Towing a tagalong behind a front wheel drive motorhome
chrisw31 said
05:50 PM Aug 18, 2016
I have got conflicting advice about the ability to tow my Feroza (1500kg) behind a Fiat Ducato, anyone actually doing it?
Tony Bev said
11:17 PM Aug 18, 2016
Hello chrisw31
Welcome to the forum
It depends on the model Fiat Ducato you have
I have a 2006 Model ZFA244 with a 2.8 litre Turbo Diesel engine, and a five speed manual gearbox
Because of the big jump between the 4th and 5th gear ratios, I feel that my model Fiat Ducato, is not suitable for towing
In theory as the Aggr is 3850 Kg and the GCM is 5500 Kg, I could tow up to 1650 Kg
But, it would be so slow going up the hills
On paper the next model up from 2007 onwards, has a choice of two engines, with the bigger engine being a 3 litre Turbo Diesel, with a 6 speed Manual/Auto gearbox.
Their 6th gear ratio is the same as my 5th
Their 4th gear ratio is the same as my 4th
They slotted the extra gear in, to shorten the jump between 4th and 5th
I have seen the later models towing vehicles around the 1,000 Kg weight
I am sure someone will come along and let you know how they go while towing
chrisw31 said
07:59 AM Aug 19, 2016
Thanks for your reply, the one I am looking at a 2015 model 3 litre 6 speed, I had the very slow hill problem with my previous van, but thought the extra power might cope, I am more worried about driveability, tyre wear and safety.
regards Chris W
macka17 said
10:27 AM Aug 19, 2016
Look at some of these front wheel drives and boats on some ramps.
All drive at front. all weight behind it.
I've had to pull a couple up the ramp over the yrs.
Wet. slippy. NO traction.
Equates on the road too in certain circumstances.
I've also seen a couple having hard times getting up steeper dirt
and wet bitumin roads.
even without trailer.
Had to turn round and back up to get a load over drive wheels.
I'd be looking for a rear axle drive myself.
Front wheel drives are not designed for towing
any sort of weights..
dragonfly1 said
01:14 PM Aug 19, 2016
We have towed a Suzuki swift all over the country with our fiat auto manual and have never had a problem heaps of power don't know it's behind normal fuel comsumption is 10.9 and with car behind is 11.2
Dragonfly1
chrisw31 said
10:45 AM Aug 20, 2016
Thanks for replying, I guess you said what I always thought, but after asking around, a couple of people who should know have both said that it can cope, (they were sales people but not selling to me), it seems to depend on the length behind the back wheels.
Regards
Chris w
chrisw31 said
10:13 AM Aug 21, 2016
Thanks dragonfly, my car is a bit heavier but probably similar impact, have you had any wheel slip problems? and has tyre wear been OK?
R. Chris W
dragonfly1 said
10:37 AM Aug 21, 2016
No wheel slip but we don't go into silly places tyre wear 40000kls first set replaced because we hit some deep potholes and damaged the sidewalls on two front tyres so decided to replace all four tyres we have had continentals since new and run 80 psi all round
Dragonfly1
PeterD said
12:07 PM Aug 21, 2016
You don't say which model Ducato you have. However the one with the lowest towing capacity is capable of towing 2,000 kg. Your 1,500 kg toad should be OK unless it results in you exceeding the GCM. Check to see what your vehicle GCM is and check the total weight you will have with the toad behind.
jade46 said
02:08 PM Aug 21, 2016
We have towed a Suzuki Alto 900kg for 10000K to Victoria from Brisbane over Mount Hotham in a very light snow with no problems A wet grassy steep slope may well be a problem and as previously stated a boat ramp surely be a problem but I dont go near boat ramps.The Fiat has a traction control and a hit climb control to help in these situations one locks the differential and the other lowers the gear ratios. These things are built to be delivery vans in Europe etc where it is always wet or snowing, and they don't do there deliveries on the autobarns but on twisty cobble streets we would call goat tracks. There are other posts on here about "flat towing" I suggest you look there but I would not swap my Fiat for a rear wheel drive ever. My motor home is at the top of the weight at 4450 kg, fuel towing 12.5 to 13 ltr per 100ks
-- Edited by jade46 on Sunday 21st of August 2016 02:10:28 PM
Thanks Jade, I have searched for Flat Towing but couldn't see any regarding front wheel drive motorhomes.
R
Chris W
jade46 said
02:05 PM Aug 22, 2016
OK
-- Edited by jade46 on Monday 22nd of August 2016 02:07:39 PM
PeterD said
04:32 PM Aug 22, 2016
chrisw31 wrote:
Thanks Jade, I have searched for Flat Towing but couldn't see any regarding front wheel drive motorhomes.
There is nothing special about motorhomes. They are the same as other vehicles. You look at the vehicle handbook under the towing section and see what the manufacturers tell you. As I said above, you are limited by the manufacturers maximum towing weight and the GCM, your rig must be within both those limits. The only thing special you may have to look into is if you are A-frame towing. The regulations there are the same for both front and rear wheel drive, again nothing special for FWD.
