Towing with 2.8 litre ~2003 era Autotrails

[Jeffers_S13]

Hello,

Looking for experienced towers with any of the 2003 ish era Autotrails with the 2.8. One of the main reasons for me to buy a motorhome is for my hobby, the other is for family holidays/days out. I'm sick of sleeping on a fold up bed in the back of a dirty van on race weekends but it's a good compromise as I have an open trailer and all the spares/wheels etc just get chucked in the van. If I chopped the van in for a motorhome then I'd have to have a large covered car trailer for the race car and all the tools and spares to go in. I wouldn't want to squeeze a load of filthy (possibly wet wheels/tyres) or tool boxes, gearboxes etc in the motorhome.

Is the 300 Nm 2.8 diesel, especially when it's in the Arapaho, gutsy enough? I drove an Apache 700SE recently and it didn't feel particularly motivated to lug itself nevermind another ton of itself PLUS another ~2 tons of car and trailer behind it??

Note - Before anyone asks, I have C1E rating.

Thank you

 

[Jaws]

Engines are as strong as a strong thing on steroids.. Sadly the 5 speed ( specifically the 5th gear ) is a major week point

 

[Augusta08]

I used to have a 2001 McLouis 2.8jtd which I bought for exactly the same reason. It was fine and I did about 55k miles towing a Brian James trailer + race car. Never had a moment's problem. Never used 5th gear. The MoHo was faultless and I swapped it out for the 3.0ltr Augusta in 2008. Which can be seen at most circuits sometime in the year. I've got Porsche 944s2 on the back. Don't use 6th gear either. ?
Hth
Gerry

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Check the weight ( maximum advised by Autotrail)
Your aspirations may be too high

Strangely, you may be better with a Panel Van conversion, Euro style.

 

[Jeffers_S13]

Thanks all for the speedy replies.

Cheshirecat57 - Yes, appreciate the GTW will probably be exceeded. Not that it's an excuse but I wouldn't be the only one in the paddock that commits this offence. Perhaps I could squeeze the weight of the car/trailer combo, the car does only weigh 420kg, leaving me with ~1300kg for the trailer and tools...

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[tonka]

Depending on model of Autotrail, many have chassis extensions. So the tow weight is limited due to the adaption. So it's not just a legal thing of being overladen but also to protect you ripping the ar** off the back..

Ref pulling.. My Apache 700. 2.8JTD has a re-map. Went like a train uphill after that..

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Thanks all for the speedy replies.

Cheshirecat57 - Yes, appreciate the GTW will probably be exceeded. Not that it's an excuse but I wouldn't be the only one in the paddock that commits this offence. Perhaps I could squeeze the weight of the car/trailer combo, the car does only weigh 420kg, leaving me with ~1300kg for the trailer and tools...

See post #6, that is what I was referring to not the technical train weight

But as the car is so light.....you may be ok, although enclosed trailers can be a bit heavy

Thought was with a Euro style PVC you get
1 A 2 tonne trailer capacity
2 A “garage” under the bed which you could protect the sides

Just a suggestion

 

[PeteH]

The only time I used it like that was to bring the Triumph (now undergoing Refurb) from near Chesterfield. over the Derbyshire dales. Had no issues with it. that was the 2.3 6speed version. I suspect the Total on the Trailer (Tons of "Spare" parts too) must have been near the Trailer capacity (3.5T)