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If the quoted MTPLM was incorrect then was the MIRO also incorrect? With the MTPLM being 1600Kg I would expect the MIRO to be somewhere around 1400kg leaving you 100Kg of weight that can be added to the van. What matters to the law is the actual weight you are pulling. If you have a motor mover at some 33Kg and a couple of gas bottled at 20kg plus battery at 24Kg you can be up to 1500kg before you know it.

The 85% rule concerns the car's kerb weight and not what you have loaded the car with to try and reduce that ratio. The handbook will give you the kerb weight and use that figure to work out the persentage ratio of caravan (when loaded) to car. Don't forget, when loading up the car that it also has a maximum weight that you can load it to and that you also need to take into account the max axel weight at the back. That will have 100kg (probably) to start with once you attach the caravan to the towball. So, having the caravan attached will reduce the weight of the gear you can pop into the car.

The max towing weight for your car is based upon safe hill starts and you need to consider that when going out with a van that could exceed the max towing capacity of your car if fully laden. So, although you are using the van on local sites are there are any hills to get up and down to those sites? It's a bit late to discover a towing problem when you are actually on the hill.

If you are stopped by the boys in blue and they get into technical questions they will go by the plate figure of 1600 (if you have a plate on your van) rather than what you tell them the weight actually is. They can prevent you from proceeding if they think that you may be exceeding your towing limit. Not much point in arguing that you are not if that does arise. Just a cautionary note.

It's best not to take the van out on the road to be honest in the light of the weights you have provided. Its one thing being within the law and it can be another to be safe. Never towed before and starting with such a weight may not be as easy as you may think.

If you are to go out on the road then take some precautions for your own protection.

1. Pass the details to your insurers and see what they have to say.  

2. It would probably be best to load into the van what you expect to load into it for a trip out and take the van to the nearest weighbridge just to make sure that you are well within limits. That way you can be certain that you are within limits. If you get stopped then at least you have a weighbridge ticket to present to the boys in blue.

3. Take care. Don't worry about holding up the lads behind you.

Phil

I don't want to break the law and ultimately, put my family and other people at risk. It's like doing a degree this caravaning game lol.

Too much weight on our rear axel may potentially be a driving without due care and attention issue (remote probably) but the real issue is the cost of your motoring. New springs on the rear axel can be expensive every couple of years.

As you will be travelling with a family you will end up with such a great load in your car, if you have to keep the caravan weight down to aound a 100Kg personal payload, so you had beter check the max payload your car can carry (then take off 100Kg for the caravan noseweight!). You may find it a problem keeping the family happy. Kids can be weighty what with the PC, the bikes, the games console, umpteen dozen changes of clothes etc. Best to put your foot down with a firm hand before you go away so that they all know the ground rules of just what they can take. Caravanning is about compromise.

For example - for just the two of us we carry about 40Kg short of the MTPLM in the van and 100Kg light of our max in the car (and its chocker). So add on a couple of kids and you may be viewing the plan of carrying very little in the caravan as needing a review and, oops, you are illegal. Its amazing just how it all adds up.

Just get some of those collapsable crates from B&Q (very light) and pile in all the clothes you would like to take on holiday. then add in the awning, poles, chairs outside table etc etc etc and weigh everything you would like to take. Deduct from that what weight you can take, and stick the overweight back in the wardrobe. Then tell the kids and the wife "That's it NO MORE!" Better to have the argument before you go away than when you are about to set off.

.....and degree courses take about three years whereas learning the nuances of caravanning is a lifetimes study.

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by RobbieG on 25/11/2012

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Hi, I've just purchased a 2007 Fendt 510 TK caravan from a trader in Hartlepool. My intention is to pull it with a 54 plate vw Touran 2.0 tdi. However, the dealer told me that the caravan Miro was 1288KG and the MTPLM was 1488KG which is within the cars max towing limited of 1500KG. Further research revealed that MTPLM of the caravan is in fact 1600KG, can this be legally taken on the road if I stay within the max towing limit of the car? I've checked with traffic police and they said yes, what's your thoughts? Thanks, Rob

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Quote: Originally posted by RobbieG on 25/11/2012Thanks for your reply. The caravan will only be used at local campsites to begin with until my confidence in towing grows, so will only load it up with a max of 100kg payload and everything else will go in the car. The calcuation tool (what tow car.com) i used worked it out at 84% but that was only with a driver in, therefore the car should be a lot greater.

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How do I determine what the train weight is? I passed my test in 1993, so my licence allows me tow more?

Seen this statement on a website which suggested it was the law:
If your vehicle has a maximum braked trailer weight of 1500 kgs, the Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) of your caravan must not exceed this figure. It is irrelevant that the caravan may not be loaded to its maximum; this is figure that is legally permissible.
If it is exceeded by 1Kg the outfit will be illegal and insurance will be invalid.
Is my outfit legal? Sorry to ask again but just need to clarify this.

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Quote: Originally posted by RobbieG on 25/11/2012

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Thanks for that. With just using all my funds to buy a caravan I need to wait to upgrade the car but it's on the list to do. The cars max is about 2100kg and tow weight of 1500kg for the van so 3600kg total train weight, is this ok?

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Quote: Originally posted by RobbieG on 25/11/2012

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Thanks for that. With just using all my funds to buy a caravan I need to wait to upgrade the car but it's on the list to do. The cars max is about 2100kg and tow weight of 1500kg for the van so 3600kg total train weight, is this ok?

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may help

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/fendt.htm#topas07

Just a thought...in the interests of safety is the correct approach to just change the plate or do you go by what the weight actually is that you are towing? It's your family at the end of the day

Phil