GROSS COMBINATION MASS - value specified for the vehicle by the 'Manufacturer as being the maximum of the sum of the 'Gross Vehicle Mass of the drawing vehicle plus the sum of the 'Axle Loads of any vehicle capable of being drawn as a trailer.
jules47 said
06:17 PM Aug 23, 2016
We tow on a dolly/gypsy trailer - total with 1996 Nissan Micra - approx. 1320kg - all good,- 2010 Fiat Ducato, 3litre, turbo diesel, six speed automative gearbox - no problem at all - on very steep hills, the Starship slows down a bit - but not too bad - preference is to use "manual" when towing.
chrisw31 said
10:08 AM Aug 24, 2016
Thanks everyone I'll go ahead if the GCM is confirmed by Sunliner, I'll let you know how it goes.
I have got conflicting advice about the ability to tow my Feroza (1500kg) behind a Fiat Ducato, anyone actually doing it?
Welcome to the forum
It depends on the model Fiat Ducato you have
I have a 2006 Model ZFA244 with a 2.8 litre Turbo Diesel engine, and a five speed manual gearbox
Because of the big jump between the 4th and 5th gear ratios, I feel that my model Fiat Ducato, is not suitable for towing
In theory as the Aggr is 3850 Kg and the GCM is 5500 Kg, I could tow up to 1650 Kg
But, it would be so slow going up the hills
On paper the next model up from 2007 onwards, has a choice of two engines, with the bigger engine being a 3 litre Turbo Diesel, with a 6 speed Manual/Auto gearbox.
Their 6th gear ratio is the same as my 5th
Their 4th gear ratio is the same as my 4th
They slotted the extra gear in, to shorten the jump between 4th and 5th
I have seen the later models towing vehicles around the 1,000 Kg weight
I am sure someone will come along and let you know how they go while towing
regards Chris W
All drive at front. all weight behind it.
I've had to pull a couple up the ramp over the yrs.
Wet. slippy. NO traction.
Equates on the road too in certain circumstances.
I've also seen a couple having hard times getting up steeper dirt
and wet bitumin roads.
even without trailer.
Had to turn round and back up to get a load over drive wheels.
I'd be looking for a rear axle drive myself.
Front wheel drives are not designed for towing
any sort of weights..
We have towed a Suzuki swift all over the country with our fiat auto manual and have never had a problem heaps of power don't know it's behind normal fuel comsumption is 10.9 and with car behind is 11.2
Dragonfly1
Thanks for replying, I guess you said what I always thought, but after asking around, a couple of people who should know have both said that it can cope, (they were sales people but not selling to me), it seems to depend on the length behind the back wheels.
Regards
Chris w
Thanks dragonfly, my car is a bit heavier but probably similar impact, have you had any wheel slip problems? and has tyre wear been OK?
R. Chris W
No wheel slip but we don't go into silly places tyre wear 40000kls first set replaced because we hit some deep potholes and damaged the sidewalls on two front tyres so decided to replace all four tyres we have had continentals since new and run 80 psi all round
Dragonfly1
You don't say which model Ducato you have. However the one with the lowest towing capacity is capable of towing 2,000 kg. Your 1,500 kg toad should be OK unless it results in you exceeding the GCM. Check to see what your vehicle GCM is and check the total weight you will have with the toad behind.
We have towed a Suzuki Alto 900kg for 10000K to Victoria from Brisbane over Mount Hotham in a very light snow with no problems A wet grassy steep slope may well be a problem and as previously stated a boat ramp surely be a problem but I dont go near boat ramps.The Fiat has a traction control and a hit climb control to help in these situations one locks the differential and the other lowers the gear ratios. These things are built to be delivery vans in Europe etc where it is always wet or snowing, and they don't do there deliveries on the autobarns but on twisty cobble streets we would call goat tracks.
There are other posts on here about "flat towing" I suggest you look there but I would not swap my Fiat for a rear wheel drive ever. My motor home is at the top of the weight at 4450 kg, fuel towing 12.5 to 13 ltr per 100ks
-- Edited by jade46 on Sunday 21st of August 2016 02:10:28 PM
Thanks Jade, I have searched for Flat Towing but couldn't see any regarding front wheel drive motorhomes.
R
Chris W
OK
-- Edited by jade46 on Monday 22nd of August 2016 02:07:39 PM
There is nothing special about motorhomes. They are the same as other vehicles. You look at the vehicle handbook under the towing section and see what the manufacturers tell you. As I said above, you are limited by the manufacturers maximum towing weight and the GCM, your rig must be within both those limits. The only thing special you may have to look into is if you are A-frame towing. The regulations there are the same for both front and rear wheel drive, again nothing special for FWD.
R
Chris W