The tow car

[MG cup]

Finally got my hands on something to tow the trailer and take my cars to track days.

Not my first choice but it came up cheap from a friend and will do the job perfectly. Its had 2.5k spent on it in the last 6 months including new suspension all round, stainless exhaust, all new coil packs, full service inc spark plugs (b**ch of a job) and tranny flush.

How I received it just over a week ago, not a fan if the 20" alloys.

I got rid of the dubs for something a bit better IMO.

I then done a 2" body lift to accommodate the tyres a little better.

While doing the body lift I whipped out the interior to give everything a wet vac.

I polished it up today including new plates and surrounds, clear indicators, new tinted wind deflectors, new fitted mats.

I then cleaned and conditioned the leathers.

freeview tv

And finally I sorted out tow bar electrics, fitted new bash plate and plug holder and gave everything a paint.

How I left the car tonight, all that's left to do is a top ball joint, lambda sensor for the MOT in August and fit a full new decal set.

​c+c welcome.

 

[dmallett]

I quite like that, loving the lift also!

​

 

[Canary172]

This makes Range Rovers look like hairdresser's cars!

 

[stevescort172]

Much better now the wheels have been changed.

dedication removing the whole interior for a clean.

 

[MG cup]

I quite like that, loving the lift also!

​

Yeah looks alright considering the two tone.

This makes Range Rovers look like hairdresser's cars!

Towers over them, its great on the road.

Much better now the wheels have been changed.

dedication removing the whole interior for a clean.

Changes it from a chelsea tractor to a mean looking 4x4 i think. Dedication or sad, you decide. I usually do it to older cars, especially if they have had dogs in like this one.

 

[stevescort172]

Wouldn't call it sad mate, just taking pride in what you have.

Wheels do make it look meaner deffo a good change

 

[-Danman-]

New wheels were a good decision mate

 

[Djw Dave]

Looks awesome man. Good job on it.

 

[Scrooge]

I like that. I would try to run many many objects over with it.

 

[Toby]

Awesome.

As said, makes a range look girly.

 

[Djw John]

Towing whilst off-roading ftw

 

[Chip-mk1]

Cool car, being a somerset boy I love off roaders.

Will you not need to drop the towball down a little further though to tow with it? Those tyres and lift dont look much different to what I had on my hilux and I had to drop the towball quite a way to meet a normal car trailer.

 

[Daniel]

Cool car, being a somerset boy I love off roaders.

Will you not need to drop the towball down a little further though to tow with it? Those tyres and lift dont look much different to what I had on my hilux and I had to drop the towball quite a way to meet a normal car trailer.

​I thought that. The trailer will be scraping the floor at the back!

 

[MG cup]

Thanks for the comments. My mates have been pushing to take it off roading, maybe after the weekend when its been a long trip towing haha.

re tow bar. I had the trailer hooked up the other night and it was slightly rear axle heavy, I'm hoping when the weight goes on it will even out. I am in the top hole on the bar just now, when I get the car on and it looks funny I will drop it down. Its a 2" body lift so the chassis stays the same height and the radius of the wheel has only been increased by 1" over standard so not massively different in height which you wouldn't think by the stance.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Extra weight on the trailer is going to compress the tyres on the trailer and drop its height down, thus making it further from the car not better, so I think you might be onto a bit of a loser in terms of thinking that will make things better.

Just a case of trying it and measuring up though really.

It will tow pretty horribly if you get it wrong.


Yeah it does look like more than an inch, maybe its just the pictures!
Thing is though even a lot of standard off roaders still need drop brackets.

 

[MG cup]

Yeah see how it goes, the rear of the jeep drops a good bit just with the trailer on so it will sit down more with the car, trailer tyres dont move much as there up at 80psi ( GTW 2600kg trailer)

I will definately take it on a short test tow Friday before I head of on Sat to Knockhill. I last towed it with a defender and that drove like a cruise liner, was real hard work and dropping the tow hitch might have been the answer. Luckily enough this one has multi holes on the tow bar

 

[Chip-mk1]

If you drop the back of the car with a load of nose weight from the trailer, that will make it tow poorly too, front end going light etc.

No drama at all though if its got extra holes, I would just lower it a bit straight away before I ever tried it TBH if you have that option.

 

[Fraser.J.]

Looks cracking with the lift! Really make me want to do the nav now haha.

My ball is a tad high but by the time I put all the gear in the back, hitch the trailer on it levels out and tows perfectly. Happily cruise along at motorway speeds and forget your towing.

 

[MG cup]

Get it done, not sure how easy it is compared to the lift on this which is quite easy as all the pipes, linkages etc are long enough thankfully.

I think the way to do it is load the trailer, put up the jockey wheel and centralise the car untill the trailer sits horizontal then get your tow ball height as close as possible then hook up to tow car?????

 

[Chip-mk1]

Get it done, not sure how easy it is compared to the lift on this which is quite easy as all the pipes, linkages etc are long enough thankfully.

I think the way to do it is load the trailer, put up the jockey wheel and centralise the car untill the trailer sits horizontal then get your tow ball height as close as possible then hook up to tow car?????

