Now a proven long-haul towing Carawagon :)
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:10 am
I've just completed two long-haul towing trips with my new Carawagon, and I'm pleased to say that it coped really well, with nothing blowing up or falling off.
The first trip was a couple of weeks ago; home to Ripon (S2C International) with our heavyweight car transporter trailer with just a S2 gearbox & 2.25D engine loaded.
At the International we loaded a new galvanised chassis for another member and, with Patrick as co-driver, took that up to Carlisle where we dropped off the chassis, engine and gearbox.
There we loaded two S3 gearboxes and drove down to Penrith to pick up a 1958 S2 LWB as a base vehicle for my newest new Carawagon, then home.
Total trip 280 miles.
We did notice that we were struggling a little with temperature rising on some of the long hills up the Pennines on the A66, but apart from that it went fine at around 50-55mph.
The next trip is one I've just completed on my own; home to Truro with an almost empty trailer, but with a big roof box, then loaded a full Carawagon body and drove back via Eastnor (for the Land Rover show).
This time I removed the ammo box from in front of the grill and the temperature was a lot more stable and I had more power, so it was obviously blocking enough of the rad and intercooler to make a difference.
Totol for that trip was 760 miles, and this time I worked out the consumption.
33mpg with empty trailer and 29mpg loaded
200TDi, 3.54 diffs and overdrive is the way to go guys
I think I can now say that I feel confident to set off for long trips without anything falling off or blowing up (touch wood!) which is a relief as if you remember, on my very first trip out after the restoration, I blew an oil cooler hose and ended up dumping 6.5l of new oil on the A1
Cheers,
Robin.
The first trip was a couple of weeks ago; home to Ripon (S2C International) with our heavyweight car transporter trailer with just a S2 gearbox & 2.25D engine loaded.
At the International we loaded a new galvanised chassis for another member and, with Patrick as co-driver, took that up to Carlisle where we dropped off the chassis, engine and gearbox.
There we loaded two S3 gearboxes and drove down to Penrith to pick up a 1958 S2 LWB as a base vehicle for my newest new Carawagon, then home.
Total trip 280 miles.
We did notice that we were struggling a little with temperature rising on some of the long hills up the Pennines on the A66, but apart from that it went fine at around 50-55mph.
The next trip is one I've just completed on my own; home to Truro with an almost empty trailer, but with a big roof box, then loaded a full Carawagon body and drove back via Eastnor (for the Land Rover show).
This time I removed the ammo box from in front of the grill and the temperature was a lot more stable and I had more power, so it was obviously blocking enough of the rad and intercooler to make a difference.
Totol for that trip was 760 miles, and this time I worked out the consumption.
33mpg with empty trailer and 29mpg loaded
200TDi, 3.54 diffs and overdrive is the way to go guys
I think I can now say that I feel confident to set off for long trips without anything falling off or blowing up (touch wood!) which is a relief as if you remember, on my very first trip out after the restoration, I blew an oil cooler hose and ended up dumping 6.5l of new oil on the A1
Cheers,
Robin.