[peetee]

Hi all,

I'm picking up a Clio 182 Trophy next week. It's been parked for 2 years and i'm a little reluctant to drive it on the old engine oil and old belts - don't want the engine to go bang.

My 35d comes with trailer coupling, will I be ok to tow it back if I hire a Brian James Trailer ? I've ran a quick google search and found the following


Unbraked Towing Weight: 750kg
Braked Towing Weight: 1800kg

I'm not sure if the Brian James trailer is braked.




Thanks.

[Beancounter_74]

You will need to add the car and trailer together to see if it's within the limits.
I'd imaging a Brian James trailer is braked, but obviously check.

[peetee]

Just had confirmation the trailer is braked and weights 700kg. The clio weighs 1,200kg so total weight will be 1,900kg. Slightly over the limit … do’h!

[Beancounter_74]

I pulled an Ifor Williams horse box with a small pony in, about 1,200 in total. To be honest it wasn't the 335dx's finest hour so I don't think I'd risk it at 1,900.

[Stainy]

Hire / Borrow a braked towing dolly? As the Clio is RWD it can be towed this way with ease and it removes a massive amount of the trailer weight.

I tow 1500kg every now and then and the 435 walks it (it's got a bit more power and better suspension than std though)

[Rich76]

Originally Posted by Stainy

Hire / Borrow a braked towing dolly? As the Clio is RWD it can be towed this way with ease and it removes a massive amount of the trailer weight.

I tow 1500kg every now and then and the 435 walks it (it's got a bit more power and better suspension than std though)

Since when was a Clio RWD?

[Pobsey]

Originally Posted by Rich76

Since when was a Clio RWD?

V6 Clio

[Stainy]

Originally Posted by Pobsey

V6 Clio

I meant to type FWD in any case as a front tow isn't great if your driven wheels are still on the ground

[peetee]

Thanks for the responses guys. Its a 1,200 kilo FWD 182 Trophy. My F31 35d has been fettled with so producing 391/812nm torque. Its a motorway run mainly on the M6 ... a steady 55/60mph

[jackstrath]

You'll be ok, the trailer will be in the mid 650kg's if its a duel axel (which is braked) unless its a A-MAX ( the ones for 4x4's and you'd prob fit 2 clios on it ) and i think a clio just under 1100kg iirc, even the full fat model it defo not as heavy as 1200kg

Standard 335d will tow it with ease, not sure why someone was struggling towing 1200kg.
If its a factory fitted tow bar ( you will be able to tell as youll get the hitch cam option ) youll be ok, if not id personally just remember to start the gear box in 1st gear when pulling away from lights and not 2nd ( but tbh not even sure the F31 335 does that like the my old E91 did)

[Beancounter_74]

Thinking about it, I was also running a Merc GL at the same time and I guess my comment was more in comparison fo that which really did tow with ease. Completely irrelevant I know

I'm sure the 335dx is ok but I would be careful with weight limits. Good point on selecting the correct gear on pull away.

[jackstrath]

Yeh my X5 was hands down a superior tow car to my E91 and F31 in every way! Just how offten i towed vs the day to day driving enjoyment for me was the trade off to go back to a car.

[isleaiw1]

It will be fine. Just remember that the tail can wag the dog if the weight of the towed item is high versus kerb weight of tow vehicle so take it steady. Also, the extra strain on your car will be high and so try and avoid very hot days or long spells in slow moving traffic. Take it steady, take breaks to help the car not you and enjoy...

How much is the trailer hire? Might need to move my old 206 at some stage to get it roadworthy again...

Mind I dont have a tow bar!

[peetee]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

It will be fine. Just remember that the tail can wag the dog if the weight of the towed item is high versus kerb weight of tow vehicle so take it steady. Also, the extra strain on your car will be high and so try and avoid very hot days or long spells in slow moving traffic. Take it steady, take breaks to help the car not you and enjoy...

