tazdog6007 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 i am thinking about buying a trailer for my o/h toyota iq for the french trip.my m/h is a autotrail tracker 2013 and was wondering if it was o.k given some of the climbs in france.loaded with wine and beer the van was second gear on the motorway in northan france last year.perhaps a car on a trailer would prove too much?has anyone done this with a van of this size and weight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 First question, what is the towing limit on your VIN plate? Subtract line 1 GVW from line 2 GTW. And then check your vehicle handbook in case there is a specific limit stated. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I believe the motorhome is an Auto-Trail Tracker EKS model. Page 59 of the 2013 Tracker/Apache A-T Owner’s Manual carries vehicle specification information. The relevant data for a Tracker EKS are: Maximum Gross Weight - 3500 kg Mass in Running Order - 3215 kg Maximum Towable Weight - 1340 kg Gross Train Weight - 4840 kg Given the ‘second gear on motorway' scenario described in the original posting, towing a car on a trailer does not seem a great idea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I think I agree. In fact, I doubt it is legally possible. The meagre payload (assuming the basic Tracker with no options/extras added) is just 285kg. From this must be deducted the weight of the tow bracket itself, plus the desirable noseweight from the trailer. Max towing limit is 1,430 as Derek says. Kerbweight of an IQ is stated to be 860kg, so probably possible within the overall trailer limit. However, the MRO stated by AT for the Tracker EKS only includes 75kg for driver plus fuel, water and gas at 90% full. The payload must therefore be adjusted for any over/under weights. I couldn't find a self-weight for the towbar itself, but this must be deducted from the remaining payload. Assuming car plus trailer will weigh close to the towing limit of 1,430kg, there will be a transfer of some of the laden trailer weight to the towball for stability of the trailer. The usual recommendation is about 7%, giving an additional downforce on the towbar of about 95kg, and this must also be deducted from the payload. The remaining payload (possibly somewhere in the order of 175kg?) is all that is left for the passenger, food, drinks, clothing, camping kit, toiletries, etc etc. I think the likely consequence is that the Tracker will end up overloaded. In fact, I'd be mildly surprised if it isn't already running over weight in full touring trim with no towbar/trailer added, and it is this that is causing the problem on hills. I just wonder if Roy has taken his fully laden Tracker to a weighbridge and weighed it? If not, I think it may be a very good time to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Important not to overlook the potential for transfering excess payload from the MH to the trailer as necessary, so it might still be possible for the OP to achieve his aim legally. I tow an iQ on a trailer and always put the wine etc in the car for the trip home because the MH is right up to max weight on the rear axle because of payload, weight of towbar and towball weight from the trailer. Remember that the weight which goes on to the towball comes off the trailer axle. My 2.8 JTD copes with hill starts at 3900kg for the MH and a full load at 1400kg on the trailer, but it has been remapped. The MH is supposed to tow up to 1600kg and I think the engine/clutch could do that OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Keyboard clutch slip error - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 The test to set the GTW figure is from memory the ability to restart five times in five minutes on a one in 8 hill. Its a test of the clutches ability to resist overheating. I suspect the worse case scenario would be held up by an incident such as fire in an alpine tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 My Autotrail coach built had a towing limit of 1060 kgs, which meant I had to tow my Toyota Yaris on an A-frame, because even though I had the type approved and Autotrail recommended Witter towbar, the rear chassis extensions were not strong enough to stand any more. And the 785 pounds Witter had plenty of chassis strengthening. The van was the 7.6 metre Savannah, the Tracker may not have such restrictions. This van was 3850 kg upto 4250kg, but the towing limit scuppered my plan to use a trailer, and I wouldn't chance an A-Frame on the Continent. Although I towed for 3 years in the UK without any hassle or problems. I had the 150 hp 2.3 engine and I never noticed the extra weight of the A-frame plus car, without the twin reversing cameras to remind it was there, I would not have noticed it's presence performance wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazdog6007 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 thanks brian and all,your right brian,never used a weighbridge on any of the seven m/h i have owned.always relied on common sense and info from the bloggers.my towbar is a heavy duty job across the rear of the m/h and probably weighs around 12kg. so towing on a trailer is a no no. too close to the limit on payload. thanks all for your knowledge and replys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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