will my W124 make it?

[SilverSaloon]

hi

in a couple of months, we are having a couple of weeks in Devon in our caravan.

As travelling large distances is often a lot of hassle with two young kids in the back getting bored etc, we thought that it may be worth driving the whole journey overnight. Leave at 7pm or something and arrive early morning. Other alternative (which we did before) was to split into two days but this means two still long journeys for the kids. Kids will sleep through the night (hopefully!!!) and the roads will be quiet

Thing is, we will be towing our caravan which weighs in at around 1200kg, and the car is likely to be fully loaded aswell. The E300D has no problems hauling this and we have gone all over the country with it without issue, but never in one huge stretch towing. Doing it solo wouldnt concern me at all and we often go 350miles without issue.

is it too much to push the W124 for continuous more-or-less non-stop towing for 500 odd miles? we will be stopping occasionally for several 20min to 1 hour rest breaks. probaby one long stop for about an hour (eat) and other 20 min stops for calls of nature, coffee, stretch of legs etc

hopefully going at around 60 most of the way, which is motorway.

the E300D is in 1st class mechanical condition...

and, please, no comments on towing, caravannning etc.....

 

[Seamster15]

Make sure you have fresh oil and depending on where your going in Devon let her cool down at Exeter Services before attempting Telegraph hill.....

I love road trips, good luck!

 

[Sp!ke]

I'd say that it should handle it with ease... cars like long journeys.

 

[SilverSaloon]

yep i plan on changing the oil before we go as it will be due anyway around this time along with several other service items (discs & pads probably aswell). also will replace fuel filters.

 

[mattc]

Derek - Its a 124....just get on with it

 

[stumpy1]

It'll be fine, though I'd take a few small spare bits so you don't get stranded by something daft. Mine likes fuses at the moment which have gone dry and brittle.

 

[DITTRICH]

Whilst I've never towed a caravan, in 2005 my E300D estate did 1,200 miles in 24 hours from London to Linkoping in Sweden, rest breaks included. I travelled overnight too and experienced empty roads. Your car will work harder but you'll be travelling slower than I did. I don't think you should worry about it.
Les

 

[Deleted member 11979]

It'll do it with ease, if you're going on the North Devon link road though to Barnstaple, be really careful if you are tired (at the end of your journey), it is a treacherous road and has many accidents involving tourists every year, watch for oncoming cars overtaking on brows of hills and against double white lines etc.

We look forward to welcoming you!

 

[grober]

The thing that always causes breakdowns on long hauls is the cooling system- especially in summer/ slow traffic . If your's is in good nick-- WATERPUMP poly V belt-- belt tensioner --HOSES-- radiator--thermostat-- v/c fan-- aircon fans--- you have nothing to fear. Its usually cheap bits like hoses that folks ignore.

 

[jaymanek]

hoses and belts are the ones to check before you set off.

500 miles is nothing though... A w124 300D could tow a 3 bed semi 500 miles without blinking.

 

[Pringles]

I would be confident with your car. I'm sure it is well maintained.

My car easily coped with a trip to Switzerland in 2007. Speed humps are the only thing I am extra respectful of when I am loaded up.

 

[bolide]

The only drawback I can see is that when you arrive the kids will be full of beans and you'll need a few hours kip...

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[popuptoaster]

hah! we used to go to newquay a couple of times a year in some proper old dogs of cars and vans, mostly loaded up with 6 or 7 mates and never had any bother, i go all over the country in my 35 year old coupe and never worry about it, just join the AA, my dad toured the country and the continent with us 4 kids and a caravan on the back in many cheap second hand cars for years, old cars are no more likely to pack in than new ones if maintained correctly.

 

[Dieselman]

The thing that always causes breakdowns on long hauls is the cooling system- especially in summer/ slow traffic . If your's is in good nick-- WATERPUMP poly V belt-- belt tensioner --HOSES-- radiator--thermostat-- v/c fan-- aircon fans--- you have nothing to fear. Its usually cheap bits like hoses that folks ignore.

I would echo this, it's nearly always water pumps and hoses that suffer on long drives.
The car being a diesel helps, they like to be run hard for hours on end.

iirc one ran for 2 years non-stop as a pumping engine. (might be an old lister or something..)

