is cavalier saloon capable of towing trailer with big car?

[humbucker]

going to pick up an omega this weekend and my original plan of action has fallen through leaving me with the prospect of temporarily fitting a towbar to my cavalier. is the cavalier saloon capable of pulling a car trailer with a car the size of an omega on it? im pretty sure it can, especially with the v6 lump, but wanted to double check in case any of you knew through previous experience.

worth noting my car is lowered 40mm.

ta

[Cavalier342]

I assume if your springs are in good order and the trailer is double axled and braked, it should be ok. It'll be like towing the car with a little added weight of the trailer. Could possibly consider coil assistors?
Andrei.

[humbucker]

and i guess the next question is what difference is there between hatch and saloon towing bar fitment? they are listed as different items, but the local scrappy has a hatchback one complete and i wondered if i could get it to fit my saloon?

[Cavalier342]

Well i know that the saloon backs are longer, aren't they, so i don't know. You may find that the hatch towbar might not fit. Only a rough guess though, dimensions would help greatly.
Andrei.

[humbucker]

i have both fitting guides for saloon and hatch but no dimensions of bar mentioned on them. rats. i might just have to go down the scrappy and try and hold it up to the car for size

[Cavalier342]

I wish you luck but i have my doubts with it fitting on.
Andrei.

[humbucker]

yeah like you say, my concern is that the saloon is longer and therefore the hatch bar will be too short. you'd think they must be listed as two different items for a reason.

[Envoy CDX]

Doubt will work, but the omega is heavier than the cav (from memory) so I think you'd exceed the tonnage spec (I don't tow, but I've read several threads on it). LSi on Vauxhall was caught out by this one if I recall, so he might be worth speaking too.

[humbucker]

just been down the scrap yard and tested it out, the length of the bar between ball hitch and main frame is too short, otherwise all ok. this length is detachable though so could weld some new length on to it, and they have a newish witter omega towbar, i might go see if theyre the same fitment as could maybe bastardise the two, length from omega, frame from cavalier. dunno, turning into a bit of a ballache.

[humbucker]

besides, would an extension mig weld even be strong enough to pull a trailer and car at 50/60mph? ....

[humbucker]

Doubt will work, but the omega is heavier than the cav (from memory) so I think you'd exceed the tonnage spec

is that a legal requirement though? i just thought it was manufacturers advice

[humbucker]

well the omega towbar and the cavalier hatch towbar were completely incompatible! thankfully i found a genuine GM towbar kit for the cavalier saloon on the 'bay so that should arrive later this week ready for me to use. hoorah!

[Cavalier342]

nice one dude Glad to hear one bridge being crossed

[Dieselicious]

Doubt will work, but the omega is heavier than the cav (from memory)

A good 500+kilos heavier, and an adequate trailer of the spec above the same again.

I've only pulled an Omega twice. Once with an Izzy Trooper - Drove as normal lol, and once with an V6 Omega - Not so fun.


I'd follow the manufactures guidlines to certain degree, but since I expect you'll be 50% over..........

[humbucker]

hmmmn intriguing...

[Robert-in-Notts]

sure your aloud to tow just over half the weight of your own vehicle , if you get caught youl need 2 cars recovering, not one, or they may just seize them both if your on the motorway etc to get you off,

hence alot of people towing big caravans with small/medium sized cars are breaking the law too.

you could chance it, but if you do get caught could turn into a ball ache, plus towing something bigger with somthing smaller isent fun.

if you need a vehicle fetching try this http://www.shiply.com/?gclid=CJeClrHp4KMCFWUA4wodnXHoYQ

[humbucker]

i'll check the vin plate, i think it has legal towing allowance on there. i'll probably hire a van this week tbh, i think theres one near me with a tow bar on it, will have to check availability. sounds like a better option, and besides, i really dont want to have to drill through my cavalier floor if i can help it haha!

[Squig]

Afraid the towing issues discussed are legal ones not just recommendations

"If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits."

i.e. the cav approx 1300kg hence the trailer and load cannot exceed approx 1300kg... towing the omega would require as a best towing vehicle weighing 1700kg and then you are REALLY close to the limits.

[humbucker]

fortunately my license was issued before jan 97 so im ok on that front.

i think the conclusion in all of this is 'no, the cavalier is not equipped to tow a heavy vehicle on a heavy duty trailer'. oh well, i guess the boot floor will have to remain free of (intentional) holes for the time being