What Tow Vehicle

[C-NUMB]

Looking for advice on a family car that also can tow a rib without burning the clutch...
Having now a Opel Zafira Tourer 7 seat Diesel( manual). Otherwise a very good and economical car, but the concrete ramp i use for my Rib is too step for it(1st gear too fast). It so and so usable but the clutch don't like it, and the SR 5.4 is absolute maximum, no room for uppgrading.

Now about to change the car but to what? Need occasionally the extra seats(7).
Don't actually need 4wd but guess that will be automatically included anyway.

Thinking about 2015 X-trail(but no reduction gear), 2015 Outlander(no reduction gear, 2000 kg tow limit) or possible a SsangYong Rexton(reduction yes, but kind of old fashion car otherwise).

Outlander is the max on the price tag. Never owned a automatic geared car but understood that they can handle the towing better, what do You say? Would automatic work better for my application than the same car with manual gear?

Thanks for comments

[Pikey Dave]

I wouldn't tow with anything but an auto these days


.....sh1t happens.......

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I wouldn't tow with anything but an auto these days


.....sh1t happens.......

Have to agree with Dave. I've noticed big difference since I changed to auto BMW X5


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[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I wouldn't tow with anything but an auto these days


.....sh1t happens.......

Wouldn't drive anything other that an auto now. No advantage to manual any more and the comprehensive use of dual mass flywheels in them makes about as much sense as putting a bomb under your floor to kill the spiders.

[paddlers]

Auto for me too. Just done 800 miles with my old ML towing a SBS single axle 1500Kg. Cruise control eats motorway and it's good on the slip !!

[jambo]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Auto for me too. Just done 800 miles with my old ML towing a SBS single axle 1500Kg. Cruise control eats motorway and it's good on the slip !!

You just back from Kintyre then. I've just come up for a week looking for some decent wx!!!


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[Ian M]

At risk of being boring, auto for me too. I have towed with manuals, DSG auto, (or its various names across the VAG marques) and proper torque converter auto. The torque converter auto is by far the best in my book. Incidentally I was witness to someone not doing a very good job on the slip at Lymington today. The smell and SMOKE from the CLUTCH was not good

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Ian M

At risk of being boring, auto for me too. I have towed with manuals, DSG auto, (or its various names across the VAG marques) and proper torque converter auto. The torque converter auto is by far the best in my book. Incidentally I was witness to someone not doing a very good job on the slip at Lymington today. The smell and SMOKE from the CLUTCH was not good

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference between a DSG auto & a "proper" auto? Only reason I ask is I have a Transporter DSG & a Disco 4 & I hadn't noticed a difference apart from power & torque of the Disco.


.....sh1t happens.......

[C-NUMB]

Originally Posted by Ian M

Incidentally I was witness to someone not doing a very good job on the slip at Lymington today. The smell and SMOKE from the CLUTCH was not good

Sounds like me... Guess need to start adapting to the idea of using auto.

Noted that the new X-Trail have much more tow capacity with the manual compared to auto, possible the auto gearbox is not that strong on that model. And as the manual will be no good on the ramp, think will exclude that one.

[Hightower]

You need a low ratio box for a manual to work on difficult slips. I just take my foot off the clutch at tick over and sit back.

However Auto is the way to go for a modern tow vehicle.

[jeffstevens763@g]

I run a Mitsubishi shogan auto 3.2 32-33/gallon towing 6m rib luv it.

[mick]

Originally Posted by A1an

Be ready for 101 answers

Nah not these days it's all been said before
And I like this way of launching now

[paddlers]

Originally Posted by jambo

You just back from Kintyre then. I've just come up for a week looking for some decent wx!!!


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What's a wx Jambo?

[mick]

Originally Posted by paddlers

What's a wx Jambo?Attachment 108222

Usually rain and wind

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

I run a Mitsubishi shogan auto 3.2 32-33/gallon towing 6m rib luv it.

My 3.2 LWB Shogun was the most reliable car I've ever owned.

Had it 7 years and it did everything I asked of it.

Nasher

[jambo]

Originally Posted by paddlers

What's a wx Jambo?Attachment 108222

Wx equals weather so Mick is right this year!!


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[paddlers]

[QUOTE=jambo;691801]Wx equals weather so Mick is right this year!!


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I suspected as much. We had 10 good days out of 14 and I pulled the boats out for the last 3 days due to the southerly that blew up but the kids like buggering about in the waves on the paddleboard/surf kayak so no worries. The fishing was good this year with plenty of pollack.
We'll be there every year for the foreseeable future. We all love it.

[jambo]

Looks as if you had a great time!!


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[jeffstevens763@g]

[QUOTE=paddlers;691809]

Originally Posted by jambo

Wx equals weather so Mick is right this year!!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net[/QUOTE
I suspected as much. We had 10 good days out of 14 and I pulled the boats out for the last 3 days due to the southerly that blew up but the kids like buggering about in the waves on the paddleboard/surf kayak so no worries. The fishing was good this year with plenty of pollack.
We'll be there every year for the foreseeable future. We all love it.Attachment 108229

Attachment 108230

Attachment 108231

Attachment 108232

Attachment 108233

Nice crab paddlers

[paddlers]

[QUOTE=jeffstevens763@g;691834]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Nice crab paddlers

The lads were seeing these in about 10-15 ft of water and diving down with their snorkels. Saw a bigger one but wimped out as it kept them at bay....

Caught loads in the pots but some of the bigger ones had that fungus that meant that they just went back. Lots of small lobster too.