Yeah and then you can tweak the car forward or back a little on the trailer if needed for getting just a touch of nose weight.

 

[.GAZ.]

Great turnaround, Morgan.

 

[LiamR172]

Looks proper!

When you go to KH you could give Fraser a shot to save him getting the clio dirty.. again

 

[MG cup]

Yeah and then you can tweak the car forward or back a little on the trailer if needed for getting just a touch of nose weight.

Will do.

Great turnaround, Morgan.

Ta

Looks proper!

When you go to KH you could give Fraser a shot to save him getting the clio dirty.. again

Haha but his Clio makes lovely furrows.

 

[Wick]

That looks cracking. I was expecting a shed, but that's a luxury living room in there!!

 

[Ash87]

Looks epic now

 

[Kelv]

I do like these, I keep looking at the 2.5TD, but doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference in the book claimed MPG between either, or certainly not enough for it to make a huge difference in choice.

​looks good Morgan

 

[Chi]

Great work, especially impressed with removing everything to get it spic and span, Id defo buy a used vehicle from you sir

 

[BoatNonce]

Hero wagon. Also all tow cars should have tellys for the 2 hour wait to get out of the paddock at the end of the day (bit of a hillclimb specific situation there though!)

 

[Leeshez]

Now i do like that. It will be a belter in the snow.

 

[sonny172cup]

haha nice one mate, it seems you have a fetish for stripping things lol

Funnily enough I sold my RS4 today to make way for a trailer and tow vehicle. Thinking Rangy...blend in with the other pratts around SE London lol

 

[MG cup]

That looks cracking. I was expecting a shed, but that's a luxury living room in there!!

Muts even got a touch of walnut detailing (plastic)

Looks epic now

I do like these, I keep looking at the 2.5TD, but doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference in the book claimed MPG between either, or certainly not enough for it to make a huge difference in choice.

​looks good Morgan

Not my first choice as i would really like a kitted out transit but i'm really growing to like it. Drives better than most big jeeps i have had a shot of. I'm not sure how well the book figures relate to real life tbh. I got 80miles to £30 (or what it said was 80 miles, will be different with the big wheels) but will know for sure after Saturday as I'll test it against the sat nav and get a proper figure. I'll be chuffed with 20mpg. Tony had one and said he got 18mpg irelavnt if he was towing or not.

Great work, especially impressed with removing everything to get it spic and span, Id defo buy a used vehicle from you sir

Yeah all my cars are kept as immaculate as possible, having a known fault or being dirty plays on my mind. I guess it comes from being a mechy to trade.

Hero wagon. Also all tow cars should have tellys for the 2 hour wait to get out of the paddock at the end of the day (bit of a hillclimb specific situation there though!)

Need to work out how to boost the signal for motorway TV but it will suit the situation you say (BTCC on Sunday while at Knockhill)

Now i do like that. It will be a belter in the snow.

Yuuup, its rear drive too untill you want 4x4 so plenty of fun to be had.

haha nice one mate, it seems you have a fetish for stripping things lol

Funnily enough I sold my RS4 today to make way for a trailer and tow vehicle. Thinking Rangy...blend in with the other pratts around SE London lol

Its a pity I can't say iv striped as many cars as women haha.

Yeah i have a set of 20" to finish the look lol? Should be good though, landrovers just scare me with some of the horror story's i'v heard with electronics prices and they are riddled with control units. Have you not considered the VW toureg or even the Porsche cayenne? They would be my first nice looking jeep choices.

 

[Kelv]

Where are you going with it Saturday?
keep me posted as to what you may get from a full tank please, there is a decent two tone red and grey one near me at a nice price I spotted today, 3.0 V6.
if the realistic fuel return with car/trailer isn't so bad I may just go and snap it up

 

[MG cup]

Yeah will do I'm heading to Knockhill for a TD (100 miles each way) so it will be a good run to check it out. I'm only £20 to add it to my Clio policy for a week when I need it too .

 

[montana]

really like this, just been browsing AT after seeing this one infact!

 

[MG cup]

All packed up and ready for its first journey

 

[Fraser.J.]

Looks a tad arse heavy?

Nice straps

 

[MG cup]

Balanced it detached from the jeep untill I couldn't quite pick up the trailer by hand and marked it for future. Jeep looks like its ready to wheelie haha. Its got a full boot load tools, spares and everything to camp including blow up double beds, 6mx3m tent, crates of beer, food, barbecue the lot haha. Tow's like a boss though.

Nice eh, eBays finest. I copied you my old ones were borderline dangerous.

 

[MG cup]

Clio is hingin off the back almost. All there weight is in the front.

 

[BIGASH]

Same as how I load my trailer but I normally have a rack of 8 tyres at the front making things even worse lol

 

[MG cup]

Same as how I load my trailer but I normally have a rack of 8 tyres at the front making things even worse lol

Yeah i bet. Thats a good point, can you fit 8x 15" 7j wheels on a Brian james high level rack? I'm looking to get a BJ one and retro fit it to my IW as they don't offer one.