MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Towing with a ZS

I accept it may not be the done thing, but is anyone out there towing a caravan with a ZS180? I would be interested to know what weight it can tow as I have not seen any figures / reviews on the subject.
Neil

Neil
Its only exceptable to tow a caravan in the 180 if the cavavan is colour coded and has a spoiler on top.
MG STYLE POLICE

Somehow I don't think my wife would let me paint our new caravan Trophy Yellow! Wives don't understand you see!
Neil

Neil
a trophy yellow caravan with 17 inch wheels would look awesome :)
ps wasn't the rover 45 caravan lugger of the year?
MG STYLE POLICE

I was thinking of maybe getting a tow bar on my ZS 120.

The thinking is that a small trailer will be better for transporting mountain bikes than it would be if they were on the roof.

John
JLD

I think it was the Rover 75 that was a towcar of the year. Plenty of weight in that model. The ZT would undoubtedly be suitable but it's the extra cost involved in buying it that puts me off the ZT, and of course the depreciation factor. There's a bit less to lose with the ZS. Perhaps.
Neil

I dont see any Rovers!! (or MG)
I found this in the archives!!


THE CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2001 RESULTS


Overall WINNER
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF V6 4MOTION


CLASS WINNERS

£15,500 and Under Class
Volkswagen Polo S TDI PD

£15,501 - £19,000 Class
Vauxhall Astra Coupe 2.2i

£19,001 - £24,000 Class
Volkswagen Golf GT TDI PD

Over £24,000 Class
Volkswagen Golf V6 4MOTION

All-Terrain Class
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.5 GDI SWB

MPV Class
Fiat Multipla JTD 105 ELX


THE CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2001 ENTRANTS

£15,500 and Under Class
Citroën Xsara Picasso LX
Proton Wira 1.6 LXi
Volkswagen Polo S TDI PD

£15,501 - £19,000 Class
Fiat Multipla JTD 105 ELX
Kia Sedona SX diesel
Mazda Premacy 2.0 GXi diesel
Mazda 626 2.0 Estate GXi diesel
Mazda 626 2.0 Sport
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 1.8 GDI
Nissan Almera 2.2 Sport+
Nissan Almera Tino 2.2 SE²
Renault Scenic RX4 Sport Alize 1.9 dCi
Seat Leon TDi 110 SE
Subaru Legacy Saloon 2.0 GL AWD
Toyota Avensis 2.0 GLS VVTi
Toyota RAV4 2.0 GX 4WD
Vauxhall Astra 2.0 DTi Estate
Vauxhall Astra Coupe 2.2i

£19,001 - £24,000 Class
Ford Galaxy Ghia 1.9 TDi
Hyundai XG30
Land Rover Freelander Td4
Peugeot 406 2.2 SRi Estate
Seat Alhambra TDi PD SE
Toyota Previa 2.4 GLS
Volkswagen Golf GT TDI PD
Volkswagen Sharan SE TDI PD
Volvo S40 diesel
Volvo V70 2.4 140

Over £24,000 Class
Audi A4 Avant 1.9 TDi 115
Audi A6 2.5 TDi 180
Audi allroad quattro 2.5 TDi
Ford Galaxy Ghia 2.8 V6
Isuzu Trooper 3.0 TD Insignia
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.5 GDI SWB
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-D LWB
Nissan Patrol GR 3.0 SE+
Volkswagen Golf V6 4MOTION
Volvo Cross Country

All-Terrain Class
Isuzu Trooper 3.0 TD Insignia
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 1.8 GDI
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-D LWB
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.5 GDI SWB
Nissan Patrol GR 3.0 SE+

MPV Class
Citroën Xsara Picasso LX
Fiat Multipla JTD 105 ELX
Ford Galaxy Ghia 1.9 TDi
Ford Galaxy Ghia 2.8 V6
Kia Sedona SX diesel
Mazda Premacy 2.0 GXi diesel
Nissan Almera Tino 2.2 SE²
Renault Scenic RX4 Sport Alize 1.9 dCi
Seat Alhambra TDi PD SE
Toyota Previa 2.4 GLS
Volkswagen Sharan SE TDI PD

Kelvin

The ZS180 would make a good towcar IMO. I've towed a fair bit in the last 5 years, using Rover 420 and now Honda Civic VTiS (same shell). Perfectly adequate with a BJ trailer and Montego, although this is probably a little over the recommended limit. Max towing weights recommended will be in the handbook.
David

JLD
I would stick the bikes on the roof. I have driven a Rover 420 SDi across France many times with three or four bikes on the roof with few problems. On French motorways I cruise at 80-85 mph and things only get interesing when there is a strong cross wind. Apart from crosswinds the overall driveability of the car remains remakably good and this should apply equally to the ZS. I will be putting my bikes on top of my ZS 180 when the weather gets warmer, my only worry is the fuel bill.
Of course your bike should be suitably mean looking to go with the car.
Chris

The limiting factor of my 416 is the 12% hill start, which limits it to a tonne towing, Metro plus trailer, interstingly the 200 can tow a tonne as well, wouldn't like to try though the trailer brakes are better than the rovers.

Jon
Jon

Thanks for the advice.

How many bikes could I safely get on the roof though. If the whole family go it means taking 5 bikes with us. I used to use a rear fitting cycle carrier as well as the roof with my R400 but that didn't have a nice curvy spoiler on the back.

John
JLD

I cant believe you spend all that money on that nice shiny MG then go and ruin it by trying to stack five bloody bikes on the back!!.Leave the bikes at home!,cycling is for environmental lefties anyway.The only pedals you should be pushing are the three in the footwell!!.Worse still you want to drag a Caravan behind it,are you sure its not an Austin Montego Countryman you want for towing?.
Kevin Davis

To JLD
It is possible to get four bikes on the roof. You will have to put the bikes facing first forwards then backwards across the roof and you may have to remove the saddles. For the fifth one you could remove the wheels and then the whole thing will fit in the boot (if you have no luggage). I have a Scott Tacana which fits into the 5 door boot with no problem.
Chris

If you're going to fit a tow-bar, you could probably use one of the tow-bar mounted carriers. They fit behind a Witter type tow ball so the bikes don't obstruct the rear vision so much.

> cycling is for environmental lefties anyway
Kevin, it leaves a bit of space for you on the road though.
dan

Thanks for all the advice folks, I'll give it some thought.

Funny how these threads develop, this one started out with neil asking about towing a caravan.
JLD

At last someone has noticed what the original thread was about! Yes towing a caravan with a ZS. I don't think I'll use a ZS for it. I'll find a better use for it.
Neil

This thread was discussed between 20/01/2002 and 22/01/2002

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG ZR ZS ZT Technical BBS now