 

[219]

I'm sure you will be allright .

If , as you have already said you plan to do , you change the oil etc , check over the cooling system , check the tyres ( don't forget to check the caravan tyres as well , especially if they have been static for a year - do you have a spare for the 'van ? - , brakes , lights etc on the van if it has lain around since last year ) , carry a few useful spares ( drive belts , fuses , bulb kit ) and a small but comprehensive toolkit , then chances are you'll be in a position to fix any minor problems which may arise . Check the brake pads on the car have plenty of life left in them as they have that much more work to do when towing .

I've towed all over the country with similar older cars ( W123 280TE , W124 300TE ) pulling an Abbey 518GT which was probably at least as heavy as your van ( can't remember the weight as I sold it a good few years back ) - the only modification was fitment of a Kenlowe ATF cooler to the 280 - the 300 had a separate transmission oil cooler already .

I now have a towbar on the W126 and am planning to get another 'van in a year or two when our 8 month old will be old enough to enjoy this kind of holiday . By that time I should have the car properly fettled to tow with confidence ( doing brakes just now and have to sort the sagging rear suspension ) .

Although you are hauling more weight you are also travelling more slowly , so fuel consumption and additional strain on the car is not as much as you might think .

Good luck and enjoy the holiday .

 

[219]

Derek ,

another question .

Will you be doing all the driving , or will your wife take a turn at towing on some easy stretches of motorway ?

Whilst the car will almost certainly cope , it will be a lot easier on YOU if you can share the driving on such a long trip .

 

[230K]

Hi

When we go to the continent i always drive the Stranraer to Dover run at night just set the cruise around the legal limit and go for it. Have even done it none stop Stranraer to Dover albiet at less than the legal limit. (sorry tell a lie stops at M6 and Dartford to give toll money)

I did 1080 miles in 24 hours Belfast to Biaritz with 6 on board and roof box etc although my impeccably maintained E300Turbodiesel let me down on the Paris ring road on the way how when the water pump impellor cracked and started to spin on the shaft. One to be aware of if you have a plastic impellor

Brushes for the alternator is a good spare to keep for long trips.


Go for it should be no problem.

230K

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

The car should do this no worries, maybe worth getting a cheap set of headrest screens for the kids so they can pkay games / watch films (get some headsets) also make sure your van is up for it, check the tyres, lights and brakes etc. Tyres are often forgotten on vans and they do tend to stand for a while unless you lift them up or put solid wheels on when parked.

Ours loves towing, I know its not a 124 but its happy at 60mph on cruise just plodding on.


I also agree while doing the trip at night sounds good, you will get their and be knackered, while the kids will be full of beans. It will take you a day to recover.


Road trips are ace and I love towing our van, in fact we are off to the south coast this yr for summer


Make sure you put the correct air preasure in the car tyres also, top up all fluids and all should be fine.


have a great trip

 

[hawk20]

It is not easy to stay awake all night if you are not used to it. It is easy to fall asleep at the wheel. Many major accidents occur that way. Worth considering if it is really worth the risk.

Second, if you do stay awake all night, you will take days to fully recover from that. Breaking the trip in two seems more sensible and you can have the pleasure of stopping somewhere interesting on the way.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Hi

thanks for everyone's advice. Some good tips in there.

My wife will also be doing some driving, but probably not much. Will probably take over when i start to feel tired. She's never towed before though so we need to go for a practice run 1st (shoudl be fun!!). When we arrive we will be meeting grandparents and my brother so i can get some sleep in the caravan whilst they get on with the day and we can set up the van properly later on. We already have DVD screens - very useful

i'm a memebr of the AA so should be OK - i'll take the usual easy fix stuff with me and i already keep several tools/spares and things in the caravan.

we are going away for a shorter trip in a few weeks time in the caravan so i plan on getting it on the driveway for a check over before then.

the car is running well and never had any problems on the cooling side of things - it towed before 300 miles non stop without issue before so should be OK.

the only fault on the car i know of is that there is a minor oil leak under pressure - i think this is from the front crankshaft seal - i've not got round to fixing this yet as it is very minor and i just top up the oil every week. I may take a look at it though before the trip but would need plenty of weeks in advance for cockups!!