Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

Rob Barker · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 21:50 Post subject: Towing weights

I'm looking to buy one of these beasties in the not too distant future but need to confirm maximum tow weights and nose weight so that I can make sure it's okay to tow my caravan. Presumably getting a tow bar isn't difficult, do you get many people knowing what they are or is it a case of "what's a Delica"
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Former Pajero owner now with a 97 L400 Super Exceed crystalite roof etc, pulling a 2007 Bailey Senator Carolina and a Yamaha MT01 for when I'm not towing

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-Crewzin- · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 455 Location: Newcastle

I'm sure there is loads here that know the tow weights. as for the tow bar Ebay have them lised. i fitted one and was very easy.. you won't be dissapointed. they are a lovely motor and tow a dream.

Gordon.
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SHUG · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 54 Location: Bellshill, Scotland

HI
Towing with the beast is brilliant i have a big bailey and it tows it brilliant just back from dover and going tomorrow morning to blackpool.

Rob Barker · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 14:39 Post subject: towing weights

It's the noseweight that bothers me a bit, I tow a Lunar Lexon CD which is currently around 115kg on the nose, I was wondering whether the weight was lower for the Delica. Have been sat in 1 today and had a good poke around, it makes me want 1 even more now
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Former Pajero owner now with a 97 L400 Super Exceed crystalite roof etc, pulling a 2007 Bailey Senator Carolina and a Yamaha MT01 for when I'm not towing

Thevanwizard · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 23 Location: North Wales

i have got an 18' boat with inboard engine and you can't tell it is behind you at 60 mph i got my towbar from Towequipe (phone no 024 76328040 )part no 705 for £99 inc delivery and fitted it mysely
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wemfish · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 276 Location: North Shropshire.

These figures are for an L300, the L400 may be more.
The Mitsubishi max tow weight is 3500KG, this is based on what it can just about pull from stand still up a 7% hill, it is illegal to tow more than this weight.
The caravan clubs recommend the safe weight to tow should not exceed 85% of the weight of the towing vehicle. My L300 weighs 2200KG so 85% = 1870KG.
I think that most cars towing caravans are over that 85% weight. The 80% recommendation makes little sense to me for experienced towers, as an articulated lorry must be towing about 600% safely! If you are an inexperienced tower then probably best to stick to the 1870 KG
Sorry I Can't remember the maximum nose weight but as the maximum payload is 700kg it is probably higher than most cars, I would guess about 125 KG, if your nose weight is above that move some of the load in your caravan back a few feet, I put the gas bottles in my Delica to reduce the nose weight as that helps a lot.

See the link below

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/Practical+Help/UK+Technical+Advice+and+Info/Outfit+Matching/
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Take your time to get it right.
Hawk Lake, home to some nice Carp.
Delica owner since June 2000.

-Crewzin- · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 455 Location: Newcastle

i believe Oldschool Beat tows a twin axel lunar!

i used to tow a 24 foot burstner behind a rover 827 and was within the limits so i would guess a Delica could tow anything long enough to be towed on the brittish roads.

Regards Gordon.
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3rd Amigo of the Amigo Troop.
(not with poms poms) but will be in a feather bower and in a SmArT WiG

Oldskool Beat · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 0:08 Post subject:

Rob Barker · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 13:36 Post subject: towing weights

Thanks for the answers guys, I've been towing caravans for the last 9 years and before that towed racing cars all around the country/Europe so I reckon that I'm a prety experienced tower. The lunar that I've currently got has a MTPLW of 1800 kg and I tend to stick to the loading margin (except when returning from the continent with my personal allowance of wine!)
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Former Pajero owner now with a 97 L400 Super Exceed crystalite roof etc, pulling a 2007 Bailey Senator Carolina and a Yamaha MT01 for when I'm not towing

hairyben · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 16:27 Post subject:

wemfish · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 276 Location: North Shropshire.

But it is illegal to tow more than 500 kg or 50% unbreaked
_________________
Take your time to get it right.
Hawk Lake, home to some nice Carp.
Delica owner since June 2000.

alan S · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Gosport Hants

I'm glad that aint just a hand brake on the camargue or we would all be in the poo!
for the record at a certain weight (?) all trailers HAVE to be braked! all caravans are over and are fitted with brakes.

Rob
As you may well know we all share engines and running gear with some variables in the engine. As you are used to the 2.8 you should find the performance about the same, the Deli's a bigger brick to push through the air and a bit heavier I believe, with a base model weight of 2020 Kgs
a higher ride platfom does give more body roll and strong crosswinds can make things scary. we have followed a 2.8 L200 and kept pace with ease on the Exeter/ Oakhampton length of the A30 at 60+.
Simply to say sensibly of course if a Paj can do it then the Deli will with eight bodies on board and with a little more comfort.
our car change from an Estima was to be a Paj but the Deli won on the basis of REAL rear seats, comfort and the space available.

Your nose weight seems high having said that so is the Camargue it is naturally nose heavy (Bailey put an extra 12inches on the replacement to balance) around 85Kg, not many cars handle 90 + Kgs.

Good hunting for the right Exceed /Super or Royal

Regards
Alan
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hairyben · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 21:28 Post subject:

Oldskool Beat · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 21:43 Post subject:

hairyben · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 21:51 Post subject:

Rusty · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 22:25 Post subject:

[quote="hairyben"]

Oldskool Beat · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 22:37 Post subject:

[quote="RustySparks"]

hairyben · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 22:42 Post subject: