Towing a car with a Swift Bolero 684fb(3700k mplw)

There are questions - A-frame or trailer? Are you taking note of your GTW? You need to do some homework regarding the various weights and loadings. I suspect you are confusing the towing ability of the base vehicle with the much lesser allowance left after conversion. I can't answer your question but suspect a 1200kg car may be too heavy and certainly will be if you intend using a trailer.

What is the gross train weight of your outfit and what engine do you have?

peedee

I trust that you have started with the basics, such as ; is it ok to fit a tow bar ?  Some m/home chassis are not suitable for a tow bar. 

You state you travel up 1:4 gradients, If these are have hairpin bends, you might find that you will lose traction on the outside wheel unless traveling very slowly, added weight on the rear will reduce the front axle weight.  I am assuming front wheel drive here ?

rgds

What is the gross train weight of your outfit and what engine do you have?

peedee

Looking at the spec of the 684fb if you have the standard engine which develops 130HP I think you could be pushing it towing a 1200kgm car especially if you are thinking of using a trailer rather than an A-Frame. Yes you could do it as long as it is withing the GTW but I think you would find it rather sluggish especially on a 1:4 hill. I have towed a 1200kgm car with a similar sized motorhome using an A-Frame but with a 156HP engine and that was fine. Perhaps someone who actually tows with a Bolero can comment further.

peedee

peegeenine has this very van and tows a small car....fiat 500 on an A-frame, i think....he will be avle to comment on weights.

however, from memory, while Swift do offer a Comfortmatic option, there is no flexibility on engine upgrade to either 150 or 180 bhp as with some suppliers.

Thanks everyone you have helped confirm my suspicions that the engine will struggle or fail. For those interested to know I'm not without homework. Engine is Fiat Ducato 2.287cc rated as 130 bhp on auto box but I could get it rechipped to give 150bhp.  GTW is 5500Kg and MPLW is 3700kg giving notional capacity for 1200kg car tow inc good margin for a legal A frame . I will certainly look at Fiat 500 around 900Kg just to help on those 1:4 twisting gradients. I currently tow a 1600 kg caravan and work on a remote mountain-side caravan park where I have rescued many stuck motorhomers

You will need to tell your Insurance Company that you have modified the engine which will probably up the premium as they don't like modifications from standard.

Thanks everyone you have helped confirm my suspicions that the engine will struggle or fail. For those interested to know I'm not without homework. Engine is Fiat Ducato 2.287cc rated as 130 bhp on auto box but I could get it rechipped to give 150bhp.  GTW is 5500Kg and MPLW is 3700kg giving notional capacity for 1200kg car tow inc good margin for a legal A frame . I will certainly look at Fiat 500 around 900Kg just to help on those 1:4 twisting gradients. I currently tow a 1600 kg caravan and work on a remote mountain-side caravan park where I have rescued many stuck motorhomers

Write your comments here...I towed my 2010 Toyota Yaris with a Car-a-tow A-frame behind my 2012 Autotrail Savannah for 4 years, without a problem, i had the 150 version of the 2.3 engine,  and it pulled like a train, up hill and down dale.

Had to have a type approved towbar that included chassis extension strengthening, a witter as approved by Autotrail. Was insured with the CC, both m/h and car, and they were told that they would be used together as a unit, again no problems. Car weighed 1100kgs,  A-frame was certified for upto 1200kg. 

Recently sold A-frame for what i paid for it, on E-bay, I have now downsized to a PVC. But thoroughly recommend A-framing, provided you want to stay in the UK, which we did.

I have towed a Citroen Berlingo, about 1200kg, behind a 2.8ltr 127bhp 7.5m MH without any problems. I currently tow a Fiat 500 behind a Bolero 684 Lounge 2.3 ltr 130bhp Euro5+ manual transmission and it tows fine. Living in a hilly area I would recommend the 150 upgrade. I think that an A-frame is the only way to go as a trailer will most certainly overload the rear axle and severely restrict your payload, just don't take the toad abroard. Incidently, I have just towed back from Kiddeminster to North Essex and returned 29 mpg, not bad for a new van.

Hi

Back in 2006, I had 4000kg Kontiki 665 with the 130 bhp 2.8 lump in it. I towed a Corsa weighing about 1000kg.

The "old 2.8" has about the same power as the present 2.3 I think.

I barely knew I had the car on the back.

When I changed to the 3000 cc Fiat on a 5000kg Kontiki, I really didn't know the car was there.

MPG dropped dramatically though when towing. Adding that to the tolls overseas, extra ferry crossing charges, I aborted the toad altogether.

As with everything about motorhomes though, I blogged about it here!

Russ