Towing

[ScubaBongo]

Did my first bit of towing last night, moved a boat (approx 1.6tonnes) around 1 mile.

Bongo was warmed up already when the trailer was attached. I have a Mason Alarm, and the temp gauge was at it's usual '1 oclock' (never overheated). Arrived at the slip with the boat, left the engine running while taking off the light-board etc.

By the time I got back in the Bongo to launch the boat, the Mason was chirping away (set around 4.5) and the gauge was edging past 2 oclock (midway between its usual poition and the HOT end of the scale). Whacked all the blowers on hot - max, and the needle came back down to 1. Did the retutn journey with the blowers still on max, and all was fine.

Now, while I'm confident (? ?) that disaster was averted this time, it has put me off towing. If it got this hot, this easily with the boat behind, on flat roads, then what would happen on an August day, stuck in slow moving traffic, going up some steep Cornish incline? I'd rather have the Air-con on than the hot air in summer!

Am I asking too much of my Bongo? I'm starting to think I am. Your opinions are sought.

[and as an aside, if I did ever ended up in the same predicament: any reason why I couldn't set the rears to hot, and the front to air-con, so I don't melt?!]

[francophile1947]

I wouldn't think towing a boat should be a problem - was your radiator fan working?

[ScubaBongo]

In the chaos of loud blowers and hammering rain, I didn't notice if the rad fan was on, although I did hear the scavanger fan come on (I think I know the difference of the sound they make, could be wrong!).

[waycar8]

ok sounds normal (but i dont know your bongos history ect).............heres my view...firstly because you was towing the engine was working hard, but because you was in motion it was getting air cooled too (rad), then when you stopped the engine was hot anyhow so the temperature in the engine compartment was hotter than usaul as the air in the compartment wasnt getting any airflow like you was when you was in motion + engine was still running.

Next time you do it and it chirps again, just turn off the ignition and then turn on the ignition again (without firing the engine up), if its getting hot the scavenger fan will kick in straight away and cool the engine down.

maybe you just need to turn it up .5 when your towing, i have mine set at 4.5 for everyday driving and every so often it will chirp when going up an hill or sometimes when i have been giving it a bit on the motorway and pull off anywhere and stop, it will do the odd chirp but it calms down once it starts to cool.

[Tony C]

Towed a caravan (1500kg) from Cornwall to Bristol couple of weeks ago with no problems @ 60mph all the way, temp gauge never moved (V6).

[ScubaBongo]

ok sounds normal (but i dont know your bongos history ect).............heres my view...firstly because you was towing the engine was working hard, but because you was in motion it was getting air cooled too (rad), then when you stopped the engine was hot anyhow so the temperature in the engine compartment was hotter than usaul as the air in the compartment wasnt getting any airflow like you was when you was in motion + engine was still running.

Next time you do it and it chirps again, just turn off the ignition and then turn on the ignition again (without firing the engine up), if its getting hot the scavenger fan will kick in straight away and cool the engine down.

maybe you just need to turn it up .5 when your towing, i have mine set at 4.5 for everyday driving and every so often it will chirp when going up an hill or sometimes when i have been giving it a bit on the motorway and pull off anywhere and stop, it will do the odd chirp but it calms down once it starts to cool.

This was my assesement of what happened too, but what I was worried about was being in a situation where all the factors were stacked against me - very long, very slow (so little/no ram-air cooling) up hill gradient, stuck in traffic (unable to stop)with boat, plus full scuba gear x2 on board (another 100 kilos+) on a blazing day in August...

I think, more than anything, I was alarmed (excuse the pun ) at how close the needle was to the HOT end of the gauge (I know its due to undamping, but still, didn't seem to offer much contingency before running off the scale!).

History wise I haven't had the Bongo long, but it has Hadyn Alarm, Mason Alarm, brand new rad, recent full service, and runs lovely.

[ScubaBongo]

Towed a caravan (1500kg) from Cornwall to Bristol couple of weeks ago with no problems @ 60mph all the way, temp gauge never moved (V6).

Undamped temp gauge?

[apole]

Hi there,

I would check your fan is working and feel both radiator hoses to see if they are both hot too.

I am assuming you have never had this before without towing.

I have a mason alarm too, I have a petrol which may run slightly cooler and mine is set just below 3. The only time (now I've only had this alarm a week) it's gone off is when I was driving up a big hill for about 5 mins after a fast run.Gauge went up to just past 12. When I turned it back on about 2-3 mins later it chirped for about 10 secs then went off again so I put that down to some heat soak having turned the engine off when quite hot.

