towing help

Anything Suzuki related, but not technical, it goes here!
Post Reply
ants1992
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 2:27 pm

towing help

Post by ants1992 » Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:56 pm

hey all got a 1.6 lwb vitara would you think it could tow a trailer with a small car i.e corsa.


thanks ant

User avatar
timwilks13
SCUK Website Padawan
SCUK Website Padawan
Posts: 1248
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 5:55 am
Location: Scarborough, soon to be Poland

Re: towing help

Post by timwilks13 » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:43 pm

It would as in it could physically tow it, not legally unfortunately. VItara LWB Kerb Weight is 1150KG i believe, for this thread purpose a 2001 corsa kerb weight is 980kg, so unless you can find a car trailer that weighs 170kg you couldn't trailer it im afraid.
1986 SJ410 - Furry dice, new window winder.

10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who dont.

if you can read this you're too close to the monitor, sit back and save your eyes!!
My build, formally Trotters build.

User avatar
RickUK
Can I have a tow
Can I have a tow
Posts: 459
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:31 pm
Location: Not sure me Tom Tom is bust,but it could be North of Watford Gap.Could be Bedfordshire though.
Contact:

Re: towing help

Post by RickUK » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:48 pm

It would pull the trailer with the car on it,but its not legal and you would end up with the 'tail wagging the dog' scenario,rather than the Vitara controlling it.
Deceased.
SJ413 tinwormed to the great car grave yard in the sky.
Vitara LWB V6 engine deceased and also in the great grave yard in the sky.
www.hideones.info www.hideones.info
Current wheels.
BMW X5 Le Mans 3.0turbo diesel.
Looking for a newish Suzuki Jimny.

ants1992
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 2:27 pm

Re: towing help

Post by ants1992 » Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:49 pm

Thanks i did not think it would will look for some think bigger so will have to sell it soon lol

Anton
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
Posts: 3859
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:12 pm
Location: London

Re: towing help

Post by Anton » Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:59 am

I reckon if you used lightweight material, you could build a trailer capable of carrying a corsa that weighs 170kg or less.

Unfortunately it'd have to be titanium, carbon fibre, or magnesium probably - good luck doing that on a sensible budget!

Aluminium might be do-able...?

You might be able to do it with GRP if you know just how to reinforce it right ("double folded" GRP panels can bear as much as steel in some cases) but I'd personally be pooping myself towing it, worrying about stress fractures.

Maybe a GRP reinforced aluminium trailer could work?

Beyond my skills. Could be cool though.
1985 SJ413VX (SJ50V) with SPOA, rear disc brakes, 31x10.5R15 Kaiman Malatesta tyres, an MOT and a lot left to do!

My: Build thread To-do list Pay and Play map

User avatar
Ju
Can I have a tow
Can I have a tow
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:19 pm
Location: Swindon, Wilts

Re: towing help

Post by Ju » Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:27 pm

Look at the towing weights of the vehicle, each vehicle can tow a certain weight.
Image

Anton
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
Posts: 3859
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:12 pm
Location: London

Re: towing help

Post by Anton » Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:57 pm

Ju - that's only relevant if the vehicle's towing weight is less than it's kerb weight.

I believe Suzuki set the SJ and Vitara towing weight as something crazy like 1400kg. You try pulling 1400kg in a 900kg SJ, and you're asking for a tankslapper and/or 6 points on your licence.

Also bear in mind that you can be done for towing a lot less than the vehicle's weight if the trailer's MTPLM (Maximum Total Permissable Laiden Mass) is greater than the towing vehicle's kerb weight, or if the vehicle's max laiden weight figure plus the trailer's adds up to more than 3.5 tons.

In other words, you basically can't tow anything with a 3.5 ton max weight vehicle. Doesn't matter that it's safe. And if you tow a 250kg trailer that has a max laiden weight of 1 ton with a 3 ton max weight vehicle, you're breaking the law.

The vehicle might only actually have a kerb weight of 2 tons, the trailer weighs 250kg - 2.25 tons. Doesn't matter. Plated weights make it illegal.
1985 SJ413VX (SJ50V) with SPOA, rear disc brakes, 31x10.5R15 Kaiman Malatesta tyres, an MOT and a lot left to do!

My: Build thread To-do list Pay and Play map

User avatar
Ju
Can I have a tow
Can I have a tow
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:19 pm
Location: Swindon, Wilts

Re: towing help

Post by Ju » Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:30 am

Defender 110 kerb weight is under 2000KG and the maximum towed weight is 3500KG on a braked trailer.
On my B+E license using a Defender I can legally tow with a total weight of just under 5500KGs.

With a B+E I just have to make sure that I am within the vehicle and trailer limits.
Image

Anton
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
Posts: 3859
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:12 pm
Location: London

Re: towing help

Post by Anton » Fri Feb 27, 2015 10:43 am

I was just pointing out how complicated our trailer laws are. Apparently I was teaching Grandma to suck eggs!

:lol:
1985 SJ413VX (SJ50V) with SPOA, rear disc brakes, 31x10.5R15 Kaiman Malatesta tyres, an MOT and a lot left to do!

My: Build thread To-do list Pay and Play map

User avatar
Ju
Can I have a tow
Can I have a tow
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:19 pm
Location: Swindon, Wilts

Re: towing help

Post by Ju » Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:15 pm

Yeah they are definitely complicated.
Image

Post Reply