Shite Tow Cars

[Vin]

Almost forgot- sales opportunity.

 

Perfect towcar, the right ageimage.jpeg

 

Pointless post, as no benefit to the OP, but a friend owns a Croma Turbo - H821 WAM. TRUE STORY.

[forddeliveryboy]

http://autoshite.com/topic/25556-citroen-xm-diesel-for-sale-£250/

[Austin-Rover]

Tow Car #1 is this Rover 820 of 1991 vintage. The van pictured is about 1994 vintage. The van has since changed to a 2004 version that doesn't look too out of place. Tow Car #2 is a 1997 Vectra V6 Estate that's a recent purchase and currently being readied for its towing debut at the end of the month.

 

The 80's to the mid 00's seemed to be a ripe time frame for caravans that all look pretty similar. More recent models are not only priced out of Autoshite territory, they're also pretty badly over-styled - much like the cars to tow them!

 

 

 

 

[Captain Furious]

Volvo 360.

I've just realised I have this actual 'windslammer' too that I picked up from a car boot the other week for a fiver

 

Not got any roof bars to affix it to yet tho

[oldcars]

I've just realised I have this actual 'windslammer' too that I picked up from a car boot the other week for a fiver

 

Not got any roof bars to affix it to yet tho

 you sir are a winner in every way. I have been looking for one for one million* years.

[Skizzer]

Just insert caravan here.

 

 

And some really, really comprehensive breakdown cover.

[Captain Furious]

 you sir are a winner in every way. I have been looking for one for one million* years.

 

Total chance encounter, the woman selling it knocked me down on price to ensure I'd buy it because she was fed up of hauling it around

 

If it helps you to track one down this particular piece of engineering excellence is manufactured by MIRA and called an "Aero Plus" (Other wind deflection devices are available) 

 

Fairly sure they're a load of hocus unless you have them precisely positioned with the aid of a wind tunnel, but thought it would look period.

[Mr A Lawrence]

[Captain Furious]

That caravan looks like its been distorted by the Jaaaag nearly pulling the chassis from under it.

[warninglight]

If an early 90s Volvo doesn't tickle your pickle for caravan haulage, then it can only be one of these!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover-discovery-1-200-TDI-K-reg-/131919836483?hash=item1eb708f543:g:tIQAAOSw-itXv~pV

[Justin Case]

Of that line-up, the Laguna must be the Autoshiters choice, you can have  a brew-up in the van while waiting for the AA

[UmBongo]

My dad's Kia Pride towed my ailing Saab 900 up a steep hill once, honest to God.

 

[AMC Rebel]

Trivia interlude - X350 Jaaaags don't have an official Jag towbar and package available any more.

[DVee8]

Obviously you need to get to your destination at quick as possible to get the kettle on.

 

To do so one would need a

 

 

This is what a mate's dad used back in around 89/90

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Of that line-up, the Laguna must be the Autoshiters choice, you can have a brew-up in the van while waiting for the AA

Laguna would add a fair bit of adventure* and excitement* to proceedings.

 

We towed the van a couple of times with our mk4 dizzler espace which is more or less laguna mechanicals. Disaster. There is a big hill here called the glenshane pass, the EGR packed in halfway up reducing power to about 10bhp. Still made it to the campsite (just) before all the dash electronics packed in. Again.

[Asimo]

http://autoshite.com/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-17481-0-93724500-1413633845.jpg

[anonymous user]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Justin Case]

That Bentley Continental / Carlight Continental outfit is fantastic. If only we could have found a cream Austin Maestro to tow the Bailey Maestro that we used to have, we could have looked them in the eye

[Captain Furious]

Small piece of genuine advice, avoid old automatics for towing duties, they don't like it

 

If you must, because the car your interested in is only available in auto for example, then your first mods should be

 

ATF Cooler

ATF Cooler

ATF Cooler

 

In that order

[sheffcortinacentre]

I'd go for 2.0 Granada or Sierra 4x4 for the latter.

