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8 May 2006, 07:58 (Ref:1603080) | #26 | |
Veteran
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Posts: 9,718
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I'd rather walk than be seen in a hummer !
after a V6 Mondeo and a Co Car Subaru legacy 2.5 tourer, both of which were superb tuggers and load carriers, we now have a T350/125 Tranny, LWB, High Top . . . I've converted to a camper with nearly 100 cubic feet of race storage under the bed at the back, bunk for littlun, heating, cooker, sink etc does well over 20-25 MPG fully loaded and towing and will comfortably cruise at 70 mph or more if your allowed !!! |
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8 May 2006, 09:35 (Ref:1603151) | #27 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 470
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Cool, thanks for the suggestions chaps.
One thing I'm trying to get away from is having a dedicated vehicle for the racing, so I think panel vans and campers are out because I want to be able to use it for work (driving to clients etc.) as well as the more mundane shopping trips etc. I was thinking about the v6 audi estates, anyone have any experience of them? |
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The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland. (Architecture And Morality, Ted And Alice - Half Man Half Biscuit) |
8 May 2006, 12:51 (Ref:1603329) | #28 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Exactly why I bought the Blazer and the fact that it is on Autogas was a massive bonus as I hate diesels with a passion. This weekend I just towed my very heavy Camaro with a heavy tri-axle Brian James trailer, all my gear and 4 adults aboard to Thruxton and back at a nice steady 60mph on the cruise control and I filled with Gas at Watford and filled on my return a round trip of 165 miles and I used exactly £21 of autogas.
I have also fitted the vehicle with Air Lift springs and they are brilliant and i would recommend these on any tow vehicle especially a heavy camper. You just load up then set the hieght with a small compresser and off you go. |
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
8 May 2006, 13:11 (Ref:1603346) | #29 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 470
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I have to say at the moment it's kind of a toss up between a v6 estate (audi/modeo/etc.) and the blazer. I had a nosey around Donington and got to look at a couple close up, they seem more than upto the task.
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The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland. (Architecture And Morality, Ted And Alice - Half Man Half Biscuit) |
8 May 2006, 14:14 (Ref:1603383) | #30 | ||
Race Official
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I had a 130bhp tdci Mondeo estate and although it was brilliant for towing at speed and very economical I found the gearing all wrong for pulling away, especially on anything that wasn't flat.
I also used to have trouble reversing my trailer into my drive which is on a slope. The best tow car I have used so far is a Renault Leguna diesel. |
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8 May 2006, 15:02 (Ref:1603416) | #31 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2003
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Tim,
I'd dare bet that pulling your D-type with the Mondeo is close on breaking the GTW of it. Best I've ever seen was a guy who used to pull his F.First with a Moggy Minor. He always got there, eventually, and one bonus, if it ever broke down, you could fix it with a swiss army knife and a hammer. Rob. |
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There is no substitute for cubic inches. Harry Belamonte - 403ci Vauxhall Belmont!! A 700hp wayward shopping trolley on steroids!! |
8 May 2006, 15:11 (Ref:1603428) | #32 | ||
Race Official
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Rob, it was under the GTW (3600kg), car was 1800 and trailer and Dtype goes about 1500kg.
The thing I notice about towing with a car is that when you overtake, or are overtaken by a high sided truck, the car will remain stable where as my Disco gets affected by the airflow between the vehicles which makes it very unstable. |
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8 May 2006, 16:02 (Ref:1603459) | #33 | |||
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Quote:
Last edited by Al Weyman; 8 May 2006 at 16:04. |
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
8 May 2006, 16:35 (Ref:1603482) | #34 | ||
Race Official
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The Disco is fine for towing and low range is by means of smashing the selector lever forward. It's not bad though for 1950s technology and I do need it for going over my wife's fields.
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8 May 2006, 17:28 (Ref:1603528) | #35 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
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At least it is rated to tow a braked trailer at something like 3800kgs! I do like the new one as it happens, I have had one or two of those in the shop for graphics and they drive superb, a vast improvement. They are seriously heavy though and that Brian James Tri-axle I have is accordingto there blurb one of the only one in its class (what ever that means, I suppose not a plant trailer) rated to actually carry the weight of the new Range Rover. Actualy that is one superb trailer if anyone is looking for a new one they have all the advantages of a wheels under flatbed but non of the instability problems.
Last edited by Al Weyman; 8 May 2006 at 17:32. |
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
8 May 2006, 19:24 (Ref:1603632) | #36 | ||
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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I object to those things on three counts, 1: environment, 2: taste, 3: the US military keep getting blown up in them so they ain't that strong!
