Trailer towing

[Iain]

Have just acquiredbought at very fair price a 1986 Conway Camargue Trailer Tent thingy here in France. About same age as our GTL, so a good match, I reckon. Gross trailer weight is 400 Kgs, so assume no problem towing with the 1100 engine. Anyone know of these things, or towed one with a Quatrelle?

 

[Paul Narramore]

The handbook mentions this - Each country in the EEC has it's own particular legislation concerning towing weights....consult your local Renault dealer. A transmission oil cooler must be fitted if it is intended to tow a caravan or trailer with an all up weight exceeding 450kg.

 

[Iain]

Thanks for that, Paul. My neighbour, a retired Gendarme, tells me there's no special needs if trailer is under 500 Kgs. But the oil cooler sounds a useful addition.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Iain, Perhaps your neighbour is quoting French law whereas my Renault 4 handbook is stating what is good for the car? Anyway your camping trailer does seem comfortably within the limits. Do you have a tow bar yet? There are drawings on this forum should you want to get one made. I've always thought, well at least until recently, that a Teardrop Caravan would really suit an R4.

 

[Otto96]

Have just acquiredbought at very fair price a 1986 Conway Camargue Trailer Tent thingy here in France. About same age as our GTL, so a good match, I reckon. Gross trailer weight is 400 Kgs, so assume no problem towing with the 1100 engine. Anyone know of these things, or towed one with a Quatrelle?

I tow a tent trailer Skif M1 which is unloaded 270Kgs and normaly loaded about 350Kgs. Normal 1108ccm engine don´t have enough power in hills to drive still about 80Km/h. I am trying Solex 32 EISA this year and towing is better now. But I am planning to try Zenith 32 which is less difficult to set.

 

[Iain]

Iain, Perhaps your neighbour is quoting French law whereas my Renault 4 handbook is stating what is good for the car? Anyway your camping trailer does seem comfortably within the limits. Do you have a tow bar yet? There are drawings on this forum should you want to get one made. I've always thought, well at least until recently, that a Teardrop Caravan would really suit an R4.

Our Quatrelle has a tow-hitch fitted, thankfully. I agree about a teardrop van, would be a pretty cool match.

 

[JonathanT]

If you have an 1100 engine there should be no issue pulling a trailer tent. My GTL pulls an Eriba Puck Caravan very well. Even with 4 of us inside and up a 1:10 hill !

 

[Paul Narramore]

Eriba Puck? I believe the early unbraked version was a fair bit lighter and could even be towed by 2CVs. I love them.

 

[JonathanT]

450kilos I think there is a label on it. In Sweet Pea Caravan tonight. Staying in Southwold on holiday