|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 20, 2007 20:19:47 GMT
My wife and I are looking at buying a 1997 Citroen HiLo 1.  Romahome. We want to tow our Austin Seven behind it and wonder if any of you out there have any experience of towing with your own Romahomes? Is anyone able to tell me the maximum towing weight for an unbraked and braked trailer, also the BHP of the '97 1.8 Diesel? Sorry to ask lots of you all but has anyone ever fitted a tow bar themselves to a Romahome? I am quite competent at most mechanical things but don't want to get into cutting a drilling my new purchase if this is necessary? Any advice, help, experience would be very welcome. Ruairidh |
|
|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 20, 2007 20:22:38 GMT
This is the car and trailer I would "like" To tow behind the Citroen...  Ruairidh |
|
|
|
Post by lunnie on Nov 20, 2007 20:33:20 GMT
Hi I think that Ant will advise you not to tow with a C15. I know that it has been done, but I stayed with the expert ie Ant.
Joan
|
|
|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 20, 2007 20:44:47 GMT
Thanks Joan,
This is what I had originally thought, which is disappointing because we both like the Van, but we really need it to tow our A7 if we are get our full use out of it. Will wait for Ant to respond also.
Thanks
Ruairidh
|
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Nov 21, 2007 7:22:16 GMT
Hi Ruairidh
As Joan says I think there are problems associated with fitting tow bars and towing with Romahomes but I am sure Ant will be able to put you right.
Welcome to the forum what a fantastic looking car.
Graham
|
|
|
|
Post by ant on Nov 21, 2007 8:15:34 GMT
Hi Ruairidh.
The whole towing thing with any Romahome has two problems as far as I'm concerned, firstly for you as the fitting owner, a C15 1769 cc diesel makes about 60bhp and should tow about 900kg so it will plod about with a trailer behind, but more importantly the max nose wt of the trailer ( loaded) is 45 Kg any more than that you risk pulling the tow bar out from the floor of the Romahome when braking hard. Also the C15 construction does not share the rust proofing standards of the Berlingo so any holes drilled in the chassis are a potential problem for the future. The practicalities of getting places with a reasonably heavy trailer aren't good, any damp field may prove to be interesting for traction.
The second piont and to me the more worrying bit of tow bar fitting is whoever buys it next may not realise the limitation and happily put a caravan behind it and set off down the motorway. Sounds unlikely but has actually happened and the unit arrived on my doorstep with a funny noise coming from the back somewhere. - That funny noise was part of the towbar hitting the road!
So my advise is if you can live without one do so, if you can't PWS nudge bars make one to fit but remove it when you sell it on.
Ant
|
|
|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 21, 2007 13:45:10 GMT
Ant,
this is very useful information and I am very grateful to you and the others for taking the time to reply.
I am not keen to stretch the Romahome to it's limits in order to tow. Do any of you think the situation would improve with the newer Berlingo based Romahomes?
The weight of the car and (unbraked) trailer is around 580-600kg.
Many thanks
Ruairidh
|
|
|
|
Post by yamaha on Nov 21, 2007 16:35:03 GMT
Before the Bongo, we had a 2004 Berlingo - based Duo Hylo - and like you, looked into the possibilities of having a towbar fitted, so we could trail a bike trailer.
Two things made it an impractability - firstly, the chassis underneath was so far forward from the rear of the van, it would need a really long - and expensive - towbar to fit it.
Secondly, the ground clearance at the back of the van wasn't marvelous - I even worried about it grounding going on and off a ferry, so the thought of a hefty towbar sticking out the back and giving me even less ground clearance effectively hit the idea on the head.
I'm sure it HAS been done - but I don't think it's a worthwhile excercise - plus the fear of tripping over it when exiting the rear door!!
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by Derek on Nov 21, 2007 17:32:56 GMT
Do any of you think the situation would improve with the newer Berlingo based Romahomes? The weight of the car and (unbraked) trailer is around 580-600kg. Hi Ruairidh The max unbraked trailer weight for a Berlingo platform cab is 500Kg so thats out. I like your Austin Seven, looks very neat. Derek |
|
|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 21, 2007 18:04:58 GMT
All,
your comments and advice are invaluable and have prevented us from wasting a load of money on something which can't do what we want it to, many thanks.
Perhaps we will still get a Romahome and I'll just drive the Austin behind!
Thanks for all your replies,
Cheers
Ruairidh
|
|
|
|
Post by ruairidh on Nov 21, 2007 18:10:48 GMT
 As you all like small motorhomes you may well be interested in our touring combination, a 1935 Austin Seven and a 1958 Nutshell miniature caravan. The caravan weighs in at 100cwt with a double bed...the Romahome would have been one big step up for us! Cheers Ruairidh |
|
|
|
Post by jayjay on Nov 30, 2007 21:07:26 GMT
Fantastic photo! I'm amazed by both the caravan and the car! ;D ;D ;D
|
|
Romahome.
