a Ranger. Dad's got one that's about 5 years old now and towing the Escort with that is totally effortless (combined Escort/trailer is about 1650kg). If you're going to do long distances then turbo diesel is probably the best way to go. An auto is usually much more user friendly for low speed manouvering, such as in a crowded pit area.

Really depends what else you intend using the car for too. Daily driver or dedicated tow car can sway a decision one way or another.

[Danny M]

Marty you'd be better off looking at auto ute as legal towing capaicity on the manual is only 1200kg including whats in the tray and it's not the clutch but Ford state the gearbox in the service bulletins where as the auto's are good for 2300kg's and will do it alot more comfortably than a Ranger or Hilux etc


Danny

[jpayne]

I like automatic for towing, I also like large vehicles to tow with. Having towed many things, from mobile billboards to minis I have come to the conclusion that big is better. I want the tow vehicle to weigh more than the load. so for me a ute is borderine to undersized. surely powerfull enough but the weight was always missing in the utes I had used. And I have to aknowledge that in my 40 years the only towing dramas I have had or heard about, were Ute related. Im sure my sample is small but I never had a problem in a 4wd. My landcruiser was sluggish (big diesel 80's rustbucket) but the GQ and later patrols were supperb. all were a bit rich on fuel during normal driving, thats why I also had the swift. But the patrols were never really bothered by crosswinds or passing trucks or the double bounce porpoise-ing of the trailor you sometimes get. The Falcon ute I had did suffer from all the above, the falcon wagon was better but not as universally as good as the Patrol. I used a Triton crew cab, but it was gutless, but better than the utes in trailor behaviour. Jeep was too light, but surprisingly a Last model Magna towed OK, though it was on Melbourne freeways not rural roads?
Of course personal preference plays a big part and I assume it will do more than just towing duties so must suit the 99% of the other times it wont spend towing.go sedan over ute, wagon over sedan and 4wd over wagon. How about a 2wd territory?

Cheers,

Justin P

[marty]

I always had this rule that I wouldn't own an auto. That's the boy racer I've got inside.

But fewer cars are available in manual now days and if I'm buying a new car now I need to keep in mind in a few years, or however long it takes to finish the Escort I will be using it to tow.

So I guess I'll have to go auto, which does open up the options, such as Teritory, Kluger....

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[skypilot]

not to be pain, but when I was looking for a tow car for my rally rar - WRX 1300kgs plus 250 min kgs of gear in the back I also thought auto. Now I am only talking the late model v6 courier petrol but I thought I would ring up a couple of large Automatic reconditioners here in Brissy.
1. Every one of them said dont do it buy a manual
2. An average rebuild was $4-7000 and each of them suggested that it towing would half the life of the box
3. Oil coolers are an absolute must if you are towing for more than an hour with a heavy load.

As I said it was only for the 4x4 2005 ford courier and only for towing a heavy car

In any case ring a Automatic tranny place and ask their opinion (btw I did ring the local ford dealer who said they were ok but thirsty)

hope this helps

Justin

newbie looking to start a duratech mk1 rally car as soon as I have the money from the sale of my WRX in my hands

[Gary P.]

[marty]