How much is the trailer hire? Might need to move my old 206 at some stage to get it roadworthy again...

Mind I dont have a tow bar!

£50 for 24hr hire with £100 deposit. Not bad

[Two-tone525]

Originally Posted by peetee

I'm picking up a Clio 182 Trophy next week. It's been parked for 2 years and i'm a little reluctant to drive it on the old engine oil and old belts - don't want the engine to go bang.

My 35d comes with trailer coupling, will I be ok to tow it back if I hire a Brian James Trailer ? I've ran a quick google search and found the following

I'm not sure if the Brian James trailer is braked.

Cool. Welcome to the BMW F31 and RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy owners club - membership of two. You and I suspect

I move mine around with a van and trailer, I've not had the F31 long enough to retro fit the OEM BMW tow bar. Something I do want to do.

You should be fine with a braked Brian James. Have you driven with a trailer before? Have a read around and talk to people that have if you have not.

Get your route sorted first too. Don't take any wrong turns, as reversing with a trailer takes practice and not something you want to do under pressure in a confined space.

You may find you'll also have to pay extra for the ratchet straps on the day as many hire firms don't supply them with the trailer; if you don't have your own. Again, if you've not used them before, worth figuring them out first, and how to place them correctly to strap the Trophy down without rubbing body work. A trip of 50 miles and a strap touching the bodywork will see you rub the paint off down to the metal/plastic in no time.

You'll have discovered it already I'm sure, but if not, get yourself over to Cliotrophy.co.uk a super helpful bunch with a lot of information available.

The Trophy has a kerb weight of 1090kg, so +700kg for the trailer and you'll be under the braked trailer weight.

Do ensure you have the correct driving license though. If you passed your test after 1997 you have a limit on the weight you can tow. A 750kg trailer. You can tow a trailer of over 750kg as long as the combined weight of trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg as the MAM (maximum authorised mass). You have to take and pass the car and trailer driving test if you want to tow with more weight than that.

Thankfully I passed pre 1997 and have the B+E on my license automatically.

Good luck with it. Post some photos of the 'rig' with the Trophy on!

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by Two-tone525

Do ensure you have the correct driving license though. If you passed your test after 1997 you have a limit on the weight you can tow. A 750kg trailer. You can tow a trailer of over 750kg as long as the combined weight of trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg as the MAM (maximum authorised mass). You have to take and pass the car and trailer driving test if you want to tow with more weight than that.

Pedantic anorak here....

Assuming you've got the Clio home now though.

Towing on a B only licence is over 750kgs has to be braked.
Then its the sum of the PLATED maximum weights of the car and trailer that should be below 3500kgs.
So for example, if you have a car with a maximum (not actual) weight of 1600kgs. A car trailer with a max plated weight of 2000kgs would be illegal, even if it was empty and actually weighed 700kgs.

For info, the weights on the B pillar data plates are
1. Maximum Train Weight - max of loaded car, trailer, roof box, bike rack etc.
2. Maximum Permitted Gross Weight of the car (MAM) loaded.

The theory is that the difference between these two numbers are what the car can tow, but its often not that simple!

[jackstrath]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

Pedantic anorak here....

Assuming you've got the Clio home now though.

Towing on a B only licence is over 750kgs has to be braked.
Then its the sum of the PLATED maximum weights of the car and trailer that should be below 3500kgs.
So for example, if you have a car with a maximum (not actual) weight of 1600kgs. A car trailer with a max plated weight of 2000kgs would be illegal, even if it was empty and actually weighed 700kgs.

For info, the weights on the B pillar data plates are
1. Maximum Train Weight - max of loaded car, trailer, roof box, bike rack etc.
2. Maximum Permitted Gross Weight of the car (MAM) loaded.

The theory is that the difference between these two numbers are what the car can tow, but its often not that simple!

I dont know how true that is... Iv read it alot but iv never seen anything on the gov website stating this is the case, but every day is a school day so do you have a legal document to back that up?

