Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Not covered by any of categories below, want a winch or need to buy some recovery gear then your question goes in here!

You will also find online parts catalogues, Service manuals and a other useful info here.
User avatar
Jay18
SCUK is my life
SCUK is my life
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:50 pm
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire

Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jay18 » Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:42 pm

okay so im thinking of getting a caravan in the future, now ive read that SJ410's have a max towing weight of 1100KGs

my mum and dad used to have a 1.6 auto nissan almera and towed a lunar meteorite S with it, the max weight of it was 800KG

would it be safe and legal to tow a 800kg max caravan with a standard SJ410? or would i need to up the engine to a 1.6? or need stronger diffs and shafts??


this one is the standard meteorite, not the S... 690KGs


Click Here for Ebay Listing


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUNAR-METEORI ... 3cd1a03ffb
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
16x7 Black 8 spokes
Nexen road tyres
32mm spacers
Kenwood Double Din Head Unit
Hidden CB radio
Cruise Control
GV Build Thread

SJ Build Thread
Facebook

YouTube
SuzukiPicsUK on Instagram

User avatar
windsor
Winching along now
Winching along now
Posts: 618
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 7:58 am
Location: derbyshire

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by windsor » Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:48 pm

Shuld be fine if my just slow tbh i used myn to drag my dads abby 24ft 1300kg van out of a muddy field cos the bloke who borght it his volvo wasnt up to the job lol
1994 sj 413 sierra
cheker plate door cards
cd players
asin free wheeling hubs
99% rust free
alloys
bukets
some leaks here and there

User avatar
Jordi
Bow down before me
Bow down before me
Posts: 7534
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:35 pm
Location: Darlington, Co. Durham

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jordi » Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:58 pm

Erm.... Another can of worms.

You'd need correct licence. All depends on when you passed your test.

I have asked my dad to look for the owners manual for ours to get all the weights and capacities out of it.

Shafts / diffs / engine should all be fine. I would imagine it'd just be very slow and underpowered especially on hills. Pulling away on the flat wouldn't put much additional strain on the drive train as the rolling resisitance of a caravan is minimal. Even a 25' twin axle can be pushed by a single bloke.

Edit:- not the the speed would be an issue. It's law that caravans have to go slow, get lost, and block roads. Weight wise it shouldn't bully the SJ when braking and cornering as it meets the recommended 80% weight guidelines suggested by most caravan organisations.
Last edited by Jordi on Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1988 Samurai - Truck Cab & Tray Back - 1.6 8v & HIF44 - Snorkel - Stack Exhaust - PAS, YJs & 33s - Trussed, Gusseted & Pumpkin Capped Axles - 4.3 R&Ps - 4.16 T/Box - Rear Air Locker - Full Float Back Axle & Discs - RCV Front Shafts - X-Eng Handbrake - Custom Fuel Tank

User avatar
Jordi
Bow down before me
Bow down before me
Posts: 7534
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:35 pm
Location: Darlington, Co. Durham

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jordi » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:03 pm

That interior screams 1980s. Its brilliant!
1988 Samurai - Truck Cab & Tray Back - 1.6 8v & HIF44 - Snorkel - Stack Exhaust - PAS, YJs & 33s - Trussed, Gusseted & Pumpkin Capped Axles - 4.3 R&Ps - 4.16 T/Box - Rear Air Locker - Full Float Back Axle & Discs - RCV Front Shafts - X-Eng Handbrake - Custom Fuel Tank

User avatar
Jay18
SCUK is my life
SCUK is my life
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:50 pm
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jay18 » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:07 pm

thanks guys, i think i would probably do a 1.6 conversion on my zuk if it is underpowered, as for licence, i know i can tow upto 750kg braked on standard licence, im looking into doing a trailer test anyway..

if i was to get one i would definitly re-do the interior like my mum and dads old one, might even be lucky to find that one for sale again lol..

EDIT: i would not be bothered by speed as ill only be driving my sj at no more than 50 anyway, with the engine being only a 1.0 and all the work ive done on it i will be looking after it and taking it slow..
Last edited by Jay18 on Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
16x7 Black 8 spokes
Nexen road tyres
32mm spacers
Kenwood Double Din Head Unit
Hidden CB radio
Cruise Control
GV Build Thread

SJ Build Thread
Facebook

YouTube
SuzukiPicsUK on Instagram

User avatar
Jordi
Bow down before me
Bow down before me
Posts: 7534
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:35 pm
Location: Darlington, Co. Durham

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jordi » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:08 pm

When did you pass driving test Jay?
1988 Samurai - Truck Cab & Tray Back - 1.6 8v & HIF44 - Snorkel - Stack Exhaust - PAS, YJs & 33s - Trussed, Gusseted & Pumpkin Capped Axles - 4.3 R&Ps - 4.16 T/Box - Rear Air Locker - Full Float Back Axle & Discs - RCV Front Shafts - X-Eng Handbrake - Custom Fuel Tank

User avatar
Jay18
SCUK is my life
SCUK is my life
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:50 pm
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jay18 » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:09 pm

3rd august 2012
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
16x7 Black 8 spokes
Nexen road tyres
32mm spacers
Kenwood Double Din Head Unit
Hidden CB radio
Cruise Control
GV Build Thread

SJ Build Thread
Facebook

YouTube
SuzukiPicsUK on Instagram

User avatar
windsor
Winching along now
Winching along now
Posts: 618
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 7:58 am
Location: derbyshire

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by windsor » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:09 pm

Am in prosess of buliding a teardrop caravan only 280kg when bulit just like a posh tent really but will do me
1994 sj 413 sierra
cheker plate door cards
cd players
asin free wheeling hubs
99% rust free
alloys
bukets
some leaks here and there

User avatar
Jordi
Bow down before me
Bow down before me
Posts: 7534
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:35 pm
Location: Darlington, Co. Durham

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jordi » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:13 pm

You can tow over 750kg (over 750kg trailers require brakes) so long as the trailer weighs no more than the unladen weight of the tow vehicle and the gross combined weight is no more than 3500kg.
image.jpg
image.jpg (141.25 KiB) Viewed 7388 times
1988 Samurai - Truck Cab & Tray Back - 1.6 8v & HIF44 - Snorkel - Stack Exhaust - PAS, YJs & 33s - Trussed, Gusseted & Pumpkin Capped Axles - 4.3 R&Ps - 4.16 T/Box - Rear Air Locker - Full Float Back Axle & Discs - RCV Front Shafts - X-Eng Handbrake - Custom Fuel Tank

User avatar
Jay18
SCUK is my life
SCUK is my life
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:50 pm
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire

Re: Towing a caravan with an SJ410?

Post by Jay18 » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:15 pm

ive looked at doing a teardrop but will cost too much and dont have anywhere to build one, also theyre small arent they, i was wanting something a bit bigger, at least i can stand nup in the middle of the meteorite lol


jordi - so i can tow a 800kg caravan with my sj410 without doing another test?
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
16x7 Black 8 spokes
Nexen road tyres
32mm spacers
Kenwood Double Din Head Unit
Hidden CB radio
Cruise Control
GV Build Thread

SJ Build Thread
Facebook

YouTube
SuzukiPicsUK on Instagram

Post Reply