View Full Version : Towing a nova
scorge01
09-05-13, 07:33 PM
Has anyone ever towed a nova on a trailer behind a astra van 1.7 dti? As away to collect my new nova this weekend and struggling to get a bigger van as my boss has let me down :( will it tow ok and is it legal enough weight wise? It's a light weight proper new trailer
Cheers mark
Your trailer will need to weigh less than 750kg, basing my figures on a standard 1.6 gsi
It it's a big block forget it,
Total train weight of 2915
Kerb weigh ( excluding fuel and passengers ) 1210
Nova gsi kerb weight 865
Do you have a liecence to tow a trailer?
Mind and check your insurance covers your trailer, if it doesn't and you hit anyone their insurance company will come to you for the costs, not your insurer,
scorge01
09-05-13, 09:47 PM
Il check trailer weight but yeah got a Gsi engine not bigblock and not sure about insurance but got a towing licence might have to try and convince the boss some more as need to collect this weekend such a pain in the ahh :(
Yes I tow a nova on the 1.7 cdti. Got a lightweight woodford trailer. My autograss car weighs 580kg.
I thought it was pushing it with my mk4 so bought a bigger van.
Gary how much dies your trailer weigh?
chrisd1986
09-05-13, 10:21 PM
I towed this calibra for 3hrs with no probs with my golf
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb368/chris_d_1986/20120811_164238.jpg
I very much bought that was legal lol,
Jeff16v
09-05-13, 10:30 PM
I'm trying to find the pic of the burgo estate towing another nova, lol. where is it?
Found it, pmsl
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee77/gsijeff/8faaa556bce5196eaae36cfaee60fc03_zpsdcdbc083.jpg
chrisd1986
09-05-13, 10:37 PM
I very much bought that was legal lol,
I was followed for 10 miles by a vosa van and wasnt stopped
I towed this calibra for 3hrs with no probs with my golf
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb368/chris_d_1986/20120811_164238.jpg
Just done a quick search, golf can tow about 1500kg, a calibra weighs about 1250kg so if you had been stopped and taken to a Weighbridge you'd be fcuked!
To be honest it's things like that that cause accidents, seen it umpteen times at work, the worst one was a land cruzer with an overloaded trailer lost control and rolled on the M77, the resulting accident put the driver in hospital with a broken spine and both legs broke after the jeep rolled,
The police had no mercy and charged him with dangerous driving on the spot then had the wrecked jeep recovered and the trailer and both taken to be weighed so further charges could be brought against him.
Weight limits are there for a simple reason, to make sure the suspension and brakes can cope with the load safely.
I was followed for 10 miles by a vosa van and wasnt stopped
it was either being taken in for a dealer service, or the vosa person was not on actual vehicle checks that day.
the traffic cops would have impounded you if they'd been about
chrisd1986
09-05-13, 10:46 PM
I felt safer doing that than using my mates a frame after the last time it nearly killed me. Cost me my mint early vec b with fsh that i had just fitted a new clutch kit in and a mk2 jetta gti16v i had just bought. If i had taken the sides off the trailer it would of removed 250kg but i didnt have the straps that go over the tyres. Ive seen a beemer on youtube with same trailer go over think it had a skyline on the back
taking the sides off an ifor like that might save 100-125kg, nothing more. we have an 18' triaxle one & the sides weight nowt.
the single biggest problem with the pic is the massive towball weight.. you should have 50kg pushing down on it.. so the car was too far forwards.
the second problem was the trailer mfr plate. that would have got you in court, as the trailer is probalby plated at 3-3.5T, which is way over the max for the tow vehicle.
chrisd1986
09-05-13, 10:57 PM
I knew it was way over weight for the car but i went up there the week before to tow it back but it was rough as a bears a$$ and must have been mot'd by stevie wonder but i dont know the laws on towing anway but i do plan on doing research on it when i build my own trailer this year
Novaload_Nick
09-05-13, 11:03 PM
Towed my nova from Peterborough to north wales on a A-frame, worked spot on with no issues
chrisd1986
09-05-13, 11:11 PM
My mrs would kill me if she knew i used another one, my mate who i got it off showed me how to set it up right and had me doi it a couple of times and made me tow a car with him localy before he lent it to me
MiniManDan118
10-05-13, 10:45 AM
A Frames are perfectly legal if the car is taxed, MOT'd and insured. If the car isn't roadworthy it is illegal as it is technically driving on the road.
i didnt have the straps that go over the tyres
your digging a deeper hole dude.... sides or not, overweight or not, the wheels should ALWAYS be strapped. I might be wrong but theres nothing stopping you getting a calibre to the back of the head under hard breaking. just thinking of your safety bud.
chrisd1986
10-05-13, 11:28 AM
A Frames are perfectly legal if the car is taxed, MOT'd and insured. If the car isn't roadworthy it is illegal as it is technically driving on the road.
