Tows like dream with 14cwt van. Mileage in low 20's though.

Thanks all ... the downside seems to be the fuel consumption.

Something to mull over.

The only reliable way to check fuel consumption is the old fashioned way. fill the tank and run it until the fuel light comes on and refill.
My last tankful gave 30.5 mpg over 450 miles of mixed motorway and back lanes commuting to the office, a journey of 20miles of motorway and 15 back lanes times two each day holding 70 on cruise control on the motorway and 50/60 on the lanes dependant upon our local CG,s tractor movements.

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winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

OK mines manual, but economy wise, we get an average of about 33mpg, can drop to about 29mpg if we have long spells of town driving.

But I have found that running shell V-power Diesel just make it a little better, over a 1000 mile test, about 2.5mpg can be acheived. So although the little extra mileage covers extra cost, some would say if I am breaking even whats the point, but I feel happier having the decent stuff running through the system and it does appear to drive a little nicer on the decent stuff.

I tow a 1500kg Coachman caravan, tows very well indeed, if there are no bikes on the top, it can see up to 25/26mpg if taking it easy, but in France this year with 3 bikes upright on the top, it stuggled to get past 20mpg!!!

It tows well though, the little extra grunt I have also helps. I had a Vauxhall Signum 3.0 V6 CDTi before and that was an awesome towcar, I would say probably one of the best tow car's you can get before you get into 4x4's. No overhang and plenty of low end grunt. 30mpg is also very acheivable! Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

If I drive lke a granny...I can now squeeze 40mpg out of my manual......if I get bored & start driving properly, I get 37mpg (Not towing). '57 FL2 GS
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Last edited by mburton2 on 21st Nov 2008 10:15 am. Edited 1 time in total

I have just had my 2 tonne Ifor Williams trailer on the back with a load of plasterboard in, and can say that it tows a hell of a lot better than my Shogun did, and that was rated to tow 2.8 tonnes.

FL2 is more stable, better grip, and a lot less pitch and roll. Seemed to have plenty of grunt to get off the mark, in fact I hardly knew it was on the back. Dash mpg monitor dropped suddenly though will have to wait and see when I fill up and work it out properly.

I get about 22mpg towing my 1500kg caravan, copes really well, but if the caravan is fully laidened, i think the best start is down hill from out side my house, it will go up the hill but i don't think its the best for the clutch on my manual td4.

on the 5-10 minute commute to work i get 18 mpg and often is below 20-22mpg due to my short trips.

coming back from Guisley i got 30.2mpg and on a trip along the motorway i got 37.1mpg
@ 65mph , each trip i reset the computer Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

npinks wrote:

but if the caravan is fully laidened,

What full of baked beans and lager ? surely a van weighs as much as a van, no more/no less? Or do the highways agency need to start weighing you all to make sure your not overloaded with booze n beanz? At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

they vans have a maximum legal weight, i always quote it as 1500kg for my caravan, but that doesn't mean i am towing that amount.

If I go away somewhere close i will, but if i head to cornwall or scotland on a longer journey i will not take any food or beer and buy it whilst down there there fore saving weight and thus saving MPG

And they do actually pull quite a few caravans over for spot checks, check everything from weight, tires total weight including the car etc  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I wonder if gypsy’s have trouble with over weighted caravans when they move camping grounds
Not that I am suggesting anything of course  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
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John Taylor wrote:

Tows like dream with 14cwt van. Mileage in low 20's though.

npinks wrote:

And they do actually pull quite a few caravans over for spot checks, check everything from weight, tires total weight including the car etc

waaxh03 wrote:

Keep on vanning ignore CG

Nothing to ignore, I just asked a general question about how much vans weigh At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Mav71 wrote:

But at least I don't have to worry about my max weight anymore with the FL2.

don't forget the FL2 can tow 2000kg, that doesn't mean the caravan can be loaded upto that as the caravan has a max load/weight too  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis