Towing A Caravan, Experiences?

[sjrainsford]

Hi all!

Me and the wife both regularly use a tent for camping, but have been looking at other options like folding campers and caravans.

We both seem to have settled on a caravan. So generally we were interested in what other experiences others on here may have towing a caravan with their IS200. I know it's not going to be the best towing car, ours is an auto too. But I'm mainly concerned with how they tow. It would be especially good to hear of anyone with an auto that has towed.

I believe the towing weight is about 1200kg but we're after a 2 to 4 birth caravan smaller caravan so are aiming at about 1000kg max if possible.

Thanks for any replies in advance!

[matt-c]

Just hitch it up, and follow the signs to the nearest mine field. Make sure the mrs is filming it when you push the caravan into the field with the live mines though

[chriswelsh24]

Hi,

I bought a caravan in January, had a towbar fitted to my is200 Auto at the cost of £300, hooked up the caravan weighing 1000kg and it was a total disaster the car couldnt cope 4000 rpm at 60mph the engine was screaming mpg gauge was at 0 car was being pulled all over the place by the caravan unbeleivable!!!!

I loved my Lexus and I now drive a vectra diesel which is absolute rubbish compared to lexus :-(

[Lexmanic]

Get a 2nd hand Disco. A caravan will wreck your Lexus sub-frame AND the suspension

[petayV8]

I know its costly to add additional cars to your lineup but its prob gonna be your best bet. cant you have a car and SORN it when not driving and they will refund tax? If you want something for towing with comfort to match your IS, get a Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel or V8, even the 4.0 would do which can be bought for under 1k

[steve2006]

That's a heavy caravan at 1000Kg must be a twin axle at that and over 50% of the cars kerbweight so I would think a struggle.

The LS400 comes in at 2000Kg so even that would be on the towing limits.

[Raymond.]

I was looking in the owners manual a while back and it said towing with the old IS is a big no. Then again, there's a tow bar as an option in the optional extra brochure

I have towed various things with an auto and never ran into trouble. They were both bigger cars though.

[Lexmanic]

I've always used V8 Discos (3 in total) to tow caravans some single some double axle

[Lexmanic]

Having said all that I do have a XG 3.0 V6 Tiptronic Hyundia Saloon with removable tow bar which I'm going to offer for sale soon

[sjrainsford]

The Sport can't tow folks due to having the LSD, but the SE can.

1000kg is not heavy for a van. We've now owned a lightweight 4 berth since last year coming in at 900kg unloaded and 1100kg MLTPM.

I should add that my SE auto tows really well too in case anyone else is interested. You can feel the van having a tug on the back of the car over bumps etc (as expected), but its generally quite stable with the caravan loaded correctly. We aren't even currently using a stabiliser. Not sure what the other person is on about! Its all about the 85% rule.

Oh and it won't damage the subframe as the tow bar is bolted through the monocoque and neither will it damage the suspension as the caravan nose weight should never go over 75kg anyway!

[David lewis]

On 3/13/2013 at 8:49 AM, sjrainsford said:

The Sport can't tow folks due to having the LSD, but the SE can.

1000kg is not heavy for a van. We've now owned a lightweight 4 berth since last year coming in at 900kg unloaded and 1100kg MLTPM.

I should add that my SE auto tows really well too in case anyone else is interested. You can feel the van having a tug on the back of the car over bumps etc (as expected), but its generally quite stable with the caravan loaded correctly. We aren't even currently using a stabiliser. Not sure what the other person is on about! Its all about the 85% rule.

Oh and it won't damage the subframe as the tow bar is bolted through the monocoque and neither will it damage the suspension as the caravan nose weight should never go over 75kg anyway!

Please explain why LSD prevents you from towing as this does not make sense as all my othere cars with lsd can tow? I do not dispute what you say just do not understand why lsd would prevent towing. As they are generally an asset