They are ment for recovery purposes only
chrisd1986
10-05-13, 11:29 AM
your digging a deeper hole dude.... sides or not, overweight or not, the wheels should ALWAYS be strapped. I might be wrong but theres nothing stopping you getting a calibre to the back of the head under hard breaking. just thinking of your safety bud.
I know and you are right but i just did what i had to do to get the car home.
So whats a good car to pull a nova legally then?
As in what could you drive to tow without having to do a seperate test?
First thing to do is check you can on your licence. As after 1998 you can't tow anything to heavy. I looked in to it. As i was 2weeks to late.
Put Nova on a good trailor and you'll be over weight for your licence.
So whats a good car to pull a nova legally then?
As in what could you drive to tow without having to do a seperate test?
Something with an unladen weight of around 1600kg imo.
kent14sr
10-05-13, 03:32 PM
I knew it was way over weight for the car but i went up there the week before to tow it back but it was rough as a bears a$$ and must have been mot'd by stevie wonder but i dont know the laws on towing anway but i do plan on doing research on it when i build my own trailer this year
I am sure the illegal nature of your towing, the state of the trailer and licence implications have been discussed before in another thread.
There is nothing sensible or safe about breaking the law. As Mowgli said the trailer wouldn't be legal for a Golf to tow and if you passed your test after 1st January 1997 and haven't taken a dedicated trailer test then you are most certainly illegal on that too given the trailer/car combination.
Ignorance - ie stating you don't know the rules really isn't an acceptable excuse and if you had an accident your insurance would likely be void as you would be driving otherwise than inaccordance with your licence.
100% agree with Bazil's comments - very valid.
whats a matter with a bit of rope?
I am sure the illegal nature of your towing, the state of the trailer and licence implications have been discussed before in another thread.
There is nothing sensible or safe about breaking the law. As Mowgli said the trailer wouldn't be legal for a Golf to tow and if you passed your test after 1st January 1997 and haven't taken a dedicated trailer test then you are most certainly illegal on that too given the trailer/car combination.
Ignorance - ie stating you don't know the rules really isn't an acceptable excuse and if you had an accident your insurance would likely be void as you would be driving otherwise than inaccordance with your licence.
100% agree with Bazil's comments - very valid.
Agreed.Its taking the fukking piss really.Kinda like saying "well i just stole a nova cos i did what i have to do to get one,didnt get caught so no harm done eh"
If you had an atom of sense you wouldnt do sh1t like that or talk about taking kids in the back of cars with no seatbelts.........
And LMFAO at losing a quarter of a ton in the sides,if thats the case im putting in for worlds strongest man me.
Bloke with the golf; your mad. My dad used to have a ifor trailer roughly the same size as that and towed it with either his landrover/landrcruiser ONLY. Theres no way in hell i would dream of doing that with a golf, and i drive an 11ton tractor pulling a fully loaded 18ton trailer during harvest time!
VW Golf driver. Lucky you were not killed mate!
As for towing limits on your van. If you get yourself a single axle, 12 foot long Brian James micro max trailer, with a 1300kg gross weight, the trailer and nova combined will just fall within the limits for the van and its train weight...
steviegsi
10-05-13, 04:55 PM
Regardless of the legality of your MAM etc above, towing a car/transporter with a fwd is fcuking horrible anyway.
Most cars have relatively low towing weights, if towing anything heavier than a nova sized car, it would take a 4x4 iirc from looking at it last year.
My trailer weighs 500kg, it's a twin axle.
Fcuk that ideal, cheers Gary
Yeah it's ideal and tows really well. Am looking to upgrade to a sprint shuttle at some point.
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