will my W124 make it?

[Smiley]

guys, you are forgetting, its an E300D - it only does 40mph up hills when NOT towing!!!

Actually you jest but my fully loaded e300d gets to the top of telegraph hill at about the high 50s - so you are going to be very lucky to get to the top at 40mph with your van on the back.

 

[SilverSaloon]

That van is so long you would need a telescope to see the bunced up traffic 2 miles behind

who cares? they are behind

 

[dogan124]

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.....

Hi SilverSaloon,

I have a w124 300 td (12 valve) towing a 1600 kg single axis.

My two kids sitting(30%) fighting(70%) behind, some times forces me to drive at night. The car becomes more silent at night drives and the traffic is usully much better. Besides, compered to the day temperature it is more comfortable and you do not require AC.

This summer I drove about 650 kms with normal breaks, from 18:00 to 03:30 and had no problem with the car. Infact I felt myself less reliable than the car after 12:00, that I frequently had to wash my face and take some fresh air.

About that 40 mph issue, I too on hills, drop to those speeds while towing but still pass many vehicles and just don't feel too sluggish out there...

Have a nice journey.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Just out of interest have you done the sums on keeping that great big thing and worked out the total cost of ownership vs the same number of weeks in a nice cottage somewhere in Devon or Cornwall; there can not be much in it is there? I assume a van like that is not cheap and it depreciates and it costs money to store it and the e300d only does 12mpg towing it and it takes 3 days to get to Devon........

you really dont like caravans do you?

ok, the initial outlay on the van is quite high; mine cost me £6k last year. a new one the same size/spec would weigh in at around £15k. - but we can go anywhere we like with the caravan and costs of a cottage/static caravan can easily run near to £400 to £500 for the holiday if staying somewhere nice - even more sometimes. depreciation doesnt really bother me as i dont plan on selling the caravan for a good few years. when we sell it will probably fetch just under £2k; but we have had our moneys worth. plus you have all your own stuff with you, and during the season the van can be ready to go if you keep it stocked, meaning one weekend if you fancy going away you can just go.

i think, try it once and many will be converted, but people like Clarkson put people off without even trying it for themselves.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Just out of interest have you done the sums on keeping that great big thing and worked out the total cost of ownership vs the same number of weeks in a nice cottage somewhere in Devon or Cornwall; there can not be much in it is there? I assume a van like that is not cheap and it depreciates and it costs money to store it and the e300d only does 12mpg towing it and it takes 3 days to get to Devon........

You raise an interesting point, but it's not just about the costs, we took our campervan to southern Europe for our honeymoon, we stayed for 3 weeks on top of a cliff with a 270 degree view of the med and a 20 yard walk to a secluded cove for 16 euros a night! There are no hotels like that that I could afford!

We use our camper several times a year, and it's a stress free relaxing holiday on a budget, plus you have everything you need with you and can move on when the weather turns bad, get bored of the place ,seen enough etc etc.

 

[Smiley]

You raise an interesting point, but it's not just about the costs, we took our campervan to southern Europe for our honeymoon, we stayed for 3 weeks on top of a cliff with a 270 degree view of the med and a 20 yard walk to a secluded cove for 16 euros a night! There are no hotels like that that I could afford!

We use our camper several times a year, and it's a stress free relaxing holiday on a budget, plus you have everything you need with you and can move on when the weather turns bad, get bored of the place ,seen enough etc etc.

Good job we did not do that for our honeymoon it would have been a short marriage even by todays standards

 

[Smiley]

you really dont like caravans do you?

In a word no. But it is nothing to do with Clarkson just my own dislike of them. Having said that it would be a pity if we were all the same so I hope you enjoy your holiday with your family and take my leg pulling in the spirit in which it was intended - friendly banter.

And if I see you in Devon mines the battered blue e300d estate we will wave as we go speeding by ......

 

[jaymanek]

i dont like caravans.. we had a camper van and whilst it was good fun as kids... nowadays i simply couldnt think of it as a holiday if I had to do my own washing up, using a hose pipe and go for a number 2 in a glorified bucket.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i dont like caravans.. we had a camper van and whilst it was good fun as kids... nowadays i simply couldnt think of it as a holiday if I had to do my own washing up, using a hose pipe and go for a number 2 in a glorified bucket.

Caravans have moved on a lot..... you should take a look round the latest top spec models - really nice.

some pics to wet your appetite/annoy you

 

[BTB 500]

i dont like caravans.. we had a camper van and whilst it was good fun as kids... nowadays i simply couldnt think of it as a holiday if I had to do my own washing up, using a hose pipe and go for a number 2 in a glorified bucket.

We do the washing up in a sink, with running hot water. And the toilet flushes (electric pump). Blown air central heating (thermostatic), proper shower cubicle, built-in CD / radio, colour TV, big fridge with freezer compartment, gas barbecue (via a socket on the outside ), 4-ring cooker with grill and oven, fixed double bed, blinds & flyscreens on all the windows, etc.

Not exactly 'roughing it'

PS all of the above runs on gas or 12V ... we very rarely use a mains hookup.

