Caravan Club

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:22 pm

Fri night/Sat morning

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:24 pm

This is reality, Todd. Sad but true.

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:43 am

Assuming the car's beyond economical repair (and let's face it, a blown headlamp bulb would mean that for mine), I don't see anything wrong with banger racing.

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:40 am

Well, the BX was always regarded as good towing vehicle!

Though I wouldn't have picked it as a good banger.

As for that weird vehicle in the other picture - looks like some kind of French Sinclair C5. Just what we need for these recessionary ( no such word?) times.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:29 am

toddao wrote:Well, the BX was always regarded as good towing vehicle!

TBH I regard it as a fairly rubbish towing vehicle. There's just not enough weight on the back axle to keep the trailer in line, and models with 165 tyres on just don't offer the levels of grip needed when towing.

Odd really, as the 405 is fairly closely related to the BX, but is a massively better towcar.

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:06 pm

I always found the CX to be a great tow car, but yeah, I'm not a big fan of hauling much behind a BX, unless I'm drawbarring a car with the TD, that works quite well!

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:11 pm

DavidRutherford wrote:
toddao wrote:Well, the BX was always regarded as good towing vehicle!
TBH I regard it as a fairly rubbish towing vehicle. There's just not enough weight on the back axle to keep the trailer in line, and models with 165 tyres on just don't offer the levels of grip needed when towing.

Curious, as the BX must have the highest percentage of towbars fitted of any car type. Didn't it also win awards as the 'towcar of the year' for some years?

Maybe it comes into it's own when towing a caravan as you can play about with the loading and hence noseweights, something that isn't available to you on your trailers? A higher noseweight will increase the load on the back axle won't it?

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:44 pm

Way2go wrote:Didn't it also win awards as the 'towcar of the year' for some years

Have you seen some of the cars that have won towcar of the year? Some of them are so unbelievably not-tow cars that it makes a mockery of the whole award.

I've tried all manner of things when towing with a BX to make it better, including in one case having a spare XUD engine in the boot. Still had an un-nerving desire to snake and squirm all over the road.

CitroXim · Post by **CitroXim** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:56 am

DavidRutherford wrote: Odd really, as the 405 is fairly closely related to the BX, but is a massively better towcar.

Sorry to disagree here David but the 405 is, in my view, an unmittigated disaster as a towcar

The rear end is far too soft and flabby and if it could easily be stiffened it would be OK but as-is, forget it. Try putting 50Kg noseweight on and see where the rear of the car ends up

I used to have to completely remove the jockey wheel to give sufficient ground clearance...

I used to tow caravans with a 405 regularly and then swapped it for a Xantia. a whole new day dawned, the Xantia is one very, very good towcar... It's heavy enough and the suspension works so well you hardly know the 'van is on the back.

I can't comment on the BX towing abilities but back in it's day the Caravn press used to rave about them and very nearly gave away a set of black armbands with "Practical Caravan" when the BX was discontinued.

Post by **docchevron** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:20 pm

This is all quite interesting stuff.
I've towed with a BX, but found the arse end way to wandery for comfort.
And thats with a boot full of shit, and anyone thats every seen in my boot will know what I mean.

I've towed a car trailor on a 19NA 405 estate and found it really sure footed.
The best thing I've ever towed with was a 22 CX TRS, didn't even notice the trailor at all. Ok, I wasn't Schumacering it,but it felt very stable.

I've also towed with a 2.8 Capri, which was possibly the most frightening thing I've ever done, lovely in a straight line, but it just didn't go round corners, at all.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:55 pm

CitroXim wrote:the 405 is, in my view, an unmittigated disaster as a towcar.

There must have been something very wrong with yours then... I've towed with a variety of 405's and every one has been superb.

By towing, I don't mean a small trailer either. In one case I was using a 405D to tow a flatbed car transporter with another 405D on it.

Bear in mind that the rear tyre pressure recommended for the 405 while towing is over 40psi. Most people wouldn't put that much in, but it is essential.

As far as the best tow vehicle I've ever used... My panel van. Bit of a bitch to manoeuvre though.