Anyone using their YRV Turbo for towing a caravan?

Submitted by Yellow YRV Turbo on

Forum: 

Mine originally came with a towbar, but I removed it a while back. I still have it and now I am considering refitting it and getting a caravan. Question is, is it suitable for towing (engine with rapid turbo spool up and semi-auto gearbox)and what is the maximum weight?

My owners manual puts the weight of the YRV at roughly 1400kgs. Some caravan websites say that generally the towed weight should be less than 65 -85% of the towing vehicle depending on which website.

So then if I hitch up a 800kg caravan with about 50kgs load I should be well on the safe side?

I have towed trailers of various shapes and sizes, is it the same to tow a caravan or anything else to be aware of?

Buy a trailer tent mate,i

Submitted by mark bishop on

Buy a trailer tent mate,i would`nt fancy towing a caravan with my turbo,there not the most stable of cars in corners unless you sort out the suspension and fit bigger tyres,so towing a caravan in my opinion would be a bit of an arse twitching moment,dont know what anyone else thinks!!

I wouldn't fancy towing

Submitted by waynephatg on

I wouldn't fancy towing anything with my YRV with the exception of maybe a small trailer. Don't do it!! The YRV isn't blessed with the best of looks at the rear and a towbar won't help!! Thats my opinion. As you say, the weights dictate what you could tow, also the Turbo's bouncy rear end wouldn't help matters I don't reckon.

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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

Well... I don't have many choices...

Submitted by Yellow YRV Turbo on

I have the YRV and wife has a Charade, so not many choices.
Guess I'll have to chance it with as small a caravan as I can find. Maybe a 9-12feet which is under 700kgs... I'll spray the caravan yellow to match Wink

This is what she looked like before I removed the towbar:
(Those ugly orange stickers have also since been removed)

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Just call me G... Wink
2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

Yeah towering a caravan isn't

Submitted by Jpor on

Yeah towering a caravan isn't a good option with these cars. On occassion when the wheather has been windy have known my car to be buffered side to side a bit, so will be doubly worse with a caravan as well. Daihatsu owner PocketRocketer has town caravans on the back of his 1 litre Sirion, but only those small type caravans. Wasn't aware that the YRV weighed 1400KG? When looking at the specs I have found that it's supposed to weigh 970KGs;

http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=100243

This is one of the resons why it is quicker Wink

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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP

I thought that too...

Submitted by Yellow YRV Turbo on

Well I thought it was under 1000kgs as well, but have a look in the specs section in your owners manual, it gives the weights of all the variants of the YRV as well. The turbo automatic is the heaviest...
I'm not planning on doing any seriously fast or very far trips towing the caravan, but I am getting a bit nervous now after what you guys are all saying. From my experience with the YRV though, I have never been much bothered by the wind or normal turning. Perhaps I have uprated springs in mine already Scratch one-s head ...

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Just call me G... Wink
2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

Interesting just read this

Submitted by Jpor on

Interesting just read this now, it appears the auto cars are 1,430KG, so that makes it heavier than a Mark 1 Suabaru Impreza Turbo (1,200KG) and close to the 1,460KG of the Mark 3 Subarua Impreza. Not disputing the weight but always though our cars were lighter than that though Sad

Just found on page 13-6 of the manual that the auto box fluid has a change interval which appears to be every 3 years! And needs either Dextron II or III. Last garage (Who I don't use anymore) told me that the transimission oil was for the life of the car, good job I don't use them anymore Sad
Luckily I insisted at the garage I now use to change this for me, jsut goes to show...

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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP

Well spotted

Submitted by waynephatg on

Isn't that for SEVERE driving conditions? On Page 13-4 it also says to replace the fluid but at 54k miles or 6 years. Does anyone know of anywhere that is able to change all of the fluid? Don't fancy partially draining it and topping it up repeatedly until all the fluid is new.............

You had yours done then Jon?

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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

Yeah it mentions severe

Submitted by Jpor on

Yeah it mentions severe driving, but if you look at the term severe driving it mentions where for example you do things like; repeated small journeys or driving on salty roads etc.. I used to take my car to a Daihatsu parts and service garage and when I asked about the Auto oil change was told it was for the life of the car and a waste of money :(. This is the same garage that tried to rip me off by telling me the rear shocks were leaking and oil was seen to be escaping (Of course the rear shocks on the YRV are Gas filled) and when I swappped garages (Luckily there are a couple of Daihatsu garages in Cheshire)got a second opinion and was told the rear shocks were fine, also they had no quibbles about swapping out the Auto fluid for me (Even though it was still a cherry red colour). To answer your question Wayne, I had the auto fluid done over a year ago (my car is now approaching 7 Years) so luckily hit the 6 year deadline for the change to be done. Smile

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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP

Towing

Submitted by cus16 on

Hi Chap. I have a Yrv F-speed and tow a small braked trailer tent of 450 kgs. When towing I use steer shift and find I use 3rd gear alot hills etc, when camping the car is loaded with stuff and this makes high speed uneven road fun. I have fitted a extra gearbox oil cooler and inner coil spring to rear to help load ( see pics gallery). Even with your extra power I think to wind bufferting could be unpleasant. B4 I fitted my bar I looked at advised towing limit and 780 kg is average weight(some 950kg) but you would need a small caravan and be careful not overload/nose weigh at 50kgs is very low. Cheers CUS

Just as an example what you maybe able to tow...

Submitted by Jpor on

To keep this post on track and not to hijack it any further Wink
This is what Pocketrocketer is using;

http://www.daihatsu-drivers.co.uk/node/12231

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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP

yrv turbo weight

Submitted by sirion pete on

hello just to let you know i have the yrv turbo original brochue and the correct weight is 930kg it has a max trailer load limit of 1000kg thats if it is braked ie most caravans r braked.but like u said i wouldnt go over a caravan weighing anymore that 800kg.hope this helps.

rally 2 owner

So what does it weigh then?

Submitted by waynephatg on

930kg or 1400 odd? Book says 1400 odd...........

Visit to the weighbridge I think lol.

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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

big difference!

Submitted by Yellow YRV Turbo on

I would tend to think the car is under a ton, but a visit by someone to a weighbridge is a good "way" (pardon the pun) of finding out definitively what we gots... anyone have easy access?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just call me G... Wink
2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

yea there's one 10 miles from

Submitted by waynephatg on

yea there's one 10 miles from me. May pop over there in a week or so when I get time and will let you all know unless someone beats me to it. 1400 seems well ott to me. Surely that's max laden weight!!

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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo

towing with a turbo YRV

Submitted by DAVEL on

hi from a Yrv newby, the car may be 930kg(which is more likely than 1400kg) with a stated towing weight of 1000kg braked. but that is still to high for the weight of the car! 85% of the weight is recommended, anymore would put your engine & turbo at risk of blowing!!!. i was a caravan service engineer for 7 years & a caravaner, too many people tow over weight. most caravan dealerships have computor programs which will match cars with the right weight of caravan. hope this helps !!

Can always go back to sts to

Submitted by lloydrad on

Can always go back to sts to change. Anyway, changing of engine mounting nothing too difficult, as long as they have the right equipment. But I still suggest sts, as the mechanics are supposedly trained.

Towing