You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Is this still a thing?
Leaving aside the fact that someone can have used the clutch as a footrest in any car is there any truth to my ingrained dislike for buying any car that's got evidence of previous caravan hauling?
I've spied a couple of Galaxy's up for sale with anti sway plates which is suggestive of caravan pulling. I need a tow bar (dinghy towing and bike racks) so saving £300-400 of day 1 cost on a car without them is attractive but the idea of a looming £1500 clutch and dmf bill is making me edgey.
The best VFM Galaxy I can find right now is a well spec'd 2.2TDCI with the dreaded caravan plate.
I'm tempted to take a punt if the service history is up to scratch and no tell tale DMF rattle (I can afford the bill if it goes a year down the line) but before I do I know there's a few "shed pullers" and advocates of older higher mileage cars on here who might have some first hand experience.
Well, I probably only do about a thousand caravan miles a year, so I am not sure it makes all that much difference. You could also theorise that the kind of people who tow caravans aren't likely to drive like nutters solo, so the car might actually be better than one owned by an 'enthusiastic' or clumsy driver.
I had to change the driveshafts on mine, but really only because I messed up the CV joint boot change.
My folks have had two D5 Volvos, a 2004 V70 and a 2011 V60. They both had automatic gearboxes that were replaced around 110k miles as a result of towing. So, yes, it still happens. The gearboxes are different between those two models.
If I was buying any car at 100k I'd be expecting to put clutch innit at some point anyway.
My van spent the first 60k and 7 years of its life pulling a caravan all over the shop, 3 years later with me never a problem touch wood. The car however needs a new clutch at less than three years old.
If there’s not a known issue with the clutch on that model, take it for a good test and test for clutch slip, if ok then there’s no reason to suggest you’ll have any issue just because it’s pulled. I know a bill like that could write a car of that age off, but you could buy a 5 year old low mileage car that’s been grannied for a lot more money and just as likely have to put a new clutch in it.
I’d be more concerned about decent service history and the engine being ok on a puller, but a big 2.2 tdci is going to minimise worries.
My folks have had two D5 Volvos, a 2004 V70 and a 2011 V60. They both had automatic gearboxes that were replaced around 110k miles as a result of towing. So, yes, it still happens. The gearboxes are different between those two models.
Who fitted their towbar . Volvo or man on the street.
Many folk baulk at the cost of factory fit towbars for autoboxes not realising they come with autobox oil coolers which are pretty essential for prolonged towing such as caravans.
Man on the street will fit you a towbar for 1/4 the cost. He's only done 1/4 of the job mind
That's exactly why it failed Trailrat- it was only after the second box failed that the Volvo dealer told them they should have specified the cooler. You can have the cooler specified even if you don't get the factory towbar. But your average person on the street doesn't know that you need one- why would you assume a manufacturer hasn't designed the car for towing without mods if you no nothing about cars?
Personally wouldn't put me off as there's so many other variables/aspects that could accelerate wear on a vehicle other than towing. Just the joys of buying 2nd hand and not having any idea about pervious use - although in case of towing use, the towbar being present is an obvious giveaway.
On subject of auto boxes and towing, my folk's Ford Granada autobox packed in while towing in France way back in the day. Overheated. New gearbox required. My dad had questioned Ford before buying the car about any need for extra gearbox cooler but was told no, so he was understandably apoplectic when it happened...
Volvo set those autoboxes up to fail - no oil change scheduled (sealed for death) - everybody else who used the same boxes had oil changes at between 60-80k (Saab,Lexus + others) I know Saab never specified extra cooling , but quite a few others have done and do . The much older auto boxes had no lockup gears
so fluid could easily overheat in the torque converter.