[dieselassist]

90's Disco 1 is a GR8 shite tow-tug - I have one, its only had a 'smattering of welding' - ie one sill, tho the inner wings could do with some patching... (im on a mental holiday from such matters at the moment tho)

 

... a caravan is well suited to one of these; on holidays over a week, the caravan can be very useful to haul all the necessary gear welder, gas bottle, drill grinder gloves etc - make sure to book a camping site with power hook up to get the welding done - never be bored, ever again during a camping holiday as theres always a lotta welding to be done...

[nigel bickle]

I do a bit of towing,,from time to time.

 

If it's muscle that's needed,not much beats the Musso. Mines a 3.2 petrol Merc engine, juicy but strong.

 

If it's mid range, then the Pintara or Renner 25 will do the job..

 

If it's a toddler? Well, who cares? Plenty to choose from.

 

Favourite towcar? My old flat front 900 turbo. So much rust, so much fun. Sadly missed.

[Captain Furious]

I would have the Sierra that someone is selling on this very parish, think it's only a 1.8 but if your caravan is only 1000KG it should be man enough

 

It looks nice, grey one, can't find the post now. Think it has AS history too

 

Old Fords love this towing shit, it was practically an optional extra to NOT have a towbar on a Granada or Sierra

[vulgalour]

Chompy used this to tow lots of stuff, surprisingly competent and they're dirt cheap.

 

When he sold it to Krujoe it was collected with a Rav4, a vehicle that proved capable in long wheelbase or, in the case of Dollywobbler, short wheel base form.  Again, not hideously pricey.

 

The aforementioned Xantia estate of many shiters was used in stock untuned trim to tug the Renault home which weighs about as much as your 'van before the trailer is added in.  Did it with great competence.

 

Just about any car from the 90s is going to do the trick really.  You're spoiled for choice and prices are mostly quite low even for good examples.  They're at that sweet spot of being reliable enough for daily use and just old enough for show going if you want to.  They usually have plenty of toys, quite often air con, sunroof, electric windows, power steering, decent brakes and VED is often lower than their modern contemporaries.

[gordonbennet]

 

Just about any car from the 90s is going to do the trick really.  You're spoiled for choice and prices are mostly quite low even for good examples.  They're at that sweet spot of being reliable enough for daily use and just old enough for show going if you want to.  They usually have plenty of toys, quite often air con, sunroof, electric windows, power steering, decent brakes and VED is often lower than their modern contemporaries.

 

Don't tell 'em Pike.

That's our secret, i bloody love 90's designs (often still an 80's carryover), a sweet spot indeed, if carefully bought (proper Japanese, Toyota/Subaru especially) you can stay in that sweet design age but up to around 2003/5 manufacture, after that it's a bloody steep downward curve to electronic modern crap, after that even Toyota saw fit in their moments of lunacy to fit automated manual gearboxes and electric parking brakes here and there...no ta, arse and poke 'em up as far as they will go.

[dollywobbler]

Any car from the Nineties? Go on then. See now you do with a 1.4 Cavalier. Or a Reliant Robin. Or a Tata Safari.

 

Actually, my petrol Ford Maverick was pretty terrible for towing. It just had no torque at all.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Discovery 200tdi is pretty hard to beat in my opinion.  Up hill, down dale- with 3.5t hanging off the back 

 

3dr for maximum shite points, obviously.

[DodgyBastard]

I used the Camry to tow a few things.

 

DSC_0577 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It's a 3.0 v6 auto. It was pretty shit for towing so I bought this.

 

DSC_0366 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

I haven't tried towing anything yet but I'm hoping that it's ok, the 2.5l td engine seems to have enough torque.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Discovery 200tdi is pretty hard to beat in my opinion.  Up hill, down dale- with 3.5t hanging off the back 

 

3dr for maximum shite points, obviously.

I towed a few things with my first Discovery- a very early 3 dr V8 carb and not only could it pull anything, it used about 25% less petrol than when solo.

[burraston2006]

Small piece of genuine advice, avoid old automatics for towing duties, they don't like it

 

If you must, because the car your interested in is only available in auto for example, then your first mods should be

 

ATF Cooler

ATF Cooler

ATF Cooler

 

In that order

 

I'm thinking of becoming a caravanista. I was looking at a P38 Range Rover( in petrol flavour). Would I need to fit an AFT Cooler to this as most came with tow bars factory fitted?