Tow car ideas?

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Altrezia
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Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:33 pm

Hey guys,

I need something to tow a trailer and my E30 racer - any ideas? Either something cheap and cheerful (Disco?) or £7-10k and fun..
bigbird76
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:02 am

330d or 530d?

Can you tow a trailer on your licence?

Leigh
manse73
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:08 am

I have a lovely van crew cab tow bar and ready to pull a trailer. Will take you and 5 others in comfort and carry tools and spares. Come and have a look make me an offer and who knows
bruv chariots rule
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Brian28
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:44 am

Cheap and cheerful - Tdi Sharan (or Galaxy). Take the back seat row out (they just unclip) and you have loads of space for tools/spares, and still room to take mates/family. Sensible mpg and drives more like a car than a truck (Disco).
For sale - E30 320i racer project - sold.
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andyp
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:26 am

ive got a nice transit van here to do the job perfect
steve_k
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:29 am

Brian28 wrote:Cheap and cheerful - Tdi Sharan (or Galaxy). Take the back seat row out (they just unclip) and you have loads of space for tools/spares, and still room to take mates/family. Sensible mpg and drives more like a car than a truck (Disco).
& you can sleep in the back as they'll take a double air bed winkeye
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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GB69
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:41 am

Altrezia wrote:Hey guys,

I need something to tow a trailer and my E30 racer - any ideas? Either something cheap and cheerful (Disco?) or £7-10k and fun..
Towing a trailer and race car, plus tools and tyres is gonna be around 2 tonne. Only a 5 series touring can tow 2 tonne legally, all other cars will be illegal. You need a 4x4 as you say, or a large Van. I tow mine with a Isuzu Trooper 3.1TD, can tow 3.6 tonne. I used to tow with a LWB Transit mk5 2.5, was really slow going up hill.
Last edited by GB69 on Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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S38B38
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:59 am

I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing
Sveinbjörn Hrafnsson

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ALPINA B10 BITURBO 346@507

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Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:10 pm

S38B38 wrote:I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing
Now thats wipes the floor with anything else. :cool:

Any pics?
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S38B38
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:09 pm

Blitz wrote:
S38B38 wrote:I have a F350 King Ranch........ really recommend that hawler,, there is no difference how much you are towing
Now thats wipes the floor with anything else. :cool:

Any pics?
I havent been towing any car ,, but these pick-up trucks were made for hard work..

Cummins/Dodge-Ram 3500 and Chevy Duramax 3500
are also similair vehicles,, and i totally love these mighty cars

No.. i dont have picture of this truck i have ,,"2006"



but here is one in the same colorcombo,,

Image
Sveinbjörn Hrafnsson

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ALPINA B10 BITURBO 346@507

550 V12 JML Motorsport

http://alpina.123.is/pictures/
scott180gtb
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:57 pm

My E39 530D will be for sale at the end of Feb. :D

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No problem towing :cool:
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Jesus325iTouring
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:53 pm

How about one of these....

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I don't expect you'd get a lot of change from half a mill though :D
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S38B38
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:03 pm

Jesus325iTouring wrote:How about one of these....

Image

I don't expect you'd get a lot of change from half a mill though :D
Sorry,, i must do an OT,,some years ago an Italian RW came to Iceland,, a luxury type,, and on a camping place the back of this vehicle opened and a small toyota Aygo,, came out,,
some thought it was Ace Ventura style
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zaust
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:31 pm

My dad and I use an e39 540 touring auto. We do a lot of type 2 camper vans and most need all four off the ground. Armed with tools and the like makes for an effortless drive home every time.
M30 Tech 1 Touring on gas.
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Brianmoooore
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Another vote for an E39 towing barge. I've towed assorted trailers at assorted weights a few 1000s of miles with my 528 touring over the last couple of years and find it perfect for the job.
I actually return a better MPG when towing than in normal day to day driving.
DanThe
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:30 pm

Only because the trailer was holding you back from flooring it Brian :)

4.4 V8 works well, with the cruise on its easy to forget your towing!

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harry_p
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:59 pm

What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons :-x
cheers,

harry
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:46 am

I'm in the same situation Harry, missed it by 18 months, very annoying as the trailer test isn't exactly cheap to do!
steve_k
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:53 am

Might sound like a daft idea but why not just get a transit flat bed/low loader/transporter??
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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GB69
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:16 am

harry_p wrote:What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons :-x
If you passed too late, then you need a trailer license to tow anything above 750kgs.
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Brianmoooore
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:26 am

harry_p wrote:What sort of total weight is an e39 + trailer + e30 likely to come in at?

Annoyed I passed too late to be able to drive anything over 3.5 tons :-x
My E39 weighs in at about 1800 Kg on the road, with tool kits, etc. on board.
An E30 in race trim is going to be in the 1000 - 1100 Kg range, so you've at least 600 Kg for a trailer before reaching 3500 Kg.
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Brianmoooore
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:29 am

steve_k wrote:Might sound like a daft idea but why not just get a transit flat bed/low loader/transporter??
Because an E39 serves a dual purpose, doubling up as a quality daily driver, while the transit flat bed makes the area look like a council estate, needing tax and insurance while it spends 99% of its life parked up.
Cloggy Saint
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:19 am

He's from Mansfield, a Transit flatbed can only raise the tone of the area.
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steve_k
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:56 am

Cloggy Saint wrote:He's from Mansfield, a Transit flatbed can only raise the tone of the area.
You must know the area well :roll:
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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Neilios
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:05 pm

I know you guy's use cars to tow with but speaking from experience you need a setup which allows safe towing, you don't want the trailer wagging the car!!

I use either the van shown below or my Discovery, the trailer I use is heavy at 800kgs and then the weight of the car.

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Jesus325iTouring
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:18 pm

The Ford Maverick I used to move this back in the summer was well up to the task, I reckon it would pull an E30 no bother at all, and I should imagine you could pick one up pretty cheap too...

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Brianmoooore
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Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:43 pm

E39 towing limit is 2000 Kg, with max. 90 Kg tow bar load. It's 100 % stable at that weight at speeds well in excess of what's allowed in this country and in Europe.
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Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:35 am

If 2000kg is a bit tight on the weight budget bear in mind the old style Jeep Cherokee. It is plated for 3250kg if you get the 4.0 petrol. I'd recommend a 97-99 model year and check underneath for rust which is easily done without jacking it up. They're not as handy a daily as a 5 series (until winter) because they're pretty slow and noisy but they do get where they are going, eventually. Also the 4.0/AW4 engine/trans combo is right up there for longevity and rightly regarded as a classic by people who like this sort of thing :)

You can pick up a nice unconverted Cherokee for £1-1.5k and expect to pay a little more for one with LPG fitted. With your budget I'd get the nicest one I could find on petrol and get it converted. Firstly, the petrol ones tend to have less miles on them due to the cost of fuel. Secondly, second hand LPG conversions are a bit specialist and the technology has moved on quite a bit in the last ten years. Unless you're up for a DIY you'd probably be better off getting a conversion from a good local company who can support you. Not a "done in a day" outfit.

Tinley Tech still sell the combo petrol/gas tank arrangement for these old sheds which allows you to keep your boot space. Have a look, I hated the thought of a 4x4 until my wife bought one and made me drive it. Now I'm hooked :)
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steve_k
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Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:07 am

Jesus325iTouring wrote:The Ford Maverick I used to move this back in the summer was well up to the task, I reckon it would pull an E30 no bother at all, and I should imagine you could pick one up pretty cheap too...

Image
Now that's council :eek:
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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