Mine was in the bongo garage yesterday having some bits fixed and checked, one of those bits was the cooling system, v belts etc and all passed with flying colours.

So in summary I guess if you give the car an unusually high load, heat can build up more than usual. If it goes away pretty fast when back underway then I wouldn't be that worried, but if it happens often I'd be less confident that all is well.


Andy

[mikeonb4c]

I fitted a scavenger fan over-ride switch. Some have expressed concern it could damage the ECU but it never has to date I now consider it a safe mod. It would surely have helped in your your situation. Two things (as hinted above) to check:

* Thermostat opening OK. I'm sure it is but I found that with my old one the gauge took 10 mins to move off the stop and with the new one only 5 mins - check you are getting a similar effect

* Rad fan and/or scavenger fan sensors may not be doing their job as well as they should. Lets face it, they are there so you don't have to think (or even know). But since you are a thinker, and you have the Mason alarm to tell you if you are overcooling (as well as overheating) the engine, then the case for manual over-rides on either or both systems gets a lot stronger. Thats what I'd do anyway!

[waycar8]

This was my assesement of what happened too, but what I was worried about was being in a situation where all the factors were stacked against me - very long, very slow (so little/no ram-air cooling) up hill gradient, stuck in traffic (unable to stop)with boat, plus full scuba gear x2 on board (another 100 kilos+) on a blazing day in August...

I think, more than anything, I was alarmed (excuse the pun ) at how close the needle was to the HOT end of the gauge (I know its due to undamping, but still, didn't seem to offer much contingency before running off the scale!).

History wise I haven't had the Bongo long, but it has Hadyn Alarm, Mason Alarm, brand new rad, recent full service, and runs lovely.

how close was it to the hot end?, ive had mine to about 2ish (on a scale of cold is 9 is cold and hot is 3) and I have had mine chirp at 2 set at 4.5, if your towing again you might not get the same symptoms every time, goes on factors, driving, laden, weight, wind, and temperature outside, if you get it chirping again whilst towing and your worried that it is getting hot then just stick your hazards on, turn engine off turn ignition on, and if the temperature in the engine compartment is hot the scavenger fans will kick in and cool it down within a couple of minutes.

[ScubaBongo]

very tempted by the over-ride switches. I undertand the risks, but it seems they're still theoretical, despite a good few members making the mod.

Never had any overheating issues prior to the towing.

It got as hot as 2oclock. Maybe fractionally past that. Certainly not an 'overheat' but enough to make me wish I'd let someone with a modern 4x4 do the towing!

[waycar8]

, I dont think you have anything to worry about personally, its just your nerves getting the better of you, doesnt help with most people scare mongoring about overheating ect, everyone tends to get worried when they put the mason alarm on untill they get use to it moving the needle over towards the hot end, I still check mine whilst driving even thoe I know its normal driving conditions mainly to keep a check in my mind on how hot it is getting and the type of rd wether its a steady gradual uphill or a steep hill, long stretch ect ect.

I know in my mind that on certain days mine reads hotter on certain stretches of road than normally whilst drivng, I did get worried to start with but now I know you have got to take into account all the factors, gives me an idea now on what its supposed to be reading.

In time you will as well, as most other mason alarm owners do too

[thomas104]

I have a 1500kg caravan and have towed it to the lakes, wales, yorks, no problem at all, temp on 11 o'clock all the time, and had some good steep hills as well, bongo handles it well i think, as good as ,my L200 pick up did !!
long may it continue !

chris

[Bongoplod]

Same as Thomas 104 for me too.
Never had any problems towing this all over Nortn and South Wales,the Lakes and Yorkshire for last 3 years.......and bet 21 - 23mpg towing as well.


Brian

[mikeonb4c]

very tempted by the over-ride switches. I undertand the risks, but it seems they're still theoretical, despite a good few members making the mod.

Never had any overheating issues prior to the towing.

It got as hot as 2oclock. Maybe fractionally past that. Certainly not an 'overheat' but enough to make me wish I'd let someone with a modern 4x4 do the towing!

I think the others are right about not fretting too much. As for over-ride switches, I can only say my scavenger fan one was a doddle to fit, works perfectly and has caused no probs. I like the idea of flushing hot air out the engine bay should I be stuck in traffic in hot weather as it not only helps cool the engine mass, but reduces heat build up in the cab from a warm tunnel. The other week after a run we picnic'd with our chairs on the out of wind side of the Bongo. I was amazed at how much hot air wafted over us as the wind got underneath and flushed the hot air out over whre we were sitting. And 15 year old sensors may not respond as quickly as they should (if at all - who knows until the coolant system lets go)