BXC Northants Depot ?

[Thread Bear]

Good trailer with high speed axles.

Purely as a stir, is it strictly legal to be towing a BX and a substantial trailer behind a BX?

[Stinkwheel]

nope, i doubt it

[rutter123]

At your own risk until VOSA stop you. I'm sure we've all done it. Not sure they will buy the story that the bx was tow car of the year for several years tho, moreso with best part of 2 ton hooked on the back.

[Stinkwheel]

2 ton's on the back?

BX saloon, 16 petrol. 1000kgs at best id imagine, trailer was maybe 5-600 as it was light enough to move around just for 12 stone weakling me.

Call it ton and a half

Im not saying it was ideal but it was short move and ive towed plenty before, i wasnt stupid about it.

Not like the time 15 years ago i used a ford orion to tow a heavy trailer and GSA to glasgow from the midlands, that was just dumb!!!

[citsncycles]

I gather that if hey stop you, the fine is generally a set price per Kg over weight you are - can't remember how much off the top of my head, but if you're a few hundres Kg over it'll soon mount up!

I think Timex's factory towing limit is around the 1100kg, at least the weight of the car! How tha compares to the legal limit for the UK I don' know - I've heard 80% or kerb weight banded about, but whether that's law or a recommendation I don't know.

Dumbest tow I've ever done - Dyane on an A frame behind an Ami 8 from Cirencester to Dursley!

[mds141]

I've towed worse before now. 7.5 tonne MAN tractor unit with 26 tonne of finest Cheddar cheese in the trailer!! Good fun coming down Shap I'll tell you!!

[mat_fenwick]

The 85% rule is just a recommendation, but there's no rule I know of which states that you can't tow more than the weight of the tow vehicle - it depends on the manufacturer's towing limits as some can be close to double the kerb weight!

The only time I've towed a BX with a BX I was taking it for scrap But it towed fairly well, despite the fact I'd loaded the scrapper with any old iron I could find. I've towed considerably more with mine, on a 200 mile trip. But that nearly didn't go well...

[Dollywobbler]

As discussed on the FB page, what matters is the maximum allowed weight of the trailer. If that's over the car's towing limit (which the above set-up certainly was, and the time I traillered a Bond Equipe behind my NA diesel) then PC Plod will be having a word.

The 80% thing is indeed a recommendation, which is why a 2-ton Land Rover can tow 3.5 tons.

[mat_fenwick]

Aren't you glad Rich took the picture, Matt?

All we need now is for someone to discuss the merits of winter tyres, which oil is best and whether Top Gear is a car programme or just entertainment...

[Stinkwheel]

All totally correct Ian.

I will lay out my situation...

I HAD to move these cars, i had a trailer and a BX diesel estate to tow it with (that or a 1600 petrol focus)
i moved them a short distance (miles in the teens, with all the caution i could)

Im not advising anyone to do similar, all i can say is, i did and it was no problem.

And Mat, yep, you are totally correct, i opened a whole can of whupass on myself it would seem (silly thing is i didnt even take that picure)

[mat_fenwick]

silly thing is i didnt even take that picure

Yeah, I remembered just after I posted, and must have edited my post while you were writing yours.

Still, could be worse!

[Stinkwheel]

Ive loved that video since i first saw it