From: Clive George on
On 15/03/2010 08:49, delboy wrote:
> On 15 Mar, 08:26, Adrian<toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>> delboy<del.copel...(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like
>> they were saying:
>>
>>> I normally tow glider trailers containing disassembled gliders. The
>>> individual components are too long to fit in standard vans.
>>
>> Glider trailers are light enough to tow behind relatively small cars.
>
> Glider trailers are generally much heavier than the gliders they
> contain. Trailers containing big two seater gliders can easily weigh
> 1500 kg (one and half tons). Also we occasionally have to retrieve
> gliders that have landed out in farmers fields, and very often you
> have to travel along very muddy tracks to get to then, which is when
> 4x4's are very useful. My current car is a 2WD Citroen C5 in which I
> have got bogged down several times. It is a bit embarassing to ask the
> farmer to tow you out with his tractor.

A friend who was a glider instructor until very recently drove entirely
normal 2WD cars - eg Pug 306.

It sounds like you've got a case for the club owning a landy - though
getting the farmer to do the muddy work seems like a good alternative.
From: JNugent on
Adrian wrote:
> JNugent <JN(a)noparticularplacetogo.com> gurgled happily, sounding much like
> they were saying:
>
>>>> Not if you really need a large 4x4 and can only affard one vehicle!
>
>>> So what do people need a "large 4x4" for, other than as a result of
>>> lifestyle choices?
>
>> What's wrong with lifestyle choices?
>
> Absolutely nothing.
>
>> We all make them.
>
> Indeed we do.
>
> The problem only comes when people start to confuse them with NEEDS, and
> whinge because the choices they make cost more than they'd prefer them to.

To the extent that the costs referred to are inherent, factor, costs, I agree
with you.

If those "costs" include specifically-targeted spite taxes, I find myself in
a certain amount of sympathy with those doing the complaining.
From: Adrian on
JNugent <JN(a)noparticularplacetogo.com> gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

> If those "costs" include specifically-targeted spite taxes

And what "specifically-targeted spite taxes" affect 4x4s?
From: delboy on
On 15 Mar, 13:02, Clive George <cl...(a)xxxx-x.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> On 15/03/2010 08:49, delboy wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 15 Mar, 08:26, Adrian<toomany2...(a)gmail.com>  wrote:
> >> delboy<del.copel...(a)tiscali.co.uk>  gurgled happily, sounding much like
> >> they were saying:
>
> >>> I normally tow glider trailers containing disassembled gliders. The
> >>> individual components are too long to fit in standard vans.
>
> >> Glider trailers are light enough to tow behind relatively small cars.
>
> > Glider trailers are generally much heavier than the gliders they
> > contain. Trailers containing big two seater gliders can easily weigh
> > 1500 kg (one and half tons).  Also we occasionally have to retrieve
> > gliders that have landed out in farmers fields, and very often you
> > have to travel along very muddy tracks to get to then, which is when
> > 4x4's are very useful. My current car is a 2WD Citroen C5 in which I
> > have got bogged down several times. It is a bit embarassing to ask the
> > farmer to tow you out with his tractor.
>
> A friend who was a glider instructor until very recently drove entirely
> normal 2WD cars - eg Pug 306.
>
> It sounds like you've got a case for the club owning a landy - though
> getting the farmer to do the muddy work seems like a good alternative.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

You can just about tow a single seater glider trailer with a medium
sized car such as a 306. However larger vehicles give better towing
stability, better traction and better braking. It is recommended that
trailers should not exceed 85% of the kerb weight of the towing
vehicle, and there are also Maximum All-up Mass (MAM) limitations.
That is you can't tow a heavy trailer whilst also carrying 5 heavy
adults and all their luggage.

Derek C

From: Clive George on
On 15/03/2010 13:25, delboy wrote:

> You can just about tow a single seater glider trailer with a medium
> sized car such as a 306. However larger vehicles give better towing
> stability, better traction and better braking. It is recommended that
> trailers should not exceed 85% of the kerb weight of the towing
> vehicle, and there are also Maximum All-up Mass (MAM) limitations.
> That is you can't tow a heavy trailer whilst also carrying 5 heavy
> adults and all their luggage.

Two points :

1) And how often do you do that?

2) How much of that would be doable with a heavier yet still economical
normal car? eg your C5.