Give me a Ricardo (in Shoreham) built Land Rover anyday - or a SHP Border Patrol vehicle any day. The latter may be useless for towing the Vee (need a vee and a trailer to do that) but it looks like a hell of a lot of fun.. |
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Chase the horizon |
9 May 2006, 07:47 (Ref:1603982) | #37 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 470
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Turns out that I'm eligible for the Ford discount scheme n'all. So I could, in theory get meself a new Land Rover, X-Type Estate or Volvo Estate (sorry, sports wagon) as well.
Argh! It's complicated. I think SS_Colins' point about the environment is well founded, living in that London Village I don't really need to drive every day (probably use the car once every two weeks except for racing), so I think he's helped me narrow it down to an estate car. Now it's just a question of which one... |
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The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland. (Architecture And Morality, Ted And Alice - Half Man Half Biscuit) |
9 May 2006, 08:02 (Ref:1603995) | #38 | ||
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
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If you get it on LPG Autogas then you won't pay the congestion charge, your road tax will be cheaper and you will pump out a lot less pollutants. Diesels suck and I think are the worst polluters of the lot.
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
9 May 2006, 15:03 (Ref:1604305) | #39 | ||
The Honourable Mallett
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Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 37,598
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Gawd I see so many of those Hummers in Moscow, and yet I've come to l.......... hate them even more. So ugly!
I'm still using my trusty petrol powered straight six Jeep Cherokee. Great towing capacity and really comfortable. But as ever we accumulate more stuff so I'm either going to have to upgrade to a Disco cos its bigger, the new one has grown on me, or get a Racebox of some kind. Trouble is a racebox is £11k before I ask for the mods so ...................... hmmmm. But a Hummer? No thanks. Last edited by Peter Mallett; 9 May 2006 at 15:06. |
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I've decided to stop reaching out to people. I'm just going to contact them instead. |
9 May 2006, 15:09 (Ref:1604312) | #40 | |||
The Honourable Mallett
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Quote:
Why not go for a Ford Ranger? If you don't need the car through the week, it sounds like the ideal, if as you say, you get the discount. I think a top range diesel 4x4 is around £16k on the road. |
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I've decided to stop reaching out to people. I'm just going to contact them instead. |
9 May 2006, 16:04 (Ref:1604361) | #41 | ||
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A friend of mine has a Ranger and tows a very bg V8 speed boat and he loves it, good motor very similair in design and features to my Blazer actually.
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
9 May 2006, 16:21 (Ref:1604372) | #42 | ||
The Honourable Mallett
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Bloody Hell Al! We agree on something? Right Richy, stuff the Ranger, go for a transit.....
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I've decided to stop reaching out to people. I'm just going to contact them instead. |
9 May 2006, 18:42 (Ref:1604481) | #43 | ||
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
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There you go but only with one provison, he gets it converted to gas and gets the government grant for doing it, he won't regret it, mine cost me less to run than an 850 Mini.
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You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
9 May 2006, 19:06 (Ref:1604497) | #44 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 470
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Heh, they look like The Fall Guy's truck.
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The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland. (Architecture And Morality, Ted And Alice - Half Man Half Biscuit) |
9 May 2006, 23:22 (Ref:1604675) | #45 | ||
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,935
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Go 4x4 or RWD
I had a V70 Cross Country and it was super sweet, without being oversized for driving day to day (like a "real" 4x4) Saab and Pug and FWD Volvo, not so good weight transfer of the trailer will bring the front whees up. Not a prblem on the highway, but if you are jumping from brakes to power in the city... Long wheel base with shorter overhang is my other tip, had an old 2 door Rangie, probably the worst... Or re-engine the Landie, Chev is a common conversion, I am sure Al will support that |
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10 May 2006, 06:05 (Ref:1604791) | #46 | ||
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
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To be honest the Blazer was a tad soft on the rear end when fully loaded so I fitted a set of Air Lift springs, little air bags that fit in where the Jounce rubbers go and are set by a little compressor. These are brilliant and you can set the vehicle perfectly level once all loaded up, I would recommend these for any tow vehicle as it makes towing much more comfortable and stable.
They have another advantage as well when used with motor homes that may be a bit one sided when oaded due to how the fixtures are inside, with these you can adjust each side independantly and get them perfectly level. Here is what I have fitted http://207.97.200.166/index.asp?Page...ROD&ProdID=646 Actually it says front kit there mine was for the rear and no compressor so was about $250 from Summit Racing. Last edited by Al Weyman; 10 May 2006 at 06:14. |
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