 

[A210AMG]

I think people who don't like caravans will never have their minds changed....Clarkson doesn't help but I actually do think its quite funny.

Also how many people have actually owned and used one rather than jump on the band wagon..

As menioned caravans have moved on a lot.. I remember my dads early one, foot operated pump for cold water only...

As mentioned these days its like towing your own 1st class hotel room. Only you can always get a great view. I have everything we have in the house only smaller.


Also more and more sites now you can have a serviced pitch which means you don't need to empty waste or fill the water up you can even plug the TV aireal in for a better reception.

Good thing people are different, for us with a little one its great, we can use it tomorow if we want just for the weekend, little one gets to run round when we pitch up. Cannot do that in a soleless hotel room. Govenerd by breakfast at XX time, room clean at xx time.

Ive stayed in lovely hotels all over the world and don't get me wrong I still like them, with a young family though a caravan is great. You do what you want to do when you want to do it.

Its also a hobby I guess, sorting the stuff out, cleaning the van etc maybe sad..but I like that side of it also

 

[SilverSaloon]

Its also a hobby I guess, sorting the stuff out, cleaning the van etc maybe sad..but I like that side of it also

yeah i'm as enthusiastic about caravans as i am about mercs and often visit the caravan forums.

i enjoy towing the van and being in control of my "rig".... i also enjoy sorting the stuff out at the caravan site and maintaning the pitch when we are on site.

also, in addition to the caravans themselves, the actual sites are also much nicer nowadays. stay away from places like haven etc and go to the many independent caravan parks and they are really nice with good, clean facilities. 5 star "best of british" sites are superb. as said, a fully serviced pitch can have running water (no need to change aquaroll etc) or empty waste water. some even have Sky hookup and wifi access from within your caravan.

 

[A210AMG]

Yep me too which one....

I go to the NEC show and buy the mags etc...

Keeps me out of trouble I guess...

 

[A210AMG]

Thinking about it my dad had a W123 estate (200T) not even the E and he towed a Bucanner 4 brth van all over europe with all our stuff and bikes in the van!!

That must have strugled to get itself up some hills never mind with a van.

DBA 106Y if its out there??

 

[SSBB]

One of the reasons airplanes go on for millions of miles and dozens of years is the long constant speed journeys their engines are tasked with. A car engine is no different, when correctly maintained it will cruise way way way beyond your capability to be in control of it.
As an aside, I once had to drive a fifteen year old Mercedes diesel van with 300,000 miles on it for the worlds worst and tightest employer (many years ago) I held it in third gear from Dartford to Greenwich foot to the floor, non stop. I tried everything in my power to destroy that engine....unsuccessfuly.
Enjoy your holiday.

 

[SilverSaloon]

well, this "epic trip" (which i've started to annoy my wife by calling it) is this friday.

i've not really had the chance to do as much on the 124 as i'd hoped due to the 107 restoration taking all of my time up, but i've recently;

- change engine oil - 3k ago
- checked gearbox fluid and its spot on
- checked brakes to be good and plenty of miles left in them
- checked all fluids to be fine
- checked towbar and replaced bolts
- balljoint been replaced

+ various checks on the caravan aswell as normal.

 

[wemorgan]

...........sorry for not read all the previous posts......but worth keeping a spare fan belt in the boot.


Enjoy!

 

[glojo]

I cannot remember if you mentioned whereabouts in Devon you will be visiting but for the uneducated among us (joke)

Telegraph Hill is the A380 going to sunny Torquay and the opposite hill is Haldon Hill which is the A38 that goes to Plymouth, however if you are travelling in the opposite direction, then both roads will take you to Exeter

Looking at your very nice caravan, I doubt very much that you will be travelling at anywhere near 50mph when you reach the summit but so what? Who cares apart from the idiots that think we must all travel at the absolute maximum speeds. You will probably get stuck behind an HGV that is doing their best to travel up these steepish inclines.

Do you know the area you are going to? I ask this with the greatest of respect as most of our dual carriageways are actually country laneswith a grass verge growing in the middle of the highway. Navigation systems are great at sending large vehicles along these 'dual carriageways' and then laughing at the ensuing traffic jams.

Most caravan sites are on our larger roads but some of them are out in the wilds where it is impossible for two vans to pass on some of these narrow lanes.

Most caravanners tend to get into Devon during the night hours as the roads are not as congested but it is all a personal choice and I wish you well. I am sure the car will eat the miles but be aware that some of our hills are on the steep side.

Rumour has it that the intrepid cyclists that attended last years Annual Pilgrimage bought down their push bikes and 'push' was the operative word when it cameto the hills

Speaking of which......

Dieselman........ Where are you?

 

[renault12ts]

6th July. The date me and Madame Renault start our two weeks in D & C in a camper. Have made a reasonable itinerary,inc. Torquay. We haven't booked any camp sites ( yet ), is this wise??

 

[SilverSaloon]

we are actually now going to Charmouth in Dorset so will be fine re the telegraph hill issue....