And FYI you can max weight of 4250kg's on a B licence, albe it towing a max of 750kg.

[AlwynMike]

Agreed Jack - a 3500kg MAM car can tow 750kgs.

There are plenty of extreme pedants in the caravan world where thus is a very hot topic.
Caravan manufacturers purposely rate the Maximum weight (MTPLM) of their products so they have a larger customer base, plus they can up plate the caravan to the maximum of the chassis, gaining another £50 for their profits!

The law explicitly is based upon the plated weights of the vehicle and trailer. That way, the Plod at the side of the road can glance at the plates and see if the driver is in accordance with his or her licence. No scales needed. Simples.
There are a number of suppliers who will provide a trailer weight plate with any numbers on it.....usually lower so the post '97 crew can tow on a B.
Likewise, many HGV operators downplate some vehicles to get them into a class below which is advantageous to them.
Driving with an actual overweight load is not a licence offence, but a motoring one.
My example was perhaps extreme, but still valid...and I would suggest it would be harsh - or desperate- for Plod to write a ticket for just that.

[peetee]

Hi Guys - many thanks for the responses. 812NM torque put to good use. Wasn't even a problem car felt rock solid

[peetee]

Originally Posted by Two-tone525

Cool. Welcome to the BMW F31 and RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy owners club - membership of two. You and I suspect

I move mine around with a van and trailer, I've not had the F31 long enough to retro fit the OEM BMW tow bar. Something I do want to do.

You should be fine with a braked Brian James. Have you driven with a trailer before? Have a read around and talk to people that have if you have not.

Get your route sorted first too. Don't take any wrong turns, as reversing with a trailer takes practice and not something you want to do under pressure in a confined space.

You may find you'll also have to pay extra for the ratchet straps on the day as many hire firms don't supply them with the trailer; if you don't have your own. Again, if you've not used them before, worth figuring them out first, and how to place them correctly to strap the Trophy down without rubbing body work. A trip of 50 miles and a strap touching the bodywork will see you rub the paint off down to the metal/plastic in no time.

You'll have discovered it already I'm sure, but if not, get yourself over to Cliotrophy.co.uk a super helpful bunch with a lot of information available.

The Trophy has a kerb weight of 1090kg, so +700kg for the trailer and you'll be under the braked trailer weight.

Do ensure you have the correct driving license though. If you passed your test after 1997 you have a limit on the weight you can tow. A 750kg trailer. You can tow a trailer of over 750kg as long as the combined weight of trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg as the MAM (maximum authorised mass). You have to take and pass the car and trailer driving test if you want to tow with more weight than that.

Thankfully I passed pre 1997 and have the B+E on my license automatically.

Good luck with it. Post some photos of the 'rig' with the Trophy on!

Hey Two-tone525. Great minds think alike. I have a feeling i'll be posting on the cliotrophy.co.uk a lot sourcing parts and getting recommendations. I picked up 485 on Sunday .. 49k miles and 1 owner from new. Was a 100 mile journey home

[Two-tone525]

Originally Posted by peetee

Hey Two-tone525. Great minds think alike. I have a feeling i'll be posting on the cliotrophy.co.uk a lot sourcing parts and getting recommendations. I picked up 485 on Sunday .. 49k miles and 1 owner from new. Was a 100 mile journey home

Get involved. I've been a member since 2008-ish and there are still some of the old lags about that will chime in with help and views.

First thing you'll be looking for on the parts front is a new front splitter. OEM are like hens teeth and were eye wateringly expensive. Most people go for the 'Skoda Fabia' option at around £20 vs. the £120 Renault option.

Sounds like 50k miles and one owner is a great find. Let me know if I can help with it. I'll have a nose about on the Trophy forum and look up the car by its number.

More on topic, glad to hear the F31 didn't miss a beat. Love the custom colour too. I'd have loved to have ordered a 340i in Mediterranean blue or Marina Bay blue or Tanzanite blue.