Trailering a new XM home!

[ash2020]

I'm going to pick up a new XM tomorrow. Exactly the same model as my current 2.5 manual estate. Thing is, I'm assuming it's not strictly legal, weightwise. It'll be on a twin wheel fully braked trailer and I'm sure the XM will pull it well, and I'll obviously go cautiously. Are they likely to throw the book at me if I get stopped? I guess my insurance would be invalid if I crashed the whole lot. Any thoughts, ideas, observations?
Cheers
Andrew

[Peter.N.]

Yes, don't crash it.

I think possibly the best way of transporting them is an 'A' frame but then I suppose they have to be street legal, but at least you don't have the additional weight of the trailer.

Peter

[andmcit]

Obviously have the sharp pointy end of the towed car on the towball end of the trailer mind.
I once towed a car a 'mere 2 miles' the wrong way AND crawling and it wasn't nice - never again.

Sure, to do this the 'legal way' you'll need a Transit or bigger van/truck/4x4.

You're going to go and get it anyway by the sounds of things so do it as "right" as you can
- goes without saying and all that and you're using a good sounding trailer, but...

chuck all the available weight of both cars in the middle/boot of the tow car - spare off
the towed car, trailer spare too PLUS the toolbox, jack etc of the kit you'll have with you - if you
hadn't planned to take any, it helps 'plant' the rear of the towcar and balancing the noseweight of
the trailer.

ENSURE THE TOWED CAR IS STRAPPED DOWN VERY SECURELY!!
Get some of the pukka wheel webbing jobbies from Machine Mart as they're a bargain price.





Should it all goes tits up, the plod cannot do you for insecure load - they specifically look at
trailers for this; I don't know how far you plan to tow but what I've always understood from
talking to a traffic guy is if you show you know what you're doing, taking extra care and
not playing silly beggars they'll leave you alone. If you're towing with a big heavy Xm (estate?)
and the car on the trailer is secure you should be OK.

Insurance is another different minefield. I'll wager they would want extra cover for the day
and then only if you'd be towing a far lighter car than the towcar and trailer weight combined.

Key words whilst towing a big heavy trailer - anticipation and planning. Take it easy!

Andrew

[andmcit]

BTW, I had the estate on the trailer lowered before driving but it had to be high to drive on and clear
the opening doors of the trailer mudguards. The lower the towcar weight, the better the CofG but you
need to clamber in through the rear door to start the car and the wheelbase fractionally lengthens on
flat/low so allow for this on the webbing straps.

Andrew

[Dieselman]

The lower the towcar weight, the better the CofG but you
need to clamber in through the rear door to start the car

Or leave the drivers window down.

[andmcit]

Leave the towed car in gear, P or drive etc and the handbrake WELL ON.
Use the trailer's winch to fasten the towed car too. Have higher tyre
pressures, especially on the front trailer axle AND THE REAR TOW CAR.

More bit'n bobs will no doubt hit me as I sit here thinking about random
things as the day wears on...

Andrew

[andmcit]

Don't even stray for fractions of a second in the "third lane" of the motorway
even within your maxed 60mph as it's a sin worse than being an Estate Agent.
Unfortunately my licence knows the cost of this after careful overtaking and
pulling into the far nearside lane after overtaking a moving roadblock in the
middle lane (numpty people carrier) that was matching a lorry for interminable
mile after mile and causing me to create a bottleneck.

We know you weren't speeding Sir but we're still going to stiff you...

Andrew

[xmexclusive]

Try to avoid passing any of the HA/VOSA automatic axle weighing installations.

John

[2point5XCL]

Maximum towing weight using a fully braked trailer for 2.5 is 1500Kg and max. Gross Train weight is 3580Kg, as per handbook (in France) The info. should be on an metal plate in the engine compartment (for UK)

Roy.

[ash2020]

What a great load of advice. Sounds like some of you may have done it before
In view of the fact that the trailer must be around 500kg and my 2.5 estate according to Haynes is 1639 kg, it's going to be at least 600kg over the top. That scares me a bit, so I'm thinking that for the sake of around £60 I might hire a 4x4 for the day. (of course they aren't quite as frugal as the XM!)
The best way, of course, would be an A frame but I'm not sure where I can hire one. The new one has some tax on it but as far as I know no MOT.
The head gasket's gone, so I wouldn't be able to lower the suspension, short of de-pressurising it, but I will certainly take all the other points on board. Thanks guys, I